Research

Main areas of research: High temperature materials, ultrafast laser material interactions, alloy design, 3-D materials characterization, Integrated Computational Materials

Tresa Pollock is an American materials and engineering scientist doing research on structural materials and optical coatings for the ultrashort pulse lasers that are used in microfabrication, tomography and material diagnostics. The central focus of her research is high temperature materials for airplane engines as well as the field of energy generation.

In her work Tresa Pollock deals with ultrafast laser material interactions, alloy design, 3-D materials characterization and high temperature materials. As an example, she investigates materials and alloys that will be able to withstand extreme heat stress. Her work in the field of nickel-base alloys for turbine engines led to improvements in the efficiency and safety of jet engines. She also developed structural materials that are being used in the automobile industry and in energy production whereby they are exposed to enormous stress.

In the field of energy generation, Tresa Pollock works with materials for thermoelectrics, fuel cells and energy plants fuelled with natural gas and alternative fuels. The materials used in this field include light alloys that have a high degree of resistance as well as protective coatings that can withstand extreme environments. Further aspects of her work include recycling, reprocessing and reutilization.

In the research field of Integrated Materials Computation, the fields of material development, product development and manufacturing processes are linked together with the assistance of computers. Tresa Pollock assesses micromechanical phenomena and microstructural development in order to predict essential attributes like bond strength and chemical potential as well as the absence of cracks in, and the crash resistance of, specific materials. The ultimate goal is optimized components, a more efficient development process and economically viable manufacturing processes.

Tresa Pollack also considers the environmental soundness of materials in her research. Her work is interdisciplinary and sets its sights on a material’s practical applications. For this she has established a nexus between science, industry and professional societies.

Career

• since 2010 Alcoa Professor and Head of the Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
• 2000-2010 L.H. and F.E. Van Vlack Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, USA
• 1996-1998 Guest scientist, General Electric, Research and Development
• 1995 Guest scientist, Rockwell International Science Center, USA
• 1991-1999 Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie-Mellon University, USA
• 1989-1991 Materials research engineer, General Electric Aircraft Engines, Engineering Materials Technology Laboratories
• 1989 PhD, Materials Science Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA

Functions

• 2016 Principal Editor, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions
• 2005-2006 President, Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS)
• 1997-2015 Associate Editor, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions Journals

Honours and Memberships

• since 2015 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• since 2009 Fellow, Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS)
• 2008 AIME Raymond Award
• 2007 ASM Jeffries Lecture
• 2005 Member, US-National Academy of Engineering
• 2005 TMS Magnesium Technology Award
• 2005 Lee Hsun Award, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• since 2005 Member, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• 1999 ASM Silver Medal Research Award
• 1997 Outstanding Materials Engineer, Purdue University, USA
• 1995 ASM Bradley Stoughton Award
• 1992 Young Investigator Award, National Science Foundation