Dr. Pnina Ari-Gur, Professor

Dr. Pnina Ari-Gur received her Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Materials Engineering from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. She is Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Western Michigan University. Her professional experience includes also industrial experience as Senior Research Engineer, R&D, at RAFAEL, Advanced Defense Systems, Israel. Her academic experiences include post-doctorate fellowship in Material Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada and sabbaticals at the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Auckland, New Zealand and at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Dr. Ari-Gur is the director of the laboratory of smart and advanced materials, and of the virtual laboratory. Her research focus is on smart materials, such as advanced alloys for magnetocaloric application and ferromagnetic shape memory alloys. Also, the use of artificial intelligence for materials and processes design. Some of her other projects include the development of smart helmet to prevent concussion and virtual white cane to assist the visually impaired in navigation. Her research has been regularly funded by numerous research awards, most recent ones are NSF-MRI:  Acquisition of a Physical Properties Measurement System for Research, Education, and Outreach (co-PI) $621,618; National Science Foundation (NSF), Major Research Instrumentation (PI) ($452,399 to acquire an advanced X-ray diffraction system), and National Science Foundation (NSF) EAGER Award (co-PI) $111,834.00. Also recent is a FRACAA award for energy harvesting to power the smart white cane and a current FRACAA award Artificial Intelligence for Smarter Additive Manufacturing. 

Recent Honors



List of Publications last 20 years         


F-241 Floyd Hall

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5343

(269) 276-3212

pnina.ari-gur@wmich.edu