Spencer Smith

he/him

  • Associate Professor of Physics
  • Chair of Physics & Astronomy
Spencer Smith, Faculty

Spencer Smith's work seeks to characterize the complexity inherent in chaotic fluid motion by uncovering dynamically relevant and topologically robust fluid structures. He investigates how these ideas are pertinent from micro-fluidic chips at the small scale to pollution tracking and prediction in oceanic flows on a much larger scale and touch on some of the deep questions in fluid dynamics, such as the nature of turbulence.

Spencer is also very interested in the intersection of art and physics, and he curated a show at the MHC Art Museum in fall 2017 on the science photographs of Berenice Abbott. 

Areas of Expertise

physics (fluid dynamics); math (dynamic systems theory & topology); computer science (finite elements, data structures, algorithm development, and numerical methods)

Education

  • Ph.D., M.S., Tufts University
  • B.A., Dartmouth College

Happening at Mount Holyoke

Recent Campus News

Fellowships at Mount Holyoke celebrates 2026 recipients

Mount Holyoke College congratulates our recipients, alternates and finalists of the 2025–2026 fellowship application cycles.

Mount Holyoke recognized as a top college by Princeton Review

Mount Holyoke ranks among the top 25 colleges and universities in categories ranging from academic excellence and financial access to campus facilities. The Princeton Review rankings are based on college students’ ratings of their schools.

Ping-Pong meets public art

The collaborative artwork of Mount Holyoke College Professor of Art Studio Lisa Iglesias is featured in a recent New York Times article about Public Art Fund's outdoor exhibition, “Between Tides.”

Recent Publications

Smith, S.A., Gong, R. (2022). Braiding dynamics in active nematics. Frontiers in Physics, 10.

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