American Society of Mechanical Engineers Elects Professor as ASME Fellow
Distinction recognizes Douglas E. Smith, Ph.D., for outstanding engineering achievements
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The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has elected Douglas E. Smith, Ph.D., professor of mechanical engineering at Baylor University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science, as an ASME Fellow in recognition of his exceptional engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession and to ASME. Smith is one of only 3,403 Fellows out of nearly 68,000 ASME members and one of only 27 worldwide elected to the July 2025 cohort.
“It is an honor to be recognized by ASME, which is the premier society of mechanical engineers in the world. It was very meaningful to me to first be nominated by a group of top mechanical engineering faculty, and then to be elected Fellow by the society,” Smith said. “I am blessed to have been recognized for my contributions to the field of mechanical engineering and to be in a position where I can bring attention to the world-class research at Baylor.”
In 2013, Smith joined the Baylor mechanical engineering faculty from the University of Missouri to help develop and grow research in support of Baylor’s vision to become an R1 Christian University. Before he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Smith worked for IBM Corp. at the IBM Electronics Packaging Laboratory in Endicott, New York, and later as a Technical Specialist in the Ford Research Laboratory at Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, Michigan. He began his career in academia at the Colorado School of Mines before moving to Missouri and Baylor. A constant throughout his career has been his active involvement with ASME.
“By continuing to recognize our outstanding Members and elevating them to the grade of Fellow, we ensure ASME's commitment to its vision ‘to be the premier resource for the engineering community globally.’ The Fellow grade is truly a distinction among ASME members,” said Thomas Costabile, P.E., FASME, executive director and CEO of ASME.
Materials science researcher
Baylor is home to an array of labs and faculty, like Smith, who pursue research in materials science, a field that identifies solutions to challenges facing high-visibility industries. Smith’s research centers on the development of finite element methods for polymer composites processing and mechanical analysis, including simulation-based design with a focus on nonlinear systems and optimization. His current focus is on investigating the microstructure of polymer composite beads produced with largescale polymer deposition additive manufacturing (3D printing) and determining the structural response of laminated composites where internal features are identified through nondestructive evaluation.
Throughout his career, Smith has secured $15 million in research funding from the National Science Foundation, including an NSF Career Award, Oak Ridge National Labs, Department of Education, Office of Naval Research, Air Force Research Labs, Sandia National Labs and National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, and various industries, while providing high-impact learning experiences for undergraduate and graduate students.
“This recognition for Dr. Smith is well deserved, as he brings in a wealth of teaching and advising experience with highly active research credentials in the area of materials science and engineering within the Department of Mechanical Engineering,” said Paul Ro, Ph.D., professor and chair of mechanical engineering. “As a former graduate program director, Dr. Smith played a critical role in growing our Ph.D. program and research expenditure to where it is now, and he is committed to upholding the Baylor mission of providing academic excellence with a Christian mission to his students in the classroom and research lab.”
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor ECS is advancing as a premier School of Engineering and Computer Science in research and education with a commitment to Christian values. Majors include aerospace engineering, bioinformatics, computer science, data science, cybersecurity, computer engineering, electrical and computer engineering, general engineering and mechanical engineering. ECS offers a number of graduate and PhD programs, such as biomedical engineering, online computer science, and interdisciplinary degrees in materials science and engineering. We also offer graduate professional certificates. ECS stands out from the crowd through Christian commitment, R1 research, a caring community, personalized career support, expert faculty, and leading practical experience. Visit the ECS website to learn more and follow on Instagram and Facebook.