Sergiy Markutsya
Title(s):
Associate Teaching Professor
Mechanical Engineering
Office
2064 Black Engineering
Information
Education
- Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University
- M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University
- M.S. and B.S. in Physics, Kyiv National Shevchenko University, Ukraine
Interest Areas
My research focuses on computational modeling and simulation of materials and fluids, with particular emphasis on multiscale and coarse-grained molecular modeling. My work aims to accurately predict structure, dynamics and transport properties in complex systems such as ionic liquids, polymers and colloidal materials.
Spring 2026 New Faculty Spotlight:
Joins Iowa State from:
I join Iowa State from St. Ambrose University, where I served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering and Physics. Prior to that, I was an Assistant Professor with the University of Kentucky’s Mechanical Engineering program and a postdoctoral researcher at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory.
What makes you most excited to join the Cyclone Engineering community here at Iowa State?
I am especially excited to return to Iowa State, where I completed my graduate education, and to contribute to a strong engineering community known for academic excellence, innovation and collaboration. I look forward to working with motivated students and colleagues in an environment that values both rigorous problem solving and impactful teaching.
Describe a moment that makes you particularly proud of your career path in educating tomorrow’s engineers.
One of the most rewarding moments in my career has been mentoring undergraduate students through research and senior design projects and seeing them gain confidence as independent problem solvers. Watching students progress from uncertainty to mastery—and then succeed in graduate school or industry—has been a constant source of pride.
How do you hope your teaching and/or research discoveries impact the world?
Through teaching, I hope to equip students with strong analytical skills, computational tools and a disciplined approach to problem solving that prepares them for diverse engineering careers. Through research, I aim to advance computational methods that help engineers design better materials and systems more efficiently and sustainably.
What kind of classroom and teaching experience do you look forward to creating at Iowa State?
I strive to create an engaging, inclusive and supportive classroom environment that emphasizes active learning, clear communication and real-world engineering applications. I enjoy integrating computation and hands-on problem solving to help students connect theory with practice and develop confidence in their engineering abilities.