Adam Clayton Powell

Adam Clayton Powell is an Associate Professor in the Mechanical & Materials Engineering department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where he has been a faculty member since August 2018. His research focuses on advanced sustainable materials and manufacturing, particularly in greenhouse gas emissions reduction, metallurgy, and clean energy technologies. He holds a PhD in Materials Engineering from MIT (1997) and a dual SB in Economics and Materials Science & Engineering from MIT (1992).

Dr. Powell's research emphasizes mathematical and techno-economic modeling of metal processes, including electrochemical systems for low-emission manufacturing. He has authored nine open-source computational tools for materials processing and microstructure modeling. He serves as Director of WPI's MQP Project Centers in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan, fostering international collaboration.

His awards include the WPI James Nichols Heald Research Award (2021), TMS Extraction & Processing Division Distinguished Service Award (2013), and the IOM3 Mann Redmayne Medal (2008). He holds 19 patents and has published over 95 articles across materials engineering, energy systems, and sustainability.

Dr. Powell advises numerous student projects, including robotic surgical instruments and sustainable materials innovations. His work with SilarTek focuses on low-cost solar silicon production. He advocates for global R&D partnerships to address climate challenges and industrial sustainability.