The Alabama Materials Institute at The University of Alabama has hired Dr. Ty Prosa as its newest engineering researcher. Prosa joins UA following a distinguished career in the private sector and academia, where he spent more than two decades advancing the field of nano-characterization.
Prosa comes to UA from CAMECA (formerly Imago Scientific Instruments), where he was instrumental in transitioning atom probe tomography (APT) from a specialized laboratory concept into a commercially viable tool utilized by industry and academia worldwide. His work pioneered methods for analyzing soft materials and advanced the utility of APT across sectors, including semiconductors, metallurgy, batteries, and biology. When Prosa began his work at Imago, only a few commercial atom probes existed worldwide. Today, more than 130 such instruments are in operation, including those within the AMI facilities.
“The last 20 years in atom probe have been an amazing experience,” Prosa said. “In guiding a ground-breaking nano-scale characterization technique into a commercially viable product, every day was a new challenge. I am excited to share my knowledge and experiences at UA while expanding my skills through the incredible facilities and people here”.
A veteran researcher and educator, Prosa previously served as a physics professor at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and Hamline University. He earned a Ph.D. in physics, specializing in X-ray diffraction studies of conducting polymers, a research area that included co-authorship with 2000 Nobel Prize Laureate Alan J. Heeger. He furthered this research through post-doctoral work with small-angle x-ray scattering of polymer systems at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Beyond atom probe and X-ray techniques, Prosa brings expertise in electron microscopy, hydrogen analysis, and cryogenic workflows. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers and a book and has traveled globally to train researchers on advanced characterization workflows.
A native of Wisconsin, Prosa is eager to integrate into the Tuscaloosa community. While he maintains his roots in the Midwest—and an allegiance to Bucky Badger—he is ready to embrace the traditions of the Capstone.
“It has been quite a ride, and I’m excited about what the future holds in Alabama,” Prosa said. “Roll Tide!”
The Alabama Materials Institute serves as a premier interdisciplinary research hub, providing faculty and students with the world-class instrumentation necessary to solve complex challenges in materials science and engineering. By bridging the gap between fundamental research and industrial application, AMI ensures that UA remains at the forefront of the materials revolution.