Richard D. Sisson, Jr.

Richard D. Sisson, Jr. is currently the George F. Fuller Professor, the Director of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering and the Director of the Center for Heat Treating Excellence at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Prof. Sisson recently was the Dean of Graduate Studies for the 5 years which ended in June 2014. Professor Sisson has been with Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a total of thirty nine years. In addition, he has taught at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and has been a Research Metallurgist with Savannah River National Laboratory and a Staff Engineer with Exxon Chemical Company.

Professor Sisson received his B.S. Metallurgical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1969, his M.S. in 1971, and Ph.D. in 1975 in Materials Science and Engineering from Purdue University.

Professor Sisson’s main research interest is the application of the fundamentals of diffusion kinetics, modeling and thermodynamics to the solution of materials problems. He is currently working on the heat treatment of steels and aluminum alloys as well as additive manufacturing of ceramics and metals. He has also worked on the effects of deposition process parameters on the microstructure and cyclic thermal stability of partially stabilized zirconia thermal barrier coating and the green processing ceramics . His research work has resulted in over two hundred and fifty publications and over two hundred and fifty technical presentations.

In addition, Professor Sisson has been recognized by Worcester Polytechnic Institute for his excellent teaching and research with the inaugural WPI, Chairman’s Exemplary Faculty Prize 2007. He has also received the WPI Trustees Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Scholarship in 2017 and the WPI Trustees Award for outstanding teaching in 1987. In 2014, he was chosen as the Outstanding Materials Engineer (OSME) award winners as a Purdue Alumnus for his work in applying fundamental science in transport phenomena, phase transformations and phase equilibria as well as for his leadership role as Dean of Graduate Studies at WPI. He has also been recognized with the Virginia Tech College of Engineering, Academy of Engineering Excellence 2006. ASMu honored Prof. Sisson with the “Distinguished Life Membership” award in 2013. He has advised more than 20 Ph.D. students, 10 Post-Doctoral Fellows and over 100 M.S. students. Professor Sisson is a Fellow of ASM International.