ROBERT WALTER ZWANZIG (1928 - 2014) was a distinguished theoretical physicist best known for his works in statistical physics and nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and thermodynamics. He belonged to persons whose works contributed substantially to the irreversible statistical thermodynamics and many-particle physics.

His education story is listed below:
B.S., Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, 1948
M.S., University of Southern California, 1950
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1952
His Ph.D. Thesis was entitled:
QUANTUM HYDRODYNAMICS.
A Statistical Mechanical Theory of Light Scattering from Simple Non-polar Fluids.
California Institute of Technology, 1952
The adviser of his Thesis was professor John G. Kirkwood.

ROBERT ZWANZIG, was professor of physics at Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland.
His last position was Scientist Emeritus at
Laboratory of Chemical Physics,
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Research Statement:
Theoretical research in chemical physics and biophysics; statistical mechanics; protein folding kinetics.

In the early 1960s, ROBERT ZWANZIG made a series of important researches on nonequilibrium thermodynamics and irreversible statistical mechanics. He formulated a projection formalism, which was termed the MORI-ZWANZIG projection method in statistical mechanics. In 1960 Professor ROBERT ZWANZIG published an article entitled: "Ensemble Method in the Theory of Irreversibility", J. Chem. Phys. 33 (1960) pp.1338-41 .This paper became CITATION CLASSIC.

His Review Article:
"Time-Correlation Functions and Transport Coefficients in Statistical Mechanics",
Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, vol.16 (1965) pp.67-102,
was (and still is) one of most readed and cited paper in the field of irreversible statistical mechanics

ROBERT ZWANZIG was the author of the book " Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanics", Oxford University Press (Oxford, 2004).
This is a presentation of the main ideas and methods of modern nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. It is the perfect introduction for anyone in chemistry or physics who needs an update or background in this time-dependent field. Topics covered include fluctuation-dissipation theorem; linear response theory; time correlation functions, and projection operators. Theoretical models are illustrated by real-world examples and numerous applications such as chemical reaction rates and spectral line shapes are covered. The mathematical treatments are detailed and easily understandable and the appendices include useful mathematical methods like the Laplace transforms, Gaussian random variables and phenomenological transport equations.

Selected Publications:
1. Zwanzig R Two-state models of protein folding kinetics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (94): 148-50, 1997. [Full Text/Abstract]
2. Zwanzig R Simple model of protein folding kinetics. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (92): 9801-4, 1995. [Full Text/Abstract]
3. Zwanzig R. Dynamical disorder: passage through a fluctuating bottleneck. Journal of Chemical Physics (97): 3587-3589, 1992.
4. Zwanzig R Szabo A Bagchi B Levinthal''s paradox. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (89): 20-2, 1992. [Full Text/Abstract]