Biography
Dr. Curtis R. Taylor is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs for the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida (UF). He received his B.S. degree (1998) in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland, and his M.S. (2002) and Ph.D. (2005) as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrated Graduate Education, Research, and Training (IGERT) Fellow in physics (microelectronics-photonics) from the University of Arkansas. Before joining Florida in 2008, he was an Assistant Professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Taylor has also held research appointments with the U.S. Air Force and the National Center for Electron Microscopy at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.
He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in solid mechanics and directs the nanomechanics and manufacturing research lab at UF. Nanomechanics deals with the study and application of fundamental mechanical properties of physical systems at the nanoscale, such as elastic, thermal, and kinetic. The application of this research seeks to develop advanced manufacturing capabilities and new technologies that utilize the unique properties of nanomaterials (i.e., lightweight, durable nano coatings, multifunctional nanocomposites, etc.).
In 2007, he was nominated for the Outstanding Teacher Award for the State of Virginia. He received the 2011 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Southeast Region New Faculty Research Award. His work in engineering education research has focused on the use of technology in education. This work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and nationally recognized by ASEE with several awards including two Best Paper Awards and presentation in the Outstanding Contributions to Mechanical Engineering Education Symposium at the 2009 ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition. His work has been exhibited in museums throughout Florida. He has held numerous service and leadership positions at the department, college, university, and professional societies levels.Nanomanufacturing, nanomechanics, material synthesis and characterization
Education
Ph.D., 2005, University of Arkansas