Advancing research and service – Mark Anderson promoted to Professor

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is proud to announce Mark Anderson’s promotion to professor after 7-years of service with the department. Anderson’s dedication to research, belief in the Wisconsin Idea, and collaborative efforts make him a great asset to our department and university. 

Anderson directs the UW-Madison Thermal Hydraulics Laboratory where his research focuses on energy production, efficiency improvements, and sustainability. With the goal of developing new innovative ways to produce, store, and access energy in a sustainable, economically competitive, and environmentally conscious way, Anderson leads the field in advanced energy system research. Some examples of his accomplishments in the field include: 

• First ever use of distributed optical fibers for highly resolved temperature measurements to study critical heat flux and flows in liquid sodium and molten salts. 
• Working with major power plant developers to design advanced power generation. Significant work with Terra Power on their Sodium cooled fast reactor technology which will be the first advanced reactor built in the US and can be used to consume waste from existing light water reactors. 
• Advanced supercritical carbon dioxide power conversion systems with higher efficiency and higher power density than existing Rankine power cycles.   
• Advanced high temperature energy storage solutions using molten salt, to aid in the adoption of renewable energy for microgrid applications.

In addition to fundamental research, Anderson’s service to the local and global community demonstrates his commitment to advancing the field. With an interest in expanding diversity in engineering, Anderson works with minority-serving institutions, more specifically Native American serving institutions, to build relationships and bring students to UW. He has worked with local elementary school STEAM Programs, organized several conferences, and served on many review and advisory panels. Internationally, he has worked to introduce, promote and advance clean net-zero carbon emission technologies with both developed and developing countries.

Anderson’s focus is to create more sustainable power generation that does less harm to the environment and still allows progress and growth to society. Through his innovative research, dedication to service, corporate/community collaborations, and expertise, Anderson is sure to reach these goals. The department is excited to continue to watch Anderson influence the field and reach new milestones.