His research focus is on surface engineering, nanomechanics, size effects and metallic glasses. Dr Jerzy Blawzdziewicz is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University. His research involves theoretical and numerical descriptions of complex materials and biological matter. Dr Jan Schroers is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Yale University. His research activities include metallic glasses, thermoplastic processing, artificial microstructures, materials for energy conversion, and combinatorial characterization methods.