Mechanical Engineering · Western Kentucky University
Benjamin J. Dinan, Ph.D., P.E.
Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Materials Science · Metallurgy · Manufacturing
My teaching and research focus on engineering materials, manufacturing, and the relationships between processing, structure, properties, and performance. My work emphasizes applied, experimentally driven materials engineering and undergraduate engineering education.
Research
Research Focus
My research examines how manufacturing and processing influence the structure, properties, and performance of engineering materials, with an emphasis on experimentally accessible methods.
- Manufacturing-induced processing–structure–property relationships
- Laser processing and heat-affected zones in steels
- Corrosion and materials degradation
- Functional materials and engineered titanium oxide surfaces
- Engineering education in materials science and laboratory learning
Teaching
Teaching Focus
I teach materials and manufacturing courses that connect fundamental materials science with laboratory experience, engineering applications, and manufacturing practice.
Background
Background
I earned my Ph.D. and M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University and my B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Prior to joining Western Kentucky University, I have more than a decade of experience in industry working in packaging engineering, product development, materials characterization, manufacturing implementation, and engineering management. I am a licensed Professional Engineer in Metallurgical Engineering in Kentucky.
Scholarship
Selected Recent Publications
Dinan, B. J. “Enhancing Student Understanding of Heat Treatment and Microstructure Through Integrated Laboratory Experiences.” Proceedings of the 2026 ASEE Southeastern Section Conference.
Huskey, S., Dinan, B., et al. Research on piranha feeding mechanics and dental morphology. The Science of Nature.
Arafat, M. M., Dinan, B. J., Haseeb, A. S. M. A., Akbar, S. A., Rahman, B. M. A., Rozali, S., & Naher, S. “Growth of 1D TiO₂ nanostructures on Ti substrates incorporated with residual stress through humid oxidation and their characterizations.” Nanotechnology, 32, 475607 (2021).