He has B.S. and M.S. degrees in Architectural Engineering and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with a minor in Material Science, all from Penn State. Dr. Volz spent 16 years in Chicago involved in structural design, research, and forensic investigations of buildings and bridges. A Licensed Structural Engineer in Illinois and Professional Engineer in Missouri and Illinois, he has worked for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the CTLGroup, Montgomery Watson Harza, and Holabird and Root. His research inter­ests involve the combination of structural engineering and material science aimed at material improve­ments for structural performance.