Brian S Mercer

Brian S Mercer is a Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Science & Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), part of the Grainger College of Engineering. He holds a B.S. from UCLA (2010), M.S. and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (2013, 2016). His research focuses on computational solid mechanics, multiscale modeling, molecular dynamics, and engineering education. He has been recognized for excellence in teaching across multiple courses, including ME 330, ME 371, ME 471, TAM 251, and TAM 470.

• Education:
• B.S. Mechanical Engineering, UCLA, 2010
• M.S. Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley, 2013
• Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley, 2016

Research interests include finite element analysis, additive manufacturing, and the application of molecular dynamics to study material behavior, such as PPTA crystallites and Co-Cr-Mo alloys. His work bridges computational methods and practical engineering education, emphasizing scalable teaching strategies and computational tool literacy.

Recent articles highlight contributions to additive manufacturing microstructure prediction, molecular dynamics analysis of crystallites, and homogenization of high-frequency wave propagation. He actively contributes to the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).