Mehmet Z. Baykara is an Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC Merced, where he leads a research group specializing in atomic force microscopy. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from Yale University. Prior to joining UC Merced, he worked at Bilkent, Columbia and Harvard. He was a Visiting Scholar at Stanford in 2024. Highlights of Mehmet’s research include the discovery of structural superlubricity under ambient conditions and the demonstration of true atomic-resolution surface imaging under ambient conditions. He regularly gives invited talks around the world and is the recipient of multiple society awards.