Hahn Choo

Hahn Choo serves as Professor and Associate Department Head in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, within the Tickle College of Engineering. His academic leadership spans both administrative and research domains, with extensive contributions to materials characterization and structural alloys research.

His educational journey began with a Bachelor's in Metallurgical Engineering from Sung Kyun Kwan University (1988), followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (1991, 1998). Postdoctoral research at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center preceded his 2001 appointment at UT Knoxville, where he progressed from assistant professor to tenured associate professor (2007) and ultimately to full Professor.

Professor Choo's research centers on mechanical behavior of materials, with specialized expertise in neutron and synchrotron x-ray diffraction techniques applied to amorphous, nanocrystalline, and ultrafine-grained alloys. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in additive manufacturing (particularly laser powder bed fusion), in situ characterization of deformation mechanisms, texture evolution in structural metals, and advanced applications of neutron imaging. His work bridges fundamental materials science with practical engineering solutions for high-performance alloys.

• 2019, 2013 Leon and Nancy Cole Superior Teaching Award
• 2015 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2014 TCE Teaching Fellow Award
• 2012 Top Cited Article Award (Elsevier)
• Multiple Engineering Research Fellow Awards (2005-2011)
• 2006 Professional Promise in Research Award
• 2004 Outstanding Young Faculty Researcher Award

His research group has produced over 150 journal publications and 300+ technical presentations, including 40+ invited talks at international conferences. As Associate Editor for the Journal of Texture, Stress, and Microstructure and Board of Review member for Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, he actively shapes the field. His laboratory leverages major national facilities including ORNL's Spallation Neutron Source and synchrotron radiation facilities for cutting-edge materials characterization.