Advanced Manufacturing at Virginia Tech
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Article ItemMadison Rogers 'Matt' Earnest II honored with emeritus status , article Date: May 12, 2025 -
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Article ItemResearchers develop recyclable, healable electronics , article Date: Jun 09, 2025 -
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Article ItemHang Yu chosen for DARPA Young Faculty Award , article Date: Dec 08, 2022 -
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Page 1 of 3 | 11 Results

Pinar Acar
Associate professor, mechanical engineering
Multiscale modeling, optimization, uncertainty quantification for metallic material design
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/acar-pinar.html

Alex Aning
Associate professor, materials science and engineering
Advanced Materials
https://mse.vt.edu/faculty-staff/Faculty/aning.html

Michael Bartlett
Associate professor, mechanical engineering
Multi-functional smart and responsive soft composites
Advanced Materials
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/bartlett-michael.html

Romesh Batra
Clifton C. Garvin professor, mechanical engineering
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/batra-romesh.html

Jan Helge Bøhn
Associate professor, mechanical engineering
Workforce Development, Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/bohn-janhelge.html

Michael Bortner
Associate professor, chemical engineering
Polymer composite processing; rheology; extrusion-based AM
Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
https://che.vt.edu/people/faculty/Bortner.html

Doug Bowman
Frank J. Maher professor, computer science
Human-Machine Interaction
https://website.cs.vt.edu/people/faculty/doug-bowman.html

Alex Brand
Assistant professor, civil and environmental engineering
Workforce Development, Advanced Materials
https://www.webapps.cee.vt.edu/index.php?category=people&pagetype=bio&do=getprofile&user=brand.html

Scott Case
Reynolds Metals professor, civil and environmental engineering
Advanced Materials
https://www.webapps.cee.vt.edu/index.php?category=people&pagetype=bio&do=getprofile&user=case.html

Jie Chen
Assistant professor, mechanical engineering
Metallurgy and foundry processing
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/chen-jie.html

Jingtao Cheng
Associate professor, mechanical engineering
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/cheng-jiangtao.html

Raffaella De Vita
Associate professor, mechanical engineering
Advanced Materials
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/devita-raffaella.html

Sanket Deshmukh
Associate professor, chemical engineering
Advanced Materials
https://che.vt.edu/People/faculty/Deshmukh.html

Harpreet Dhillon
W. Martin Johnson professor, electrical and computer engineering
Digital Integration and Connectivity
https://ece.vt.edu/people/profile/dhillon.html

Christina DiMarino
Assistant professor, electrical and computer engineering
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
https://ece.vt.edu/people/profile/dimaricm.html

David Dillard
Professor, mechanical engineering
Advanced Materials
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/dillard-david.html

Alan Druschitz
Associate professor of practice, materials science and engineering
Metallurgy and foundry processing
Advanced Materials
https://mse.vt.edu/faculty-staff/Faculty/druschitz.html

Kimberly Ellis
Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering
Manufacturing Systems and Supply Chains, Workforce Development
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/ellis.html

Lin Feng
Professor, chemistry
Advanced Materials
https://chem.vt.edu/people/faculty/teaching-and-research/flin.html

Adrian Figg
Assistant professor, chemistry
Advanced Materials
https://chem.vt.edu/people/faculty/teaching-and-research/afigg.html

Yao Fu
Associate professor, aerospace and ocean engineering
Metal AM fracture and corrosion behavior
Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
https://www.aoe.vt.edu/people/faculty/fu.html

Christiana Garcia
Assistant professor, electrical and computer engineering
Digital Integration and Connectivity
https://ece.vt.edu/people/profile/garcia.html

Kaveh Akbari Hamed
Associate professor, mechanical engineering
Robotics and Autonomy
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/akbarihamed-kaveh.html

Ran Jin
Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering
Sensing, modeling, and process optimization based on high definition profile data
Digital Integration and Connectivity
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/jin.html

Blake Johnson
Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering
Bio-printing; bio-sensing; in-situ monitoring (AI/ML)
Advanced Materials
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/johnson.html

Rakesh Kapania
Mitchell Professor, aerospace and ocean engineering
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
https://www.aoe.vt.edu/people/faculty/kapania.html

Erik Komendera
Assistant professor, mechanical engineering
Autonomous assembly and construction; field robotics
Robotics and Autonomy
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/komendera-erik.html

Zhenyu (James) Kong
Ralph H. Bogle Professor, industrial and systems engineering
Smart and digitally twinned additive manufacturing through modeling, monitoring, machine learning, machine control, and metallurgy
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/kong.html

Andrea L’afflitto
Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering
Lightweight robotics; control theory
Robotics and Autonomy
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/l'afflitto.html

Suyui Li
Associate professor, mechanical engineering
Robotics and Autonomy
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/li-suyi.html

Guoliang "Greg" Liu
Professor, chemistry
Advanced Materials
https://chem.vt.edu/people/faculty/teaching-and-research/gliu.html

Lingjia Liu
Professor, electrical and computer engineering
Digital Integration and Connectivity
https://iac.vt.edu/about/faculty/liu-lingjia.html

Guo-Quan Lu
Professor, materials science and engineering
Workforce Development, Advanced Materials
https://mse.vt.edu/faculty-staff/Faculty/guo_lu.html

Andrew McCoy
Beliveau professor, construction
Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
https://mlsoc.vt.edu/about/school-leadership-and-staff/andrew-mccoy.html

Steve McKnight
Vice president, strategic research alliances
Advanced Materials
https://beam.vt.edu/people/faculty/mcknight.html

Ryan McMahan
Professor, computer science
Human-Machine Interaction
https://website.cs.vt.edu/people/faculty/ryan-p-mcmahan.html

Robert Moore
Professor, chemistry
Advanced Materials
https://chem.vt.edu/people/faculty/teaching-and-research/rmoore.html

Amrinder Nain
Professor, mechanical engineering
Advanced Materials
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/nain-amrinder.html

Noel Naughton
Assistant professor, mechanical engineering
Advanced Materials
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/naughton-noel.html

Gary Pickrell
Professor, materials science and engineering
Advanced Materials
https://mse.vt.edu/faculty-staff/Faculty/pickrell.html

Ranga Pitchumani
George R. Goodson professor, mechanical engineering
Advanced Materials
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/pitchumani-ranga.html

Rui Qiao
Professor, mechanical engineering
Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/qiao-rui.html

Bart Raeymaekers
Professor, mechanical engineering
Metal AM tribology; composite AM processes
Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/raeymaekers-bart.html

Prahalada Rao
Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering
In-situ process monitoring; metal AM process simulation
Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/rao.html

Jeff Reed
Willis G. Worcester professor, electrical and computer engineering
Digital Integration and Connectivity
https://ece.vt.edu/people/profile/reed.html

Sourav Saha
Assistant professor, aerospace and ocean engineering
Mechanistic computational intelligence; metal fatigue; multiscale simulation
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
https://www.aoe.vt.edu/people/faculty/sourav-saha.html

Soubash Sarin
Paul T. Norton professor, industrial and systems engineering
Manufacturing Systems
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/sarin.html

Gary Seidel
Professor, aerospace and ocean engineering
Advanced Materials
https://www.aoe.vt.edu/people/faculty/seidel.html

Adam Seigler
Ph.D. student, materials science and engineering
Advanced Materials
https://yu.mse.vt.edu/People/adamseigler.html

John Shewchuck
Associate professor, industrial and systems engineering
Manufacturing Systems and Supply Chains
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/shewchuk.html

Tao Sun
Research associate professor, industrial and systems engineering
Robotics and Autonomy
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/sun.html

Carolina Tallon
Assistant professor, materials science and engineering
Ultra-high temperature ceramics; colloidal processing
Advanced Materials
Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials
https://mse.vt.edu/faculty-staff/Faculty/tallon.html

Zhenhua Tian
Assistant professor, mechanical engineering
Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/tian-zhenhua.html

Abby Whittington
Associate professor, chemical engineering
Advanced Materials
https://che.vt.edu/People/faculty/Whittington.html

Eileen Van Aken
Professor, industrial and systems engineering
Manufacturing Systems and Supply Chains
https://www.ise.vt.edu/people/faculty/vanaken.html

Christopher Williams
L.S. Randolph Professor, mechanical engineering
Additive manufacturing processes, materials, and process-structure-property relationships
Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
https://me.vt.edu/people/faculty/williams-christopher.html

Yang “Cindy” Yi
Professor, electrical and computer engineering
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
https://iac.vt.edu/about/faculty/yi-yang-cindy.html

Hongrui Yu
Assistant professor, civil and environmental engineering
Robotics and Autonomy
https://www.webapps.cee.vt.edu/index.php?category=people&pagetype=bio&do=getprofile&user=hongrui.html

Hang Yu
Associate professor, materials science and engineering
Additive friction stir; alloy design
Advanced Materials
https://mse.vt.edu/faculty-staff/Faculty/yu.html

Chris Zobel
R.B. Pamplin professor, business information techology
Manufacturing Systems and Supply Chains
https://bit.vt.edu/faculty/directory/zobel.html

DREAMS Lab
Additive manufacturing processes, materials, and process-structure-property relationships
Advanced Materials
Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials
https://dreams.mii.vt.edu/

Laboratory for Advanced Manufacturing Processes and Sensing (LAMPS)
Smart and digitally twinned additive manufacturing through modeling, monitoring, machine learning, machine control, and metallurgy
Data-driven Design and Intelligence
Additive Manufacturing, Smart Manufacturing
https://lamps.ise.vt.edu/

Manufacturing and Tribology Laboratory
Tribology and surface engineering and processing and manufacturing of engineered materials
Advanced Materials
https://bartraeymaekers.a2hosted.com/drupal-7.38/?q=Home

Yu Rsearch Group
Additive friction stir deposition, with a focus on fundamental processing science and AI-enabled smart manufacturing
Manufacturing Systems and Supply Chains
Additive Manufacturing, Smart Manufacturing

Tallon Research Lab
Materials science, engineering, and manufacturing of ceramics
Additive + Hybrid
Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials
https://yu.mse.vt.edu/

Soft Materials and Structures Lab
Biomimetic advanced materials with novel combinations of mechanical and functional properties
Additive + Hybrid
Advanced Materials
https://bartlett.me.vt.edu/

Materials for High-Temperature and Corrosive Environment Laboratory
New material systems and processing conditions for application in high-temperature and/or corrosive environments
Data-driven Design and Intelligence
Advanced Materials

Kroehling Advanced Materials Foundry
Research and hands-on teaching for the metal casting industries
Workforce Development, Outreach and Industrial Engagement
Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials, Smart Manufacturing
https://mm2designlab.wordpress.com/

Polymer Composite and Materials Lab
Advanced manufacturing and flow behavior of polymers and polymer composites
Additive + Hybrid
Advanced Materials
https://www.bortnerlab.com/

Advanced Biomanufacturing and Biosensing Laboratory
High-performance and smart biosensing to drive emerging technologies and advanced processes
Smart Manufacturing
https://biomanufacturinggroup.com/

ASTRO Lab
Multi-scale modeling for advanced materials, with focus on design
Advanced Materials
Advanced Materials
https://sites.google.com/vt.edu/astrolab/home

IMMPACT Lab
Computational intelligence for advanced materials and manufacturing systems
Additive + Hybrid
Advanced Materials, Smart Manufacturing
https://www.souravsaha.net/

SEAD Lab
Machine learning for engineering analysis and design, with focus on PSPP relationships
Advanced Materials
Smart Manufacturing
https://seadlab.com/

SMART Lab
AI-based cyber-physical smart manufacturing with real-time sensing and closed loop control
Digital Integration and Connectivity
Smart Manufacturing
https://www.smartlab-vt.com/

Advanced Control Systems Lab
Designing control systems for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles and lightweight robots
Data-driven Design and Intelligence
Smart Manufacturing
https://www.ise.vt.edu/research/labs/advanced-control-systems-lab.html

Field and Space Experimental Robotics Laboratory
Advanced robotics for collaborative assembly and autonomous servicing and repair.
Smart Manufacturing
https://faser.me.vt.edu/

Learning Factory
Instructional space featuring Industry 4.0 testbeds for hands-on student education
Workforce Development
Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials, Smart Manufacturing
https://faser.me.vt.edu/

Harris Manufacturing Lab
Hands-on instructional lab space to train students in manufacturing processes
Smart Manufacturing
https://www.ise.vt.edu/research/labs/Learning-Factory.html

Data Science and Visualization Lab
Data fusion in smart manufacturing and integration of smart design operations and services
Human-Machine Interaction
Smart Manufacturing
https://wordpress.cs.vt.edu/infovis/

Delta WASP 2040
Ceramic
Material Extrusion

Formlabs Form 4; Custom VPP systems
Ceramic
Vat Photopolymerization

Tvasta SIRA RC
Concrete
Material Extrusion

nScrypt 3dn-300
Conductive Links
Material Extrusion

Optomec Aerosol Jet
Conductive Links
Material Jetting

SLM 280
Metals
Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Xact Metal XM200G
Metals
Laser Powder Bed Fusion

DMS 2-Cubed Hybrid
Metals
Wire-arc Directed Energy Deposition (hybrid; multi-axis)

DMS 1-Cubed Hybrid
Metals
Wire-arc Directed Energy Deposition (hybrid; multi-axis)

Robotic Multi-axis wire-arc DED
Metals
Wire-arc Directed Energy Deposition (hybrid; multi-axis)

Meltio Engine + 5-axis HAAS VF3 CNC
Metals
Laser Wire Directed Energy Deposition (hybrid + multi-axis)

MELD L3 (discrete feed)
Metals
Additive Friction Stir Deposition

MELD L3 (continuous feed)
Metals
Additive Friction Stir Deposition

ExOne Innovent +
Metals
Binder Jetting

Single crystal fabrication - Bridgman solidification furnace
Metals
Binder Jetting

Metal Machining - AccuteX wire EDM
Metals
Binder Jetting

EOS Integra P450
Polymers
Polymer Powder Bed Fusion

Prodways ProMaker P2000 HT
Polymers
Polymer Powder Bed Fusion

Stratasys Fortus 400mc
Polymers
Material Extrusion (Filament)

AON3D M2
Polymers
Material Extrusion (Filament)

Markforged Mark Two
Polymers
Material Extrusion (Filament)

Multi-axis Robot + Dyze Typhoon
Polymers
Material Extrusion (Filament)

3D Systems EXT 800 Titan Pellet
Polymers
Material Extrusion (Pellet)

Multi-axis Robot + Strangpresse Model 30
Polymers
Material Extrusion (Pellet)

Custom multi-tool and 2-component extrusion systems
Polymers
Material Extrusion (Thermoset)

Asiga Max X
Polymers
Vat Photopolymerization

Formlabs Form 4+
Polymers
Vat Photopolymerization

Custom VPP systems
Polymers
Vat Photopolymerization
Virginia Tech: A Leader in Advanced Manufacturing
With unmatched breadth across disciplines — and state-of-the-art equipment to match — our faculty and researchers are reshaping how things are made. From engineering to chemistry to architecture to physics, our researchers accelerate innovation in three primary focus areas, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, smart manufacturing.

Virginia Tech is a Destination for Manufacturing Innovation
Virginia Tech is where the future of manufacturing begins. Its mission is to revolutionize the field through the interdisciplinary convergence of Virginia Tech’s strengths in advanced materials, computational design, manufacturing technologies, data analytics, and cyber-infrastructure.
Through collaboration with industry and government, Virginia Tech is committed to shaping the next generation of manufacturing—and preparing the workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry.
Areas where researchers consistently collaborate
Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing
Focuses on advancing additive manufacturing processes, materials, and design methods, and their integration with traditional manufacturing processes to create more efficient and flexible production systems.
Advanced Materials
Explores the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of next-generation materials with enhanced properties. We seek to achieve breakthroughs in material performance, sustainability, and manufacturability through exploration of the interplay between processing techniques, material structure, and resulting properties.
Data-Driven Design and Intelligence
Harnesses AI, machine learning, and big data analytics to drive advancements in computational materials design, smart manufacturing, and design optimization. We are focused in leveraging data to enhance decision-making processes and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of advanced manufacturing systems, their materials, and their products.
Digital Integration and Connectivity
Focuses on creating smart, interconnected systems that streamline operations and facilitate real-time communication between machines, systems, and stakeholders. We seek advancements in wireless technologies to enable real-time communication, cyber-physical security to ensure robust and resilient systems, and the implementation of digital twins to enhance simulation, monitoring, and optimization capabilities.
Human-Machine Interaction
Investigates the interface between humans and machines, fostering seamless collaboration through user-centered design, augmented interfaces (AR/VR/XR), and human-robot interactions to enhance productivity and synergy in manufacturing environments.
Robotics and Autonomy
Advances robotic systems and autonomous technologies to enhance precision, scalability, agility, and efficiency in manufacturing.
Manufacturing Systems and Supply Chains
Focuses on advancing manufacturing processes and supply chain operations, including production flow, logistics, and quality control. We aim to enhance performance, resilience, and sustainability across the entire manufacturing ecosystem.
Workforce Development, Outreach and Industrial Engagement
Prioritizes developing the next generation of manufacturing professionals, fostering industry-academia partnerships, and promoting awareness of advancements in manufacturing.
World-Class Labs and Facilities
We have access to nearly every 3D printing modality at Virginia Tech, enabling fabrication of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Leveraging our industrial-scale, research-ready additive manufacturing systems and pioneering work in materials and process development, we empower manufacturing leaders to redefine what’s possible.
The New Core of Engineering Education
Through our Manufacturing Spine, every engineering student engages directly with the technologies shaping tomorrow’s industry.
Virginia Tech is redefining how engineers are educated. By embedding hands-on manufacturing experiences into foundational courses, we ensure that every student, regardless of major, develops practical skills alongside technical knowledge. This integrated, interdisciplinary approach gives students early exposure to technologies like additive manufacturing, robotics, data analytics, and AI.
Study Advanced Manufacturing at VT

Areas where researchers consistently collaborate:
14 faculty from 5 departments
23 courses taught and 1503 students enrolled
From 2.5M to over 7M in reseach expenditures since 2019
Advanced Manufacturing News
You’re changing the world. So are we. Let’s do it together.
Early investment with Virginia Tech can help corporate partners seamlessly integrate the technologies and talent they need to maximize the benefits of advanced manufacturing.

John Ralston
Associate Director of
Business Development, LINK
jfr3f@vt.edu

Chris Williams
L.S. Randolph Professor
cbwill@vt.edu