Ron Gronsky joined the MSE department full time in 1988. He got his graduate degree at Cal and began his scientific career at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in 1978. The objective of his research is to understand the relationship between the internal structure of materials and their performance in engineering applications.

Professor Minute: Interview with MSE prof. Ron Gronsky

What do you do to forget about engineering and/or work ?

This is going to make me sound like a real geek, but why would anyone ever want to forget about engineering? I have many hobbies to fill my down time, and they all involve engineering. Setting up my “number one” Stradivarius (fresh nickel-wraps, fret clearance, fine tuning) is as much fun as playing, wrenching under the hood of my ’72 classic (polished aluminum alloy, polymer lubricants, platinum plugs) is as much fun as driving, and when I really want to just laugh out loud, I do a Google search on “nano.”

What is your personal recipe for success?

Choose your mentors wisely. Respect your teachers. Find an engineering activity that you truly enjoy, study it voraciously, make it make sense to you, adopt it as your “career” and prepare to change in five years. Marry young. Honor your lifelong commitment to your spouse. Cherish your children. Maintain your physical and spiritual health. Read at least two technical papers a day. Cultivate hobbies. Above all never lose your sense of humor.

What can a student do to get through your hardest class?

Think. Abstain from worry. Attend every lecture. Ask pointed questions. Amend class notes frequently (leave room). Allot time for office hour visits rather than e-mail. Add outside reading to “required” texts. Answer all questions on assignments and exams. And when it gets really tough, activate that sense of humor.

Why did you become a professor?

This was the natural product of my recipe above, enabling me to leave a staid and comfortable lab position so I could augment my research workload with the rigors of teaching and an ever-increasing burden of service. These are the things I truly enjoy. I cannot imagine a more fulfilling profession.

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