About
Dr. Robert Kelley Bradley serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Lamar University, with additional experience as a Visiting Faculty Member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) through the DOE Visiting Faculty Program in 2021.
His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Rice University (2000), where he completed his thesis "Large Scale Production of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes" under Nobel laureate Prof. Richard Smalley, and a B.A. in Biochemistry from Beloit College (1996).
Dr. Bradley's research program centers on Nanomaterials and Entrepreneurship, with significant projects in thermoplastic creep behavior, drug delivery microstructures, silicone ferroelectrets, and single-wall carbon nanotube production. His work integrates materials science with industrial engineering to solve practical problems in corrosion prevention, extreme-environment applications, and manufacturing processes. Recent publications demonstrate strong activity in polymer engineering and nanomaterial characterization.
His publication record shows consistent output since 1998, with recent emphasis (2021-2025) on thermoplastic composites, creep modeling, and nanomaterial applications. The research spans Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, and Nanotechnology, with practical focus on industrial implementation and educational innovation.
Dr. Bradley actively mentors undergraduate researchers through Lamar University's SURF program and has secured substantial research funding:
- CMMS Research Grant Competition (2023): $99,572 for thermoplastic composite pipe support pads
- TARC Research Pitch (2023): $10,000 for multi-medium robots with smart skin
- CICE Grant (2021): $4,000 for single-wall carbon nanotube research
- Multiple SURF awards ($1,000 each) from 2020-2025 for undergraduate projects
His collaborative projects involve Prairie View A&M, West Texas A&M, and Texas A&M universities, focusing on interdisciplinary applications including space technologies and environmental materials. Dr. Bradley also contributes to engineering education through online degree programs and hands-on manufacturing curriculum development.
