Chad Ulven

University Distinguished Professor

Faculty

Mechanical Engineering

Chad Ulven, Professor | Mechanical Engineering

Ulven, who joined NDSU in 2005, teaches and conducts research in the area of advanced materials with an emphasis on polymer matrix composites (PMCs) for various commercial and defense applications. Ulven also serves as the Director of the Great Plains NSF I-Corps Hub and Site Director for the NSF Center for Biopolymers and Biocomposites I/UCRC, focused on the training of university researchers to think more entrepreneurially and help translate research developed technology to industry. He has served as the PI, Co-PI, or Senior Personnel on 87 research grants at NDSU totaling over $36M and involving over 50 outside companies. He has co-authored 9 book chapters, 91 journal articles, and over 100 conference papers related to PMCs. Ulven is also the co-author of 7 patent applications which have led to 4 patents awarded and 3 spin-out companies. He earned his bachelor’s degree from NDSU and his graduate degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Courses Taught

  • ME 331 - Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering and Laboratory

  • ME 332 - Engineering Materials II

  • ME 361 - Introduction to the Mechanical Engineering Profession

  • ME 461 & 462 - Design Project I & II

  • ME 473/673 - Engineering with Polymeric Materials

  • ME 474/674 - Mechanics of Composite Materials

  • ME 731 - Mechanical Behavior of Materials

Current Grants

  1. NSF I-Corps Hub (Track 2): Great Plains Region, PI: A. Kallmeyer, Co-PI: C. Ulven, National Science Foundation, $14,000,000. Period: 01/23 – 12/27.

  2. IUCRC Phase II at North Dakota State University: Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites [CB2], PI: D. Webster, Co-PI: C. Ulven, National Science Foundation, $793,875. Period: 08/21 – 07/26.

  3. Manufacturing and Integration of Lightweight Composite Structures Phase II, PI: C. Ulven, National Center for Manufacturing Science / US Army GVSC, $805,193.15. Period: 10/23 – 07/26.

  4. Thermoplastic Composites for Expedient Protective Systems and Deployable Force Protection Applications, PI: C. Ulven, Co-PI: B. Braaten, A. Amiri, University of Alabama at Birmingham / US Army ERDC, $1,989,400. Period: 12/23 – 11/26.

  5. New Materials for Soldier Protection, PI: D. Webster. Co-PI: M. Sibi, C. Ulven, US Army Natick, $2,125,000. Period: 01/25 – 01/28.

  6. Thermoplastic Composites for Expedient Protective Systems and Deployable Force Protection – Phase II, PI: C. Ulven, Co-PI: B. Braaten, A. Amiri, University of Alabama at Birmingham / US Army ERDC, $888,356. Period: 06/25 – 05/27.

Awards & Honors

  • University Distinguished Professor Designation, North Dakota State University (Awarded 9/9/2025)

  • Waldron Excellence in Research Award, North Dakota State University (Awarded 5/15/2025)

  • Faculty Lectureship Recipient, North Dakota State University (Awarded April 2nd, 2019)

  • NDSU College of Engineering Researcher of the Year Award (Awarded Sept. 6th 2019)

  • Gehrts Presidential Professorship Award, North Dakota State University (Awarded May 11th, 2017)

  • NDSU College of Engineering & Architecture 2007-2008 Faculty Researcher of the Year Award

University Affiliations

Mechanical Engineering

Publications

  1. Islam, M.Z., Rahman, M.A., Hall, E., Gibbon, L., Ulven, C.A. (2025) Incorporation of Laser Cutter in the Light‐Assisted 3D Printing of Continuous Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoset Composites, Polymer Composites, Vol. 0, pp. 0-11, doi .org/10.1002/pc.70189.

  2. Chowdhury, S., Wang, X., Rahman, M.A., Ulven, C.A. (2025) Nanomechanical Characterization of Hemp Fib er with Atomic Force Microscopy, Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 59, No. 4, pp 469-478, doi.org/10.1177/00219983241292776.

  3. Badsha, M.A.R., Kjelland, M., Ulven, C., Hossain, K. (2025) Arabinoxylan-Based Bioplastic from Wheat Bran: A Promising Replacement for Synthetic Plastics, doi: 10.20944/preprints202506.1515.v1.

  4. MA Rahman, L Gibbon, MZ Islam, E Hall, Ulven, C.A. (2024) Adjustment of Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Continuous Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoset Composites by Print Parameter Adjustments, Polymers, Vol. 16, No. 21, pp. 1828, doi.org/10.3390/polym16212996.

  5. Islam, M.Z., Rahman, M.A., Gibbon, L., Hall, E., Ulven, C.A., La Scala, J.J. (2024) Mechanical Characterization and Production of Various Shapes Using Continuous Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoset Resin-Based 3D Printing, Polymers 2024, Vol. 16, pp. 1828, doi:10.3390/polym16131828.

  6. Hevus, I., Tiwari, S., Thorat, S., Gibbon, L.R., La Scala, J.J., Ulven, C.A. (2024) Vanillin-Derived Veratrole Reactive Diluents in Stereolithography, ACS Applied Polymer Materials, doi:10.1021/acsapm.4c01183.

  7. Dey, S., Kiran, R., Ulven, C. (2024) Experimental Evaluation of Microvoid Characteristics and Relationship with Stress and Strain for Ductile Fracture, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 36, No. 2, doi:10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-16698.