Marco Alfano, PhD

Marco Alfano is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Previously, he held the position of Associate Professor within the same department. Marco's research covers the mechanics of solids and layered structures, such as composite materials and adhesive bonded joints. The interplay between manufacturing and structural performance is a highlight of Marco’s recent research work, which enjoys an even balance between analytical, computational and experimental methods in fracture mechanics. Marco plays a supporting role in various editorial boards, serving as a member of the Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology (since 2014), the International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives (since 2018), and IOP Materials Research Express (since 2022). Additionally, he holds the position of Associate Editor for Frontiers in Materials since 2022.

Marco leads training programs that empower students to engage in both fundamental and industry-relevant analytical and experimental research. His students receive comprehensive training in critical research areas such as mechanics of materials, fracture mechanics (including modeling), and topics related to adhesion science and technology. Through these programs, students gain expertise in both experimental and analytical methods, and an appreciation for the limitations and potential of both avenues of research. Marco's research endeavours have received external funding from international and national bodies, including the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and the National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC).

• Adhesive Bonding
• Deformation & Fracture
• Finite Element Modeling
• Mechanical Characterization
• Mechanics of interfaces & Adhesion
• Surface Modification of Metals and Composites
• Architected materials & interfaces

• 2007, Doctorate Materials and Structures, University of Calabria, Italy
• 2002, Laurea Mechanical Engineering, University of Calabria, Italy

• Marco was awarded the Fulbright Research Scholarship in 2009. His research on modeling interfacial fracture with potential-based cohesive models was carried out at University of Illinois (Urbana)

• ME 322 - Mechanical Design 1
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• ME 559 - Finite Element Methods
  • Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023
• ME 720 - Special Topics in Solid Mechanics
  • Taught in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.