Steven Skerlos received his B.S. with highest honors in electrical and computer engineering (1994) and his Ph.D. in industrial engineering (2000) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Following graduation, Professor Skerlos joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 2006, and to professor in 2012.
Professor Skerlos is widely recognized for pioneering coolant and lubrication technologies that reduce environmental impact while boosting manufacturing productivity. Through his groundbreaking application of supercritical carbon dioxide to metalworking, he has dramatically increased productivity, lowered carbon footprints and tool consumption, and created a pathway to restore the U.S. machining sector while eliminating worker exposure to harmful chemicals.
His research also advances bio-manufacturing, transforming food waste and industrial byproducts into low-cost biofuels and chemicals. Additionally, he inspired a compact flow cytometry system supporting biomanufacturing and medical applications worldwide. Recognized with the EPA Green Chemistry Challenge Award (2020) and ASME William T. Ennor Award (2019), he founded three startup companies, generating over $30M in sales and employing over 100 skilled workers in Southeast Michigan.
Professor Skerlos has been recognized as an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor for demonstrating high impact on the intellectual development and lives of his students, and he leads the Center for Socially Engaged Engineering and Design, which provides students with tools to apply their engineering skills to address high-impact global challenges. His commitment to research-driven solutions reinforces the engineering workforce’s ability to translate innovations into world-leading manufactured products that benefit society.
Professor Skerlos can be reached via email at: skerlos@umich.edu.