Dr. John Balk Materials Engineering

Welcome to the Balk research group web site

John Balk, PhD, PE
Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering
University of Kentucky
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
177 F. Paul Anderson Tower
Lexington, KY 40506-0046

Tel: (859) 257-4582
Fax: (859) 323-1929
Email: balk@engr.uky.edu

Our group works on a variety of research projects addressing the processing, structure and properties of nanostructured metals and alloys. Current focus areas include:
• structure, deformation mechanisms and mechanical behavior of nanoporous noble metals
• in situ transmission electron microscopy
• thin film plasticity
• anelasticity in nanocrystalline metals
• noble metal coatings for dispenser cathodes
• integrating iron and steel metallurgy into MSE curriculum at UK

Brief Biography

Visiting Scientist (2000 to 2002) and Staff Scientist (2002 to 2004)
Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Stuttgart, Germany
PhD (2000) and MS (1997)
Materials Science and Engineering
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
BS (1995)
Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Berkeley, CA

News Headlines

Sept. 2009: Elizabeth Fadde selected for the Edison Engineering Program at GE Energy in Greenville, SC.

Spring 2009: Dr. Balk receives teaching awards at the college, departmental and university levels:
Outstanding Materials Engineering Teacher Award at UK (MSE Program)
Henry Mason Lutes Award for Undergraduate Engineering Education (College of Engineering)
Provost’s Award for Outstanding Teaching at UK

Dec. 2008: Dr. Balk awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER grant

Dec. 2008: Ye Sun receives his PhD and begins a post-doc at CAER in Lexington, KY

Fall 2008: Dr. Balk completes licensure as a Professional Engineer in Kentucky