The Department of Mechanical Engineering at UC Riverside welcomes Professor Lorenzo Mangolini as its new chair, bringing more than 15 years of experience at UCR and a research program focused on plasma science and engineering.
Mangolini joined UCR’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2010 after earning his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, in 2007 and gaining experience in industry.
His research group studies plasma science and engineering, including applications in semiconductor processing, energy materials, and materials designed to operate in extreme environments. Mangolini has received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award. He also co-founded a startup working to bring plasma-produced materials to the battery market.
“I am incredibly thankful for the support of my colleagues, and I look forward to serving the department as chair,” Mangolini said. “The ME Department at UCR is at an important juncture. It has experienced significant growth in recent years, right at a time when new technologies, such as AI and robotics, are reshaping the industry and changing the skills required of our graduates.”
Mangolini said the department is well positioned to respond to those changes because of its faculty and staff and their commitment to students.
“Our department will rise to this challenge because it is home to incredibly dedicated faculty and staff who are deeply committed to the education and success of our students,” he said.