Dan Thoma named Harvey D. Spangler Professor

The College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has named Dan Thoma Harvey D. Spangler Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

Thoma’s research focuses on metal additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. This includes innovative design for multi-functionality in engineering applications, high-throughput experiments to identify new alloys, as well as microstructural control for qualification and certification of engineering components. His work also includes research into the development of new alloys that can withstand the harsh environment inside fusion reactors, and the use of artificial intelligence and automation in the advancement of autonomous research and development for materials science.

Before joining the University of Wisconsin-Madison and serving as the inaugural director of the Grainger Institute for Engineering, a technology accelerator within the College of Engineering, Thoma was deputy division leader for the Materials Science and Technology Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory. There, his work focused on advanced manufacturing and novel materials research.  

Thoma has served as the president of The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS); the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) and the Federation of Materials Societies. He has been elected a fellow of AMS International and TMS and was awarded the AIME Honorary Member Recognition in 2021, the highest honor from the society.