Jacob Marx

About Jacob Marx

Jacob is the Program Manager for the Synthesis and Processing of Materials Program at DEVCOM ARL Army Research Office. The program’s core thrusts aim to explore and understand novel synthesis techniques and processing that yields structural materials with extraordinary mechanical and physical properties. These methods explore high risk avenues to overcome challenges that exist in conventional processing techniques.In his prior role he was the Technical & Core Mission Support for the Terminal Effects Branch at the Army Research Office. In his role he supported the Branch Chief and Program Managers that award grants to advance fundamental science in areas of interest for the Army.Before working with the Army, Jacob was as a Senior Research Scientist at Biomason Inc. working to solve the climate issues presented by cement using bacteria. He was the lead scientist on a DARPA SBIR project using biocement for dust abatement solutions. Jacob was able to actively learn about biocementation and work with diverse teams to solve world class problems.Jacob graduated with his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 2020 from North Carolina State University. While a graduate researcher, Jacob worked on manufacturing and testing composite metal foam for use in armor, aerospace, and tank car applications. He manufactured and tested the first composite metal foam core sandwich structures for practical use in tank car and military vehicle applications. He has extensive knowledge of powder metallurgy processing from the initial mold design to final sample machining and preparation. Jacob is skilled in metallographic sample preparation and imaging that includes surface etching followed by characterization using Scanning Electron Microscope, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, and Electron Backscatter Diffraction. He is well versed in material testing standards for compression, tension, bending, and high speed impact.Jacob’s other skills include project management, CAD software, and modeling dynamic impact using constitutive material models in applications such as ANSYS and MATLAB. Jacob has proven to work well individually with little oversight, while also being able to fit well in a team environment. He has experience managing undergraduate students in the lab and training new graduate students on the lab equipment. He managed lab safety and waste management with EHS.

Experience

1. Program Manager for Synthesis and Processing

   U.S. Army Devcom Army Research Laboratory

   Aug 2024 — Present

   I manage basic and fundamental research investments in Synthesis and Processing of Materials on behalf of the Army. The goal of the program is to discover and illuminate the governing processing-microstructure-property relationships for materials that present extraordinary mechanical and physical properties. The underlying effort is to explore high risk-high reward research that has potential to revolutionize the scientific field. The program aims to investigate thrust areas in phase transformations and advanced manufacturing techniques that realize innovative methods to understand and produce advanced structural materials previously only accessible via extreme pressures or temperatures.

Education

• North Carolina State University

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Mechanical Engineering

  2015 — 2020

• The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

  Bachelor's degree, Physics, Dance

• North Carolina State University

  Master's degree, Nuclear Engineering

  2013 — 2015

• Case Western Reserve University

  Bachelor's degree, Physics, Dance

  2009 — 2013