Christopher Hansen

Christopher J. Hansen is a Professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, serving as Chair and Site Director for the SHAP3D Center. He is affiliated with the Francis College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and collaborates with programs like SWIMMER, ADVANCE, and WindSTAR. His research spans additive manufacturing, multifunctional composites, and sustainable materials.

• Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering (2011), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• B.S. in Materials Engineering (2005), Iowa State University

Research focuses on Additive Manufacturing (3D/4D printing, multi-material systems), Composite Processing (automated fiber placement, wind turbine blades), Safer Materials (toxic solvent reduction), and Engineering Education (student motivation in hands-on courses). Recent articles highlight innovations in vat photopolymerization, multi-material FDM, and metamaterial optimization, emphasizing thermal management, predictive modeling, and sustainable design.

Grants include NSF support for SHAP3D, NASA-funded space structures research, and DOE contributions to wind energy. Teaching includes undergraduate courses in Materials Science and graduate-level Composite Processing.