William Kunkel (Will), is a Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. student with a primary research focus on understanding, controlling, and predicting multi-scale processing-structure-property relationships for directed energy deposition. Will is passionate about developing a fundamental understanding of these relationships and hopes his research will optimize the production of advanced materials, and high-performance components using additive manufacturing techniques. Will received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UW-Stout where he graduated magna cum laude and holds a one-year technical diploma in Welding from Chippewa Valley Technical College. Prior to his academic career, Will achieved welding certification in GTAW, GMAW, and FCAW welding processes and spent nearly three years working as a welder fabricator. Beyond academic pursuits, he enjoys cooking, dirt track racing and spending time in the great outdoors.