anderson_photo 125x148Dr. Harlan U. Anderson is Curators’ Professor of Ceramic Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology (MS&T). His teaching and research interests and long term involvement in both insulating and conducting oxides has led to him being recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on electronic ceramics, solid oxide fuel cells and oxygen separation membranes. He serves on national committees, teaches (>40 years), has served as research advisor to more than 60 graduate students (MS and PhD), does research, publishes ( over 200 refereed publications and holds 10 patents) in this area, participates in international meetings and consults extensively. He was recognized by MS&T in 1988 by being named a Curators’ Professor, the University of Missouri’s highest research honor, by The American Ceramic Society who named him a Fellow in 1978, an Editor of their Journal in 1992 and Senior Editor in 1999 and by The National Institute of Ceramic Engineers who selected him to present the Arthur L. Friedberg Memorial Lecture in 2008.

Born in Cedar City, Utah on July 15, 1935. After attending public school in Cedar City and Milford, Utah.and graduating from High School in 1953, he went to the University of Utah, from which, with the mentoring of Professor Ivan B. Cutler, he graduated with honors in Ceramic Engineering in 1957. He received a fellowship to attend the University of California-Berkeley from which, with the guidance of Professor Alan W. Searcy, he received his PhD in Engineering Science in 1962.

After completing his studies at the University of California-Berkeley in April of 1962, he started his career as a Senior Chemist at Sprague Electric Company in North Adams, Massachusetts. This employment led him into the vast world of electrical ceramics and solid state materials, in which area he has spent his research career. He embarked upon his career in teaching when he joined the Oregon Graduate Center in Beaverton, Oregon in 1968 as an Associate Professor of Materials Science. In 1970, he accepted a position of Associate Professor in Ceramic Engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri where he is presently.