David R Salem

Dr. David R Salem is a Professor at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with joint appointments in the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Karen M. Swindler Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Department of Nanoscience and Biomedical Engineering. He serves as Director of the Composites and Polymer Engineering Laboratory (CAPE) and the Composite and Nanocomposite Advanced Manufacturing Center (CNAM Center), which he joined in 2010.

Education:

• B.S. from University of Bradford, U.K.
• Ph.D. from University of Manchester, U.K.

His research focuses on process-structure property relationships in polymers, composites, and nanocomposites. Key areas include multiscale reinforcement of polymers, strain-induced molecular ordering, advanced composite manufacturing, lightweight impact-resistant composites, self-assembled nanocomposites, energy-absorbing materials, polymer flexoelectricity for energy storage, micro/nano-channeled composites, and microbial polymers.

His recent publications demonstrate strong focus on sustainable materials development, including biopolymer production, biomass conversion, nanocomposite synthesis, and machine learning applications in materials science. Research trends show increasing emphasis on green manufacturing techniques, bio-based materials, and energy storage solutions.

Dr. Salem's work involves significant industry collaboration through contracts, consortia, and government partnerships, including technology transfer activities. He leads the CAPE Lab and CNAM Center, focusing on scale-up and industrial applications of composite materials.