Martin Ostoja-Starzewski

Martin Ostoja-Starzewski is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with affiliate appointments at the Beckman Institute and The Institute for Condensed Matter Theory. His academic leadership includes editorial roles at Acta Mechanica, Journal of Thermal Stresses, and chairing the Managing Editor position for Mathematics and Mechanics of Complex Systems (2012-2023).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Dean's Honour List), McGill University (1983)
• M.Eng. (Thesis option), McGill University (1980)
• Engineer's degree, Cracow University of Technology (1977)

Ostoja-Starzewski's research spans stochastic mechanics, fractal materials, and non-equilibrium thermodynamics, focusing on tensor random fields (TRFs) for modeling heterogeneous media. His work established quantitative bounds for representative volume elements (RVEs) and pioneered continuum models with Second Law violations, connecting micromechanics to global material behavior.

Recent publications examine fractional wave equations, stochastic homogenization, and electromagnetic shielding in nanocomposites. His editorial contributions include editing 16 books/journal issues and co-founding the Modern Mechanics and Mathematics book series.

Scientific Recognition:

• Rothschild Distinguished Visiting Fellow (2023)
• Academia Europaea member (2024)
• European Academy of Sciences and Arts (2022)
• Worcester Reed Warner Medal (ASME, 2018)
• Timoshenko Distinguished Visitor (Stanford, 2012)

He leads NSF's Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Novel High Voltage/Temperature Materials and Structures and maintains active collaborations in computational mechanics, biomedical applications, and multiscale modeling.