Prof. Kumar Sridharan is Grainger Professor in the Departments of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics and Materials Science & Enginerring at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His expertise spans a broad spectrum of areas in the field of materials science and metallurgy, including nuclear reactor materials, corrosion, physical metallurgy, surface modification and coatings processes, ion implantation, plasma-based synthesis and deposition of materials, characterization and testing of materials, intersections of materials and manufacturing, and industrial applications. He has over 350 publications in these areas including eight invited book chapters, journal articles, reviewed conference proceedings, and industry/national laboratory reports. Prof. Sridharan has provided research mentorship to over 100 graduate and undergraduate students, post-doctoral research associates, staff scientists, and incoming faculty. He serves on the editorial committee of the journal, Advanced Materials & Processes which specializes in reports on cutting-edge, applications-driven materials research and associated manufacturing processes. In 2013 he received the University of Wisconsin, Madison’s Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research. In 2016, he received the Faculty Recognition Award given for enriching and inspiring collegiate experience of undergraduate students by Leaders in Engineering Excellence and Diversity in the University of Wisconsin, Madison’s College of Engineering. Prof. Sridharan is an elected Fellow of American Society for Materials, Fellow of Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining, United Kingdom, and Fellow of American Nuclear Society in recognition for his contributions to the fields of surface modification and coatings technologies, nuclear reactor materials, and education.