QuesTek co-founder Prof Greg Olson joins Massachusetts Institute of Technology
February 7, 2020
QuesTek Innovations LLC, a leading developer of metal alloys based in Evanston, Illinois, USA, has announced that Professor Greg Olson, the company’s co-founder, Chief Science Officer, and a member of its Board of Directors, has joined the faculty of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as Thermo-Calc Professor of the Practice. Prior to this, Prof Olson was a full-tenured professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University.
Called the ‘father of materials design’ by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Prof Olson and his work have led to the rapid design and development of materials through computational modelling and simulation. As co-founder and Chief Science Officer of QuesTek Innovations, his leadership and systems resulted in the development of high-performance metal alloys, used in aerospace, defence, oil and gas and high-performance automotive applications. His new affiliation with MIT is expected to expand the research assets available to QuesTek and its clients.
Prof Olson received his Doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT and has previously been honoured with election to National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS), Fellowship in TMS, and the ASM International Gold Medal. QuesTek states that his approach to materials design has been highlighted in numerous technology reports, including a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) / Materials Genome Initiative success story on design and deployment of Ferrium M54 steel into US Navy applications.
QuesTek explained that Dr Olson’s departure from Northwestern University will not affect the company’s close relationship with the university’s industrial outreach programme and its Materials Science and Engineering department and facilities. “This is an exciting time for Greg,” commented Dr Jason Sebastian, QuesTek President. “His role as QuesTek Chief Science Officer will be enhanced with more of his time devoted to working with the QuesTek team. In addition, in his new position at MIT, Greg will be collaborating with other top material science researchers, which benefits everyone.”
