Alan Luo
Professor
Donald D. Glower Chair in Engineering
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Department of Integrated Systems Engineering
College of Engineering
A trailblazer in lightweight materials and advanced manufacturing, Alan Luo has reshaped how new alloys are conceived, engineered and brought into industrial use. His work has accelerated the development of light metals that improve efficiency and sustainability across the automotive and transportation sectors. Since joining Ohio State in 2013, he has led collaborative efforts that connect materials research with real-world manufacturing challenges.
Luo’s contributions include developing predictive, model-based methods that replace traditional trial-and-error approaches and significantly shorten the time required to design new alloys. Through collaborations with companies such as General Motors, Honda, Ford and Alcoa, he has enhanced light-metal manufacturing across the automotive sector and strengthened the link between materials research and industrial practice. This work has reshaped how manufacturers approach materials design for performance and sustainability. His achievements have been recognized at the highest levels of the profession, including election to the National Academy of Engineering in 2023 and the National Academy of Inventors in 2025.
A dedicated educator, Luo has promoted integrated learning in materials processing through classroom, laboratory and simulation-based instruction. He has mentored students and emerging researchers across multiple disciplines, and his industry-connected projects drawn from real manufacturing challenges give his students authentic, practice-based learning experiences.
Luo directs the Advanced Casting Research Center at Ohio State, one of North America’s largest industry–university consortia in metal processing and manufacturing. The center’s broad industry membership reflects Luo’s success in building sustained partnerships across the manufacturing sector. Nationally, he has served on committees of the National Academy of Engineering and helped found and shape major Manufacturing USA initiatives focused on energy reduction and lightweight innovation. He continues to advance national efforts in energy-efficient, low-carbon manufacturing and is working with industry and academic partners to innovate AI-enabled smart and resilient manufacturing. Internationally, he has chaired major conferences, served on editorial boards and held leadership roles in multiple professional societies.
