Dr. Gruninger will be leading our efforts in developing industry-focused research consortia that relate to materials processing and advanced materials manufacturing.  From the Center for Surface Engineering and Enhancement (CSEE) to the new Laboratory for Advanced Materials Processing (LAMP), among others, Dr. Gruninger will be connecting with industrial partners across the state and around the world to make the connections that ensure Purdue Materials Engineering is focused on research that moves the world forward.  A graduate from Rutgers University (PhD in Ceramic Science & Engineering) and Purdue’s Krannert School of Management (MBA), he brings over 30 years of industrial experience in the materials manufacturing and processing sector. Most recently, Dr. Gruninger  served as President of Praxair Surface Technologies, a leader in materials innovation in Indiana for over 100 years and part of Praxair Inc., a Fortune 500 company.