Ryan Poling-Skutvik
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rpslab.bsky.social
Ryan Poling-Skutvik
@rpslab.bsky.social
Assistant Professor | Chemical Engineering | University of Rhode Island | Responsive, multifunctional soft materials 🏳️‍🌈 (he/him)

https://web.uri.edu/soft-matter-lab/
I have the great privilege to return to my alma mater @cooperunion.bsky.social to give a seminar today. It’s been over a decade since I was last on campus and it still brings back so many memories.

I’m going to be discussing our work on biomaterials and soft matter physics.
November 10, 2025 at 9:47 PM
RPS Lab celebrating the start of the year watching the Rhode Island Football Club
September 14, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Always love flying into Chicago
September 3, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Celebrating our lab's newest graduate, Kylie Hartley, who passed her Masters defense last Friday! 🥳🎓🍺

She has been an incredibly productive student in her time in our group working on developing polymer-based anodes for microbial fuel cells, and we are so proud of her current and future success!
August 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
A study in contrasts from Arizona to New Hampshire
July 20, 2025 at 7:33 PM
In the spirit of @sorheology.bsky.social and “Everything Flows”, look at these beautiful “streamlines” of shale around a rock.

Taken at Watkins Glen State Park
May 24, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Surprisingly, this collapse is independent of material composition and structure.

Furthermore, the position of this peak can be predicted by a combination of linear metrics of viscoelasticity and flow viscosity.
May 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Specifically, yielding is typically associated with a peak in the loss modulus G”, the height of which is solely a function of tan(delta) in the linear regime.

Our finding indicates that the same physics controlling linear viscoelasticity also controls the magnitude of yielding.
May 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
As a @cooperunion.bsky.social alum, I am shocked (and proud) to only just learn that Cooper was integral to the founding of the Society of Women Engineers
May 2, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Been a long time but we’re back for some upgraded x-rays!
April 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Some Easter baking success
April 20, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Welp. It happened. Our NIH training grant was terminated on Friday.

Just highlighting this incredibly derisive language used in our termination notice.

To focus on the positives, see some of the great things our undergraduates have done over the last couple of years: web.uri.edu/esteemed/
March 26, 2025 at 1:34 AM
March 21, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Not a bad morning walk to @apsphysics.bsky.social !

Stop by the @apsdsoft.bsky.social table near Hilton Huntington B/C to say hi!
March 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Visiting @ucdavisengineering.bsky.social for the day!

Looking forward to some good science discussions. Thanks to Tonya Kuhl and the rest of the CHE department for the seminar invitation.
March 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Fantastic day at New England Complex Fluids. Great talks all around including the first presentations by a couple RPS Lab Members:

Undergrad Liam Kennings discussed conductive liquid crystal elastomers and first year PhD candidate Sepehr Yari presented on faster-than-expected SWCNT dynamics
March 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
My preparation for the semester starting next week
January 18, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Another summer research opportunity!

We have multiple summer programs designed at giving undergraduate students hands-on research experience on Navy-related projects. Summer housing and $6,000 stipend provided.

Dates: May 27 - August 1, 2025
Application: bit.ly/4gp1MWl
Deadline: Feb. 14, 2025
January 14, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Some OG 3D printing
December 18, 2024 at 8:55 PM
Last week, I got the special opportunity to connect four generations of my academic family tree together!

Weitz + Lewis --> Conrad @jcconrad.bsky.social --> RPS --> Daniel Keane and RPS lab members

IMO, it's one of the best parts of the job to see our impact on new generations of students
December 10, 2024 at 6:16 PM
Beautiful Providence morning on my way to the 100(+1)th New England Complex Fluids Symposium
December 6, 2024 at 11:52 AM
Congratulations to DOCTOR Daniel Keane for his successful PhD defense!! 🎉👨‍🎓

Today was a big milestone for the RPS Lab today: our first PhD graduate! Danny was our first student and really set an incredible standard for everyone in our group. I am beyond proud of him.
December 6, 2024 at 2:23 AM
Our fall/winter lab outing - bowling night!
November 24, 2024 at 2:31 PM
A beautiful fall day in RI
November 20, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Know an undergraduate interested in tackling plastic waste and its impact on the environment?

Our URI Plastics REU is open for applications! Earn up to $7,000 for a 10-week research course with housing provided (and maybe enjoy some RI seafood and beaches!)

Learn more at web.uri.edu/plastics-reu/
November 18, 2024 at 9:48 PM