Professor of Chemical Engineering
Associate Dean, J.B. Speed School of Engineering
Phone: (502) 852 5892
Email: tom(dot)starr(at)louisville(dot)edu

B.S. Chemistry, 1970, University of Detroit
Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, 1976, University of Louisville

Dr. Starr is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Sigma Xi and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Dr. Starr's current research interests include thin film materials for energy applications and solid freeform fabrication (SFF) for rapid prototyping, direct manufacturing and function-graded materials.  Thin film materials research includes atomic layer deposition (ALD) for fuel cell materials, advanced batteries and photoelectrochemical energy systems; and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for thermal barrier coatings and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) components. SFF research focuses on direct metal deposition (DMD) for custom fabrication of titanium components for biomedical and aerospace applications, for combinatorial screening of ternary alloy compositions and for development of composition-graded metal structures.  Previous research in chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) advanced process understanding and control for manufacture of ceramic and carbon matrix composites for energy and aerospace applications.