2013 Young Alumni Achievement Award
Casey J. Hoffman, Ph.D. '06
The Young Alumni Achievement Award is presented to an alumna or alumnus who has achieved exceptional success in his or her profession and who has graduated within the past two to ten years. In recognition of his work in the manufacturing of advanced composite materials, the Alumni Association is honored to recognize Casey J. Hoffman '06 with the 2013 Young Alumni Award.
After graduating with Honors in physics from Moravian in 2006, Casey Hoffman received his master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. While at Rensselaer, he was a recipient of the National Science Foundation’s IGERT Fellowship, one of the most coveted awards available in higher learning. Casey’s research developed automated manufacturing processes for accurately depositing platinum nanoparticles onto electrodes for use in hydrogen fuel cells.
Today, Casey is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Vistex Composites, an innovation company that has developed disruptive technology for the manufacture of advanced composite materials, including carbon-fiber. His patented, sustainable fabrication process lowers the cost of these complex materials, enabling broader adoption in a variety of markets. Additionally, Casey serves as an adjunct faculty member at Rensselaer, teaching courses in engineering design and product innovation.
His work has won numerous awards, including an American Society of Mechanical Engineers International Design Competition, and Casey was chosen as a finalist for the Lemelson Invention Prize. In 2013, Vistex’s manufacturing process was selected as the “2013 People’s Choice Award for Best Composites Product” by the American Composites Manufacturers Association. Casey has authored several journal articles on composites and fuel cell manufacturing, and presented at numerous domestic and international conferences.