NASA engineer joins The University of Akron as the Timken Endowed Chair and Director of the Timken Engineered Surface Laboratory
Dr. Christopher DellaCorte
The College of Engineering and Polymer Science at The University of Akron (国产伦理) will welcome Dr. Christopher DellaCorte to the position of Timken Endowed Chair and Director of the Timken Engineered Surface laboratory (TESL) effective Jan. 2, 2022, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. In this role, he will direct the operations at TESL and develop new opportunities to conduct cutting-edge research in the field of tribology (friction, wear and lubrication). DellaCorte has over 35 years of experience in aerospace technology and tribology and his work on coatings technology was recognized as NASA鈥檚 Government and Commercial Invention of the Year for 2018. He has helped solve major bearing and other mechanical system problems on the International Space Station and for NASA鈥檚 new Space Launch System. Currently, he is employed at the NASA Glenn Research Center as the agency's senior technologist for tribology and rotating machinery.
DellaCorte plans to strengthen the capabilities of the lab and attract a wide range of industrial members to a tribology focused consortium that will spur multiple research projects for faculty and students.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got big plans in the College to push engineering innovation in aerospace, mechanical and automated manufacturing engineering forward, and Dr. DellaCorte will be an instrumental part of this effort,鈥� said Dr. Craig Menzemer, interim dean for the College of Engineering and Polymer Science. 鈥淲e are lucky to have him.鈥�
Experts in tribology understand the science of wear, friction and lubrication, and how interacting surfaces behave in relative motion in natural and artificial systems. Since 2012, The Timken Engineered Surfaces Lab at The University of Akron has been solving complex problems associated with friction and wear so products perform better, are less vulnerable to environmental conditions, and expend less energy.
鈥淭ESL was set up as a novel private-public partnership for developing open-innovation ideas that could quickly be commercialized by private industry,鈥� said Dr. Ajay Mahajan, associate dean for research and industrial engagement for the College. 鈥淲e have had great success in working with industry on research relevant to them and creating a talent pipeline of undergraduate and graduate students well versed in the area of tribology. Dr. DellaCorte shares our passion for further strengthening TESL activities.鈥�
The Timken Engineered Surface Lab is located inside the Engineering Research Center on The University of Akron campus. Tribology and tribological problems are interdisciplinary. Projects and participants often draw upon the university鈥檚 expertise in mechanical engineering, polymer science, advanced materials, chemistry and mathematics. Topics studied can vary widely from improved coatings for deep hole mining operations to long life bearings for space satellites and everything in between.
鈥淒r. DellaCorte is a tribology all-star,鈥� said Dr. Ryan Evans, director of research and development at Timken and a member of the search committee that selected DellaCorte. 鈥淗is research background honors the intent of the Timken chair position to advance tribology technology for the benefit of all.鈥�
Read Dr. Chris DellaCorte鈥檚 complete bio.
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Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.