Dr. J.A. Szpunar has enjoyed distinguished academic carrier in various universities in Europe, Asia and Canada. He is considered one of the world’s leading experts in the area of texture, structure and properties of polycrystalline materials. Educated in Krakow, Poland, he subsequently worked in the Institute of Nuclear Techniques in Krakow, National Research Laboratory of Finland in Otaniemi, Riso National Laboratory, and Institute of Nuclear Research in Bandung, Sussex University, University of Durham, and Queens University and also taught at the Seoul University. He was an invited professor at Osaka University, Tohoku University, Bangalore Institute of Science and Technology and served three times as an advisor of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

During 22 years he has been Professor of Materials Science and Henry Birk’s Chair in Metallurgy at McGill University. During his time, at McGill, he founded the “Textures & Microstructure Laboratory”, recognized as a leading world center of microstructural research. During his years at McGill, 30 Ph.D. students and 15 M.Eng. students graduated under his supervision. At UofS he supervise a team of about 25 graduate students and researchers. He was a leader of 49 major research projects – mostly materials related investigations. At UofS he supervise a team of about 25 graduate students and researchers. The results of his research are presented in MORE THAN 700 research papers (400 in refereed journals).

Dr. Szpunar joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan in August 2009 as Tier I Canada Research Chair in Advanced Materials for Clean Energy and his present research is mainly related to materials for Generation IV nuclear reactors and novel techniques to support clean energy programs. His overall research interests extend to various areas of materials related investigations. In particular he has longstanding interests in deformation and recrystallization processes in metals; in structure and properties of thin films; in electronic interconnects; in hard and soft magnetic materials; in high temperature oxidation and corrosion; in synergy of wear, erosion and corrosion; in the applications of X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques; in hydrogen membranes; in intergranular fractures; in fatigue and failure; and in superplasticity and other special properties of nanocrystalline materials.

Dr. Szpunar is an active reviewer, co-editor of four international journals, guest editor of various conference proceedings. He served as chair of the organizing committee of various international conferences, and had served as Chair of American Society of Materials- Texture and Anisotropy Committee. He is an active member of various professional organizations.