Rate My Professor Ron Rorrer

Ronald A. Rorrer, PhD, PE, is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Denver, where he has served as full-time faculty since 1997 and assumed the chair position in July 2021. He earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1984, MS in 1985, and PhD in 1991, all from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Prior to his academic career, Rorrer held industry positions including Precision Mechanical Design Engineer at Martin Marietta from 1986 to 1987 and Advanced Technology Project Leader at The Gates Rubber Company from 1993 to 1997. He also served as adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Denver from 1995 to 1997 and at the Colorado School of Mines from 1994 to 1997, and has led consulting firms such as Principle Engineering from 2004 to 2007 and Golden Analysis and Design from 1994 to 2003.

Rorrer's research focuses on solid mechanics, mechanical design and analysis, polymers and composites, tribology including friction-induced vibration, vibration and noise, MEMS, optical laser systems, and biomechanics. He has secured approximately $1.5 million in extramural funding as principal investigator. Key publications include the co-authored textbook Engineering Design with Polymers and Composites (CRC Press, second edition, 2012) with James Gerdeen; "Bi-Behavioral Prosthetic Knee Enabled by a Metamorphic Compliant Mechanism" (Advances in Reconfigurable Mechanisms and Robots I, 2012); "MRI of the Ex-PRESS stainless steel glaucoma drainage device" (British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2011); "Static and Quasi-Static Calibration of a Bio-MEMS Device" (Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation, 2004); and "Effect of Friction-Velocity Relations and System Properties on Friction-Induced Vibration and Noise Response of IP Material Pairs" (Tribology International, 2002). Awards include the 2014 CU Denver Outstanding Faculty Mentor, 2012 Best Paper Award at REMAR 2012, and Loctite Fellowship in 1998. Rorrer teaches courses in mechanical design, senior design, tribology, vibrations, dynamics, and biomechanics, advises senior design projects including motorsports, and mentors students who have won competitions such as first place at the Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013.