Brian C. Davis

Biography

Dr. Davis has received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC San Diego (2003), an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines (2012), and a PhD in Materials Science from Colorado School of Mines (2022). His most recent research work focused on the non-linear mechanical response of silicate glasses to sharp indentation. This work was funded by Corning and is part of an overall effort to make display glass more resilient to contact damage.

In the periods between these degrees, he has worked as an engineer in industry, first starting off as a quality engineer at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. During that time, he was extensively involved with Engineers Without Borders USA. This included mentoring student groups at Rice University, while also managing projects and serving as chapter president with the Houston professional chapter. In 2008, he was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship and subsequently lived in Kathmandu while studying small scale renewable energy and pursuing sustainable development projects. He is currently a licensed professional engineer in the state of Texas and has most recently worked as a stress analyst, focusing on solid mechanics and the practical application of finite element analysis.

His future professional plans involve a combination of teaching, research, and service. This includes the continuous improvement of project-based instruction through the establishment of best practices and standardized workflows, the development of education and outreach concerning the application of commercial numerical software packages to research projects, and the promotion of volunteerism in engineering on college campuses. ­