Mark Owen Robbins was an American condensed matter physicist who specialized in computational studies of friction, fracture and adhesion, with a particular focus on nanotribology, contact mechanics, and polymers.

In 1986, he joined the faculty of the department of physics and astronomy at Johns Hopkins University, where he was promoted to Associate (1988) and Full (1992) professor.

[9] Robbins was known for his work in the application of molecular simulations to the non equilibrium phenomena of friction, fracture and adhesion.

[5][10][11] The scope of his research included the microscopic origins of macro scale friction laws,[12][13] shear flow of fluids in nanoscale confinement,[14] the toughness of polymer adhesives[15] and the stiffness of elastic contacts.[16].

After traveling to Brazil in the 1980s, Robbins developed an interest in orchids and began collecting and cultivating them at home.