Peter Liaw

Peter Liaw is a distinguished Professor and Ivan Racheff Chair of Excellence at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tickle College of Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. With a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Northwestern University, he has been a faculty member since March 1993, contributing extensively to the study of mechanical behavior, fatigue, fracture, and nondestructive evaluation of advanced materials, including high-entropy alloys and superalloys.

• BS in Physics, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
• PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern University (1980)

His research spans multiple disciplines, focusing on neutron/synchrotron studies, life-prediction methodologies for structural alloys, and processing of bulk-metallic glasses, nano-structural materials, and ceramic-matrix composites. Collaborations with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and leadership in NSF programs (IGERT, IMI, MRI) highlight his impact on materials science education and innovation.

Recent publications emphasize trends in high-entropy alloys, machine learning applications in alloy design, phase transformations, and advanced characterization techniques like STEM and synchrotron diffraction. His work bridges computational modeling, experimental validation, and practical applications across aerospace, biomedical, and energy sectors.

Scientific awards and recognitions include:

• Royal E. Cabell Fellowship
• Westinghouse Outstanding Performance (2011, 2008, 2003)
• Moses E. and Mayme Brooks Distinguished Professor Award (2010)
• National Alumni Association Distinguished Service Professor Award
• TMS Distinguished Service Award (2007)
• Fellow, ASM International (1997)

Peter Liaw has directed major NSF initiatives and mentored graduate students who now lead in academia, industry, and government labs. His contributions to materials science extend to editing 20 books, publishing over 500 papers, and advancing data science in alloy research through partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.