John A. Polo, Jr., has joined the ESM Department as an adjunct professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics. Dr. Polo is an Assistant Professor of Physics and Technology at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches numerous coures including Quantum Physics, Thermal Physics, Mathematical Methods in Physics, Introduction to Mechanics, and Introduction to Waves and Thermodynamics. He is the director of the 3-2 Engineering Program, Faculty Senate and the Engineering Physics Club.

Dr. Polo's research involves theoretical investigations and numerical calculations on the optical properties of complex materials, including cholesteric liquid crystals and sculptured thin films.

Dr. Polo is currently on a sabbatical leave of absence from Edinboro University. He is spending his sabbatical with ESM where he is working with Drs. Akhlesh Lakhtakia and Melik Demirel on surface-wave optics and sculptured thin films.