My research program focuses on the fundamental science of additive manufacturing, with an emphasis on quantifying and understanding process–structure–property relationships to enable greater control over material behavior and performance.Our team integrates experimental characterization and computational approaches to develop high-performance materials and intelligent, scalable manufacturing technologies for aerospace, defense, energy, and space applications, including novel alloys, composites, and processes for radiation-rich, high-temperature, resource-constrained, and other extreme environments.
James R. Caudill, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Executive Director Next Generation Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory (NextGen AMRL)
Research Description
Research Interests
- Solid-State & Fusion-Based Additive Manufacturing
- Lunar Manufacturing & In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)
- Multifunctional Materials
- Physics-Based & Data-Driven Modeling
- Autonomous & Agentic Manufacturing
- Expeditionary Manufacturing
- Sustainable Manufacturing & Feedstock Upcycling
Education
Ph. D., University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Mechanical Engineering, 2019
B.S., University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Mechanical Engineering, 2012
Appointments
August 2026–Present, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Kentucky
January 2025–Present, Executive Director, Next Generation Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory (NextGen AMRL), Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing, University of Kentucky
June 2021–July 2026, Principal Research Scientist, Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing, University of Kentucky
May 2019–May 2021, Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing, University of Kentucky