The McDowell Laboratory


Education

  • Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1983
  • M.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1981
  • B.S., University of Nebraska, 1979

Teaching Interests

Professor McDowell’s teaching interests include fundamental and advanced courses in solid mechanics, materials science, and the mechanics of materials at both undergraduate and graduate levels. His instruction emphasizes the integration of experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches to understand material behavior. Professor McDowell is committed to fostering student involvement in research and developing critical thinking skills through problem-solving and hands-on learning experiences.

Research Interests

Professor McDowell’s research focuses on the multiscale mechanics of materials, including the coupled experimental and computational study of deformation and failure mechanisms. His work addresses phenomena such as microstructure-property relations, plasticity, and damage evolution in metals and alloys. The research integrates advanced modeling techniques and characterization to inform materials design and lifetime prediction under complex loading conditions. Student participation is an integral aspect of his research program.

Recent Publications

  • AK Sharma, BS Vishnugopi, EP Alsaç, MT McDowell, PP Mukherjee, Passivation‐Induced Species Dynamics and Microstructural Evolution in Solid‐State Lithium–Sulfur Cathodes, Advanced Science, e20537, 2026
  • MR Morrell, SB Kaudur, J Shin, S Flagg, I Goyal, J Pyo, E Barbosa, ..., Pathways to High-Performance Salt Hydrate Thermochemical Energy Storage Materials and Systems, ACS Energy Letters, 2026
  • S Parvin, E Aransiola, S Saini, MT McDowell, S Lee, J Weber, Y Wu, Y Li, ..., From Pure to Seawater Electrolysis: Unveiling the Impact of Ionic Species and Contaminants on Electrocatalysis, ACS electrochemistry, 2025
  • EP Alsaç, AK Sharma, SG Yoon, BS Vishnugopi, C Wang, TA Thomas, ..., Linking Pressure to Electrochemical Evolution in Solid-State Conversion Cathode Composites, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2025
  • WJ Jeong, DL Nelson, C Wang, SG Yoon, D Roh, EP Alsaç, KA Cavallaro, ..., Tracking Interphase Growth at Alloy Anode Interfaces in Sulfide Solid-State Batteries, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025