Everything Material in Material Science

At NSL Analytical, our people and their expertise have been the most vital part of our success over the past 80 years. That is why we are kicking off the new NSL Analytical Staff Spotlight Series with the Director of Science and Technology at NSL, Dr. Ross Cunningham. 

We were delighted to take a deeper dive into his daily duties, explore his vision for the future of the materials testing industry, and learn about his passion for cooking.  

Let’s jump in!  

Good afternoon, Dr. Ross! Let’s dive right in. Tell us a bit about yourself – your background, education, and how you got into the field of materials science.  

I grew up with a dad who was an MIT engineering grad, so science & engineering have always been a part of my life. I was interested in materials engineering right out of high school, so I enrolled in a dual-degree Engineering and Business program at Lehigh University, which had a strong history in MSE and metallurgy. By the time I graduated, Additive Manufacturing was taking off, and I had the chance to pursue my Ph.D. with that focus at Carnegie Mellon.  

From there, I took my background in business and engineering and moved on to various positions in the industry, where I worked to find and implement applications for AM, or develop supporting technologies for the industry.  

I rarely had a fully capable internal lab, so I heavily relied on outsourced testing, which I often found to be wanting. Both my technical experience and experience as a customer in the industry have given me the perspective on how to improve and grow NSL, enabling us to continue being an industry-leading testing partner. 

What is the most enjoyable or rewarding part of your work? 

The most enjoyable part is working with a dedicated and passionate team that takes their work very seriously, and also happens to be very pleasant to work with – it’s made onboarding into this role a breeze.  

I’d say the most rewarding is supporting an organization that is doing important, often safety-critical work, and trying to make it better every day. Also, my role is highly cross-functional, which allows me to contribute to various parts of the organization, from sales and marketing strategy to M&A and new equipment onboarding.  

There is never a dull moment! (laughs)  

Also, you hear a lot about working in a completely different field than your degree/education, but I’ll admit it’s somewhat rewarding to have a job that does utilize the degrees you worked hard for. 

What sparked your interest in materials science? 

There was actually a specific moment for this. I did a project in high school chemistry on tank armor. It introduced me to a whole new branch of science that wasn’t just chemistry or physics/engineering, but a combination of both – materials science. 

NSL is celebrating its 80th year in 2025. Where do you see the company headed in the future? 

It’s heading for big things, and quickly! Despite having a world-class analytical lab and strong and growing metallurgical and mechanical testing capabilities, we still have gaps in the testing services we offer our customers.  

A large part of my responsibility is helping drive our growth and investment strategy by launching new capabilities to fill these gaps, while maintaining the same level of scientific rigor and customer-focused mentality that has sustained NSL these past 80 years.  

As a mid-sized player in the materials testing space, we have a lot of room to grow and the agility to move quickly in a rapidly changing environment. That gives us a lot of advantages in the market. It’s an exciting time at NSL! 

As both materials and technology continue to advance, why is the need for thorough and accurate testing so critical? 

The pace at which our society is advancing is placing increasing demands on even the most advanced materials, such as those found at the core of jet engines. In these cases, we’re operating materials at the bleeding edge of their safe operating conditions, or finding clever ways to safely work above them. Demanding conditions like this leave zero room for error in the materials, which is why the materials testing industry exists, and why organizations like Nadcap hold us to exacting standards. 

Where is the materials testing industry headed? What do you see as the next breakthrough? 

The materials testing industry is facing the same pressures that are driving materials development and manufacturing forward – tighter tolerances, more information, more traceability, etc.  

From a technology perspective, we’re already seeing materials like those required for hypersonic applications push the boundaries of traditional testing capabilities, but these are hardware challenges that can be overcome.  

I think the next major step-change breakthrough is going to come from AI and other big-data approaches to materials testing and analysis. There are a lot of challenges to this, and headwinds to overcome to use such methods on safety-critical analysis, but the potential is immense.  

Outside of the lab, what is an interest or hobby you have? Do you keep your scientific sense away from it, or does it seep in anyway? 

My biggest hobby and passion is cooking. When I was a kid, I had to decide between engineering and culinary school. It’s pretty clear which path I chose, but I never fully gave up on the other.  

At times, I try to keep it more of an art than a science as a creative outlet, but the scientific method is successful for a reason. Let’s just say I’m a big fan of J. Kenji López-Alt’s The Food Lab cookbook. 

Thank you for your time and insights, Dr. Ross!  

Stay tuned for the next entry in the NSL Staff Spotlight Series, coming soon.  

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Looking to explore how third-party testing can support your unique material needs? Check out NSL’s resources below: 

Materials Matter: This educational hub page is a trusted resource for material science information. 

Webinars and White Papers: Dive into specific topics in this library of educational webinars and white papers.  

Video Library: View these helpful videos about everything from additive manufacturing to spectroscopy and more.  

NSL Analytical Services, Inc. is an independent materials testing lab that specializes in metallurgical, mechanical, chemical, and optical testing for mission-critical industries.  

Contact our experienced, accredited team to discover how we can deliver accurate, repeatable testing results with lightning-fast turnarounds, giving you confidence in your material performance and adherence to quality standards and regulations.