My research interests lie in developing qualified students capable of meeting challenging situations in industry, government, or academia with confidence and enthusiasm. Our group has a long, continuous history of research and hard work on lubricants and tribology that started in the fifties in the Petroleum Refining Laboratory with Drs. Fenske and Klaus. The research has consistently provided a blend of theoretical and applied goals to find interesting and exciting ways to extend academic training from industrial development applications to aerospace. Recent environmental concerns create new problems in tribology problems related to conservation of resources and energy.
Tribology is a multidisciplinary science.
It is the study of the lubrication of moving surfaces. Projects often involve research with other peers such as mechanical engineers, materials scientists, surface chemists, and even medical specialists. The ankle bone is connected to the leg bone and the knee bone through a very sophisticated tribological system where friction, wear, and lubrication are important. Our current research involves postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate Honors students. In addition, we plan to continue to conduct basic studies.