Dr. Kevin Hemker

Biography

Kevin Hemker is the Alonzo G. Decker Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on the underlying atomic-level details that govern the mechanical response, performance, and reliability of diverse material systems. Hemker holds joint appointments in the Departments of Materials Science Engineering and Earth and Planetary Sciences. His research group has made significant discoveries that challenge the community’s understanding of materials behavior, particularly in nanocrystalline materials, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and thermal barrier coatings for gas turbines and armor ceramics in extreme environments. His work involves projects that explore the deformation behavior and grain growth in nanocrystalline materials, characterizing multilayered thermal protection systems, and developing metallic materials for MEMS applications. Hemker is the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Additive Manufacturing of Architected Materials (JAM2) and has led various sponsored research projects for organizations such as the United States Air Force and the National Science Foundation. He has received numerous accolades, including the Materials Science Research Silver Medal from ASM International and being named a Fellow of various professional societies. Hemker completed his undergraduate studies in metallurgy at the University of Cincinnati and earned his master’s and PhD in materials science engineering from Stanford University.

Research Interests