John S Popovics

John S. Popovics is a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), serving as Associate Head of Undergraduate Studies since 2020. He holds a Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University (1994) and B.S./M.S. degrees from Drexel University (1988/1990). His academic career includes roles at Drexel University, Northwestern University, and international visiting positions in Spain and France.

Dr. Popovics specializes in non-destructive evaluation (NDE), structural health monitoring, and concrete durability. His research focuses on ultrasonic testing, wave propagation, and material degradation processes, with over 75 journal articles and 80 conference proceedings. He is affiliated with the Center for Advanced Cement-Based Materials (ACBM) and serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation.

He is a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), and has received awards including the NSF CAREER Award (1999) and ASNT Fellowship (2012). His teaching spans materials properties, corrosion, and non-destructive testing, earning him multiple teaching accolades and student evaluations as 'excellent.'

Dr. Popovics actively participates in professional societies, including the ASCE and American Academy of Mechanics, and chairs committees on structural health monitoring and NDE. His service roles include leading UIUC's Materials area, advising federal agencies, and contributing to campus initiatives like the Center for Writing Studies.