Jim Fitz-Gerald

Jim Fitz-Gerald is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. His research focuses on corrosion science, electrochemical systems, surface engineering, and laser-based materials processing. He has pioneered innovations in laser surface modification for corrosion resistance, particularly in magnesium alloys, and developed techniques like Laser Ablation Coating Removal (LACR) for infrastructure maintenance. Fitz-Gerald holds a 2017 AVS Fellowship for contributions to laser-solid interactions and thin film materials. He teaches courses in engineering fundamentals and materials manufacturing.

Research Interests:

• Corrosion and Electrochemical Sciences
• Laser-Materials Interactions
• Surface Characterization
• Additive Manufacturing
• Thin Film Deposition

Key Awards:

• Fellow of the AVS (2017)
• Mead Endowment Award (2016)
• Hartfield-Jefferson Scholars Teaching Prize (2013)

Notable Projects:

• Active corrosion protection of magnesium alloys via functional anodic coatings (US Army, 2013–2017)
• Implementation of LACR for VDOT bridges (Virginia Transportation Research Council, 2016–2018)
• Co-PI of a $4.3M DARPA project to strengthen naval materials via adaptive corrosion control (2020–2023)

He has advised numerous undergraduate research initiatives and contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed articles, spanning laser surface engineering, alloy design, and corrosion mitigation strategies.