Rate My Professor Lorna Gibson

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Engineering Biology Health Science Education Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering Biomedical Engineering Bioengineering

4.5

2 reviews · out of 5

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Ratings & reviews

5.05/4/2026

Always approachable and supportive.

4.06/27/2025

Encourages students to explore new ideas.

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About Lorna

Lorna J. Gibson is the Matoula S. Salapatas Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the School of Engineering at MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She earned a BASc in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto in 1978 and a PhD in Materials Engineering from the University of Cambridge in 1981. After her PhD, Gibson worked as a Senior Engineer at Arctec Canada Ltd. and then served as Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia from 1982 to 1984. She joined MIT in 1984 as Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, advanced to Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering in 1987, became full Professor of Mechanical Engineering in 1995 and of Civil Engineering in 1995, was appointed Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in 1996, and named Matoula S. Salapatas Professor of Materials Science and Engineering in 1997. Throughout her career, she held significant leadership roles, including Chair of the Faculty from 2005 to 2006 and Associate Provost from 2006 to 2008. Professor Gibson retired in January 2022 but continues to contribute through her foundational work in the field.