David Bayless

Dr. David Bayless is a Professor and Department Chair of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Missouri S&T. He also serves as Interim Director of the NASA Missouri Space Grant Consortium. He holds a B.S. from University of Missouri–Rolla (1987), M.S. from University of Central Florida (1992), and Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1995). His research focuses on energy and environmental technology creation, including lunar resource utilization, algal biotechnology, and pollution control. With over $22M in research funding, he has pioneered technologies like ECO 2 Capture Inc., a startup leveraging his intellectual property. He is a Professional Engineer (MO/OH), Fellow of ASME and NAI, and recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Engineering Educator Award.

• Education: BSME ’87 (Missouri S&T), MS ’92 (UCF), Ph.D. ’95 (UIUC)
• Affiliations: Missouri S&T, NASA Missouri Space Grant Consortium
• Key Roles: Department Chair, Interim Director, Startup Founder

His research integrates multiphase fluid mechanics, carbon recycling, and aerospace materials. Innovations include lunar regolith processing systems, magnetic-electrostatic separation techniques, and bioengineered algae solutions for CO₂ sequestration. Over 60 peer-reviewed publications and multiple patents reflect his contributions to energy systems, environmental remediation, and engineering pedagogy.

Dr. Bayless’s leadership education initiatives include creating the ABET-accredited Energy Engineering program at Ohio University and founding ASEE’s Engineering Leadership Development Division. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world problem-solving in engineering education.