Alan Druschitz

Alan Druschitz is a Professor of Practice and Eminent Scholar in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Virginia Tech. He serves as Director of the Kroehling Advanced Materials Foundry and the Virginia Tech Foundry Institute for Research and Education (VT FIRE). His research focuses on advanced casting processes, alloy development, and materials testing, with emphasis on ballistic materials, corrosion resistance, and non-destructive evaluation.

Dr. Druschitz holds a B.S. and Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. He has been recognized with the 2018 College of Engineering Dean's Award for Excellence in Service.

His work spans cutting-edge areas such as additive manufacturing for casting molds, advanced heat treatments for ferrous alloys, and the development of lightweight metal cellular structures. He has pioneered novel sacrificial anode technologies and explored the mechanical properties of intercritically austempered ductile irons through neutron diffraction studies.

Dr. Druschitz's research also addresses industrial challenges like mitigating porosity in castings, optimizing lost foam casting processes, and improving the performance of automotive components through material innovation. His contributions bridge academic research with practical applications in manufacturing and materials engineering.