April 22, 2024 Professor Tim Osswald retires in Spring 2024 Written By: Caitlin Scott Departments: Mechanical Engineering Categories: Faculty Professor Tim Osswald Charismatic professor Tim Osswald has impacted countless students during his 35 years as a teacher and researcher in UW Mechanical Engineering and he is renowned worldwide as a giant in the field of polymers. We reflected on his career as he prepares to retire in spring 2024. Thank you to Tim for everything he’s contributed to our students and the engineering community around the world! Osswald started at UW-Madison as an assistant professor in 1989. In summer 2024 alone he is involved with 15 independent study and research thesis courses, so he’s not ‘going away’ by any means. The ‘Plastics Prof’ has much still to pass on. Former student Isabelle Hanson shared, “I thoroughly enjoyed working in the Polymer Engineering Center and taking his classes. I learned a lot from him that has been useful in my work and am thankful to have been able to start my career with a vast knowledge of polymers. Congratulations to Professor Osswald on a fantastic career, and best wishes for his retirement!” Current undergraduate students added their respect by selecting Osswald as the 2024 Pi Tau Sigma Distinguished Teaching Award recipient. Osswald’s graduate student Paula Hohoff attended the banquet on April 10th to accept the award on Osswald’s behalf. Paula Hohoff, pictured with Darryl Thelen and Michael Sohn, accepts the 2024 Pi Tau Sigma Teaching Award on Prof. Osswald’s behalf. Throughout his career, Osswald has published over 400 papers and twelve books. He serves as faculty advisor to SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) and Theta Tau. He also serves as the English Language Editor of The Journal of Plastics Technology, and as an Editor for the Americas of the Journal of Polymer Engineering. Osswald was recognized with the 2001 VDI-K Dr.-Richard-Escales-Prize by the Association of German Tool and Moldmakers. This is a media prize awarded every three years for outstanding achievements in communicating technical plastics knowledge. He currently holds the Kuo K. and Cindy F. Wang Professorship and he is a prior recipient of the Educator of the Year Award from the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Milwaukee Section. Osswald with University of Erlangen-Nuremberg colleagues in Germany in 2013. Over the years, Osswald has taught on polymer processing, designing with polymers and polymer composites processing. His research in polymer engineering includes modeling and simulation in polymer processing, and engineering design with plastics, sustainability, and biopolymers. Osswald is a co-Director of the Polymer Engineering Center at UW-Madison and is Honorary Professor of Plastics Technology at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany and the National University of Colombia. Osswald has served as a consultant to several industries, is one of the co-founders of The Madison Group, and is on the technical and scientific advisory boards of several companies. He has also served as an expert witness in polymer engineering litigation, including product failure, as well as patents and intellectual property. Introduction to Composites course in 2013. During his leisure time, Osswald enjoys studying and documenting the history of plastics and rubbers, a hobby that led to Osswald calling himself a “frustrated historian.” Basically, there’s nothing plastics-related that he can’t do! His own reflections What are some highlights from your career here in UW Mechanical Engineering? Together with my graduate students and colleagues we created the Polymer Engineering Center and developed the most complete set of courses for undergraduates and graduates in the field of polymer engineering. I authored and co-authored 12 books which have been translated into many languages. I graduated over 40 PhD students. What are you going to miss? I will miss teaching my undergraduate courses. What are you most proud of? The numerous teaching awards I received. Any parting messages for your students or colleagues? No matter how difficult the job gets, always take time for family What are your plans for retirement? I will dedicate my time to writing our family history as well as to our natural rubber tree plantation in Colombia and natural rubber research company that I have created with my Colombian research partners. Kids visiting the Polymer Engineering Center in 2014. Featured image: Osswald and Composites students hoist their canoe in 2014.