William Musinski comes to UWM from the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. His addition in August to the faculty at UWM’s College of Engineering & Applied Science bolsters the college’s research and teaching in advanced manufacturing and materials science.
Musinski has a joint appointment as an assistant professor in the Materials Science & Engineering and Mechanical Engineering departments.
At the AFRL, Musinski worked as a materials research engineer with a specialty in fatigue analysis–specifically high-fidelity, experimental characterization and modeling of the meso- to macro-scale mechanical performance of aerospace metal alloys. Such studies on the variability in performance and evolution of stress during fatigue of materials play a crucial role in understanding the limits of current materials systems and developing better-performing, longer lasting alloys for the next generation of aircraft and engines.
His other areas of expertise include high-temperature materials, additive manufacturing, and computational materials science, all of which he plans to pursue at UWM.
Strong industry presence drew him to UWM
Musinski was attracted to UWM because it is centered in a vibrant and culturally diverse city with a strong industry presence in the areas of manufacturing and automation. “These factors were a huge driving force in my decision to come to UWM,” he said.
He is particularly excited about collaborating with Milwaukee-area industry members. “I look forward to augmenting existing university-industry partnerships and developing new ones by coupling my strengths in solid mechanics and materials science with advanced manufacturing.”
Promising technologies such as additive manufacturing, he said, will enable the next generation of advancements in defense, health care, energy, and transportation.
While working at the AFRL, Musinski mentored undergraduate, graduate, and post-doc researchers as an adjunct professor with the University of Dayton. Among the topics he taught were mechanics of materials and fatigue and fractures of metals and alloys.
“I loved seeing the students grow and helping them discover their own passions,” he says. “At UWM, I look forward to fostering growth in a larger number of students so that they can navigate their next steps and solve the problems they encounter in their careers.”
Musinski earned both his PhD (2014) and master’s degree (2010) in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech.
Contact William Musinski
Email: musinski@uwm.edu
Temporary office: E371F