Kristen Donnell

Kristen Donnell serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), where she holds the Woodard Associate Professor of Excellence title. She concurrently directs the Microwave Sensing (mSense) Laboratory and serves as Interim Director of the Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies (CIES). Her academic appointments are exclusively at Missouri S&T, with no cross-appointments at other institutions.

Her research spans microwave nondestructive testing, thermography, and frequency selective surfaces with applications in structural health monitoring and materials characterization. Dr. Donnell specializes in active microwave thermography for defect detection in composites, concrete structures, and additively manufactured components. Her work integrates electromagnetic theory with thermal imaging to develop novel sensing methodologies for infrastructure assessment.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on advancing frequency selective surface (FSS) technologies for embedded sensing applications, microwave-based quality assessment of additively manufactured parts, and thermographic signal processing techniques. Her research demonstrates consistent innovation in microwave-millimeter wave nondestructive evaluation methods with practical applications in transportation infrastructure and composite materials.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Woodard Associate Professor of Excellence
• Senior Member of IEEE
• Active member of IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society Administrative Committee

Dr. Donnell maintains significant leadership in professional organizations, having served in multiple appointed and elected roles within the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society since 2007. Her research program bridges academic inquiry with practical infrastructure applications through collaborations with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and industry partners. She previously contributed to engineering development at Raytheon Company before pursuing her academic career.

Her laboratory work focuses on the Microwave Sensing (mSense) Laboratory, which specializes in developing microwave and thermographic techniques for structural health monitoring. Current projects emphasize embedded sensing systems for infrastructure assessment and advanced characterization of additively manufactured components using microwave methods.