James T. Allison

James T. Allison is the director of the Engineering System Design Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research interests include engineering system design (dynamic systems in particular), multidisciplinary design optimization, integrated physical and control system design, system architecture design, and design for energy efficiency. Design application domains include renewable energy system design, automotive and aerospace system design, robotic system design, and synthetic biology.

Prior to joining UIUC in 2011, he worked as a lecturer at Tufts University in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, as a senior engineer at MathWorks, Inc. in the area of dynamic system modeling and design, at GM in hybrid powertrain design, and at Ford Motor Company in the area of engine design optimization. Prof. Allison received his MSE degrees in mechanical engineering (2004) and industrial and operations engineering (2005), and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering (2008), all from the University of Michigan.