
Edgar Lara-Curzio
Distinguished Scientist, Leader Mechanical Properties & Mechanics Group; Co-Director, ORNL's Fossil Energy Program
Bio
As Leader of the Mechanical Properties & Mechanics Group in the Materials Science & Technology Division (MSTD) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Edgar Lara-Curzio leads and manages the scientific and technical operations of a group of 20+ researchers focused on the development and characterization of functional and structural materials for applications in energy and national security. Lara-Curzio served as Director of the HTML User Program between 2007 and 2012 and coordinated the integration of science and physical resources in MSTD between 2013 and 2015.
In 2001 Lara-Curzio developed and implemented an Internship Program for Laboratory Technicians at ORNL, which has created a pipeline for a new generation of technicians with the skills needed to support current and future missions of ORNL. Today more than 35 former interns holding associate’s and/or bachelor’s degrees are employed as full-time technicians at ORNL.
In 2008 and 2009 Lara-Curzio co-chaired and chaired, respectively, the first two $1M+ United Way fundraising campaigns at ORNL.
Lara-Curzio has been a principal investigator for several research projects sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, other Federal Agencies and industry, and has successfully led multiple collaborative projects with industry and academia. His areas of expertise include: mechanical behavior of materials, in particular materials for power generation and for the conversion, transmission, utilization and storage of energy;
He has authored or co-authored more than 260 papers and 6 U.S. patents, and has given more than 50 invited presentations at national and international meetings.
Lara-Curzio was a member of the Board of Directors of ACerS between * and * and member of the External Advisory Board for the Institute for Materials at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Lara-Curzio is a Fellow of both ACerS and ASTM and a member of Alpha Sigma Mu the International Metallurgical Honorary Society.