Steve and Tim talk with Anil Sachdev, a UM Adjunct Professor in Materials Science and Engineering. They talk about Anil's education at MIT, his career at General Motors, and some of the remarkable impacts he made with alloy and process design for GM products. He describes his lifelong journey of controlling microstructure to improve products. He also talks at length about his work with in-situ tensile stages in an SEM using Electron Beam Backscattering Diffraction to detect grain rotation during straining.

Bio:
Anil Sachdev joined GMR&D in 1977 after obtaining his ScD in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT and retired in 2023 as Principal Technical Fellow and Lab Group Manager. His research interests include microstructure design, metal-matrix composites, and high-strength steels for structural applications. His contributions are specifically related to implementing lightweight products by coupling multi-scale in-situ experiments with computational methods to understand phenomena leading to materials and processes tailored for specific component designs. Key contributions include the role of retained austenite stability in dual-phase steels; improving formability of aluminum alloys; developing novel product designs with magnesium castings, tailoring alloys for additive manufacturing and processing lithium metal for high-energy batteries. Sachdev has also established Global research centers including the China Science Lab in Shanghai and the GM India Science Lab in Bangalore and continues to sustain long-term collaborations with universities and research institutions worldwide. He has been a Key Reader for Metallurgical and Materials Transactions for the past 40 years and has 125 patents and 100+ external publications related to light metal developments. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of The Metallurgical Society.

You can find the YouTube version of the podcast here:
https://youtu.be/lbRoGOAXcFw

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).

Steve and Tim talked with Jacob Kelter, the Executive Director of the NetLogo Center at Northwestern University, about how he is using atomistic simulations of fundamental materials processes and concepts to build an interactive digital textbook for an introductory materials science and engineering course. His book is ready for adoption and he would love to help any faculty member out there use it. We talked about NetLogo (a software for creating computational models/simulations), specific chapters on diffusion, microstructural development, and mechanical properties. He also talked to us about pedagogical approaches to using the simulations in the classroom as well as how he includes problems in his book. Jacob also talked about future enhancements to his book.

You can find out more about Jacob, his new textbook, and NetLogo at the following links:

The textbook (Morfli): https://www.morfli.com/(featured course at the bottom of the home page)

NetLogo: https://netlogo.org

Jacob: https://www.jacobkelter.com

Short Bio:

Dr. Jacob Kelter is the Director of the NetLogo Center at Northwestern University. NetLogo is a programming language and environment for agent-based modeling, a computational technique for modeling complex systems made of many interacting parts. It is widely used in both research and education. Kelter co-designed a new introductory materials science and engineering course at Northwestern University based around interactive computational models built with NetLogo. He has also designed and developed a digital platform called "Morfli" aimed at continuously improving educational materials and bridging the gap between educational research and practice. Before his doctoral studies, Kelter co-founded and served as chief scientist for Rise Science, a startup dedicated to helping people improve their sleep and daily energy rhythms.

You can find the YouTube version of the podcast here:
https://youtu.be/7y7VBfzg_SI

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).

Tim and Steve talked with Professor Reg Rogers from University of Missouri in the Chemical and Biomedical Engineering department about his mentoring of students, his background, and the recent development of a new Masters program. Reg is a dedicated teacher and mentor, especially to students who face significant challenges in their college careers. Reg told us many inspiring stories about how he has helped students and how they paid him back with respect and appreciation. Reg also told us about how he puts student problems in perspective with his own story of his near death experience. Take a look as some of the links below to be able to get to know Reg a bit better.

Links:
https://honors.missouri.edu/news/2024/02/overcoming-obstacles-and-encouraging-others/

https://engineering.missouri.edu/2025/rogers-to-receive-distinguished-faculty-award/

https://chenected.aiche.org/2026/01/reginald-rogers-visibility-belonging-and-power-representation
https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginald-rogers-jr-3b70102/

You can find the YouTube version of the podcast here:
https://youtu.be/5FngXKKWXtg

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

Short Bio
Dr. Reginald E. Rogers, Jr. is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Missouri. His research interests are focused primarily on improved water and energy resources using novel nanomaterials. As an educator, Dr. Rogers has continuously integrated undergraduate students in his research efforts to broaden their perspectives on their potential roles on societal challenges as rising engineers. Dr. Rogers has been heavily engaged in educating and training deaf/hard-of-hearing (D/HH) and other underrepresented students in his research activities. Several publications and presentations have featured undergraduate students from underrepresented groups who collaborated on his research. He has given numerous presentations and published multiple articles on his research in addition to education papers. Dr. Rogers has been recognized for his teaching, research, and service efforts through numerous invited speaking engagements and awards. He has been invited to speak on the responsible development of nanotechnology at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Rogers is the inaugural recipient of the Mizzou Alumni Association Gold Standard Distinguished Faculty Award. He is also the inaugural recipient of the Award for Excellence in Chemical Engineering Teaching Practice presented by the Education Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). In addition, Dr. Rogers is the recipient of the AIChE Minority Affairs Community Distinguished Service Award; the Joseph Cannon Award in Chemical Engineering, the Dr. Henry C. McBay Outstanding Teaching Award, and the Dr. Tyrone Mitchell Mentor on the Map Award from the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers; the Dr. Janice A. Lumpkin Educator of the Year Award from the National Society of Black Engineers; and the American Chemical Society Stanley C. Israel Regional Award for Advancing Diversity in the Chemical Sciences.

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).

Tim and Steve talk with Jerry Bourne from Colorado School of Mines about his bladesmithing class in the Materials and Metallurgy department at Colorado School of Mines, and the award-winning TMS Bladesmithing Competition team from Mines. We discuss the importance of applied knowledge for motivating students to develop theoretical knowledge, and the challenges and rewards of delivering a high-enrollment lab project course every semester.

You can find more info about Jerry here:
https://metallurgy.mines.edu/project/bourne-gerald/

Jerry has a YouTube channel for his bladesmithing activities that you can find here:
https://www.youtube.com/@MinesBladesmithing

He also has an instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/mines_bladesmithing/

You can find the YouTube version of the podcast here:
https://youtu.be/oAQVJbfFNrs

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

Short bio:
Short bio:
Gerald Bourne grew up in a small town in eastern Connecticut before moving to Florida. As a non-traditional student, he earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from theUniversity of Florida. Following graduation, he joined the faculty at the University of Florida, where he spent five years developing undergraduate courses and laboratory experiences in materials engineering.
In 2011, Dr. Bourne joined the Colorado School of Mines. He currently serves as the Charles F. Fogarty Endowed Professor and Associate Department Head in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (MME). He has received numerous awards selected by the students at Mines and serves as the primary undergraduate advisor for the department. In addition to teaching and advising, he directs the Physical Metallurgy Laboratory, supporting instructional and research activities across the university.
Dr. Bourne created MTGN333: Introduction to Bladesmithing and has taught the course 18 times. The class has become one of the most sought-after electives at Mines and is oversubscribed every semester. Through this unique course, students apply the principles of metallurgy, heat treatment, and materials characterization while designing and crafting custom knives.
Dr. Bourne's primary professional interests are undergraduate engineering education, laboratory instruction, and hands-on learning. He has developed numerous laboratory courses, directs the Physical Metallurgy Laboratory, and created the nation's only engineering bladesmithing course that integrates metallurgy, heat treatment, and knife making. His educational outreach through the Mines Bladesmithing program has reached millions of viewers online while inspiring students to explore materials engineering.
His technical interests include materials characterization using optical and electron microscopy, focused ion beam microscopy, electron and X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, nanoindentation, and nanowear testing. He has authored or co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed journal publications.
Outside the university, Dr. Bourne enjoys spending time at his mountain home, restoring old cars in his garage, and attending Colorado School of Mines student events.

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).

Steve and Tim talk with Professor Liz Holm about teaching thermodynamics, life as a department chair, and the future of Materials Science and Engineering.

The YouTube video can be found here:
https://youtu.be/6ZHt4haqgJg

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).

Tim and Steve talk with Dr. Loulou Batta about her experiences as a grad student and her thoughts about her future now that she is getting her PhD in the week we filmed this podcast. We discuss topics from sustainable fiber composites to helping new graduate students acclimate to a new living environment to the value (or lack thereof?) of coursework in a PhD program.

The YouTube video can be found here:
https://youtu.be/YncBxEr_ADY

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).

Tim and Steve talk with Professor Alan Taub, the director of the University of Michigan EV Center and former Vice President of General Motors, director of global R&D for GM for 20 years.

Bio:
Alan Taub joined the faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan in the Fall of 2012. In this role, Taub is conducting research in advanced materials and processing. He founded and served as CTO of the Manufacturing USA Institute Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT), founded the Michigan Materials Research Institute and serves as the director of the newly formed University of Michigan Electrical Vehicle Center.
Taub retired from General Motors in April 2012. Prior to retirement, he was vice president, Global Research & Development, leading GM’s advanced technical work activity, seven science laboratories around the world including the Israel Advanced Technology Center, and seven global science offices. He joined GM R&D as executive director in 2001 and was named vice president in 2009.
Taub advises several startups including C2a and X2F, is technical advisor for the strategic venture capital fund, Auto Tech Ventures and serves on the Technology and Strategy Committees for Bocar and Master Fluid Solutions.
Before joining GM, Taub worked at Ford Motor Company for eight years. Before that he spent 15 years in research and development at General Electric (GE), where he earned 25 patents. He has also authored more than 80 papers and has 27 patents.
Taub received his bachelor’s degree in materials engineering from Brown University and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in applied physics from Harvard University. Taub was elected to membership in the National Academy of Engineering in 2006 and elected to the council for NAE in 2016 and 2019. He became an SME Fellow in 2019 and a TMS Fellow in 2018. He served as the Chair for the Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology (VCAT) for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and on advisory boards for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and the University of California Davis and Berkeley.
Among other recognitions and honors, Taub received the 2020 TMS Application to Practice Award and the 2011 Acta Materialia Materials & Society Award. In 2010, ASM International’s Rocky Mountain Chapter awarded Taub the Charles S. Barrett Medal from. In 2007, he was invited to give the TMS-50th Anniversary Laureate Lecture. He received the 2004 Materials Research Society’s Special Recognition Award and the 2002 Woody White Service Award. Brown University awarded Taub the Engineering Alumni Medal in 2002.

The YouTube video can be found here:
https://youtu.be/4f-aPXslEN0

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).

Steve and Tim talk with Professor Ashwin Shahani about his role as undergraduate chair, how he approaches teaching kinetics with ChatGPT and vibe coding, as well as his research in solidification science. Professor Shahani also talks about how he is incorporating his work with Hydro, an Al production company, to help them upcycle post-consumer scrap Al into high-quality products.

Short Bio:
Shahani is an Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan. His group specializes in the application of advanced characterization methods for the study of phase and structural transformations in metallic materials. In support of his research pursuits, Shahani has won the AFOSR YIP award in 2017, ARO YIP in 2018, and NSF CAREER in 2019. Recently, in 2025, he won PECASE, the highest honor bestowed by the federal government to young scientists beginning their academic careers.

Learn more about his teaching and research activities at: https://www.ashwinshahani.com/

The YouTube video can be found here:
https://youtu.be/PGPM47J8qWc

Our YouTube channel can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/@Undercooled.Materials

This episode is sponsored by the TMS Foundation (https://www.tms.org/TMSFoundation/TMSFoundation/Default.aspx), The Electric Vehicle Center (EVC) at the University of Michigan (https://evc.engin.umich.edu/), and the University of Michigan Materials Science and Engineering department (https://mse.engin.umich.edu).