Charles L Tucker

Charles L Tucker is a Research Professor and Alexander D. Rankin Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Grainger College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Science & Engineering. He holds a PhD from MIT (1978) and has held academic leadership roles including Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Innovation (2013–2017).

His research focuses on polymer processing, composite materials, and manufacturing processes. Notable contributions include fiber orientation modeling in injection molding, thermal dispersion in liquid composites, and optimal design methodologies. His fiber orientation model is globally integrated into commercial software.

Recent work emphasizes long-fiber thermoplastic composites, uncertainty quantification in material characterization, and chaos theory applications in polymer mixing. Over 30 years of impactful contributions have earned him Fellow status in ASME and multiple teaching awards including the Harriet Luckman Distinguished Teaching Award.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (1978)
  • S.M. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (1977)
  • S.B. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT (1975)
• Key Honors:
  • ASME Fellow (1996)
  • Alexander Rankin Professor (2003–2017)
  • Five-Year Alumni Effective Teacher Award (1987, 1998, 2000)

His advising and administrative leadership spanned undergraduate education innovation, curriculum development, and student mentorship. Research extends to optimal design of extrusion dies, thermal modeling in composites, and patented fiber orientation control techniques for fuel cell components.