Dr. Miguel Hoffmann is an Associate Research Staff Scientist in the Manufacturing Science Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and a PhD in industrial engineering from Texas A&M University. His doctoral research, sponsored by NASA’s HOME Space Technology Research Institute and the National Science Foundation, modeled, characterized, and optimized additive manufacturing process parameters that govern extrudate morphology and laser–material interactions, leading to new methods for processing stainless steel alloys.
At the U.S. Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, Dr. Hoffmann works at the intersection of process development, materials science, and statistical analysis. His current research centers on hybrid and convergent manufacturing approaches that integrate directed energy deposition (DED), using powder and wire feedstocks, with interleaved machining and thermomechanical processing to locally tailor microstructures and improve mechanical performance. His work supports industrial needs in rapid production, component repair, and replacement of critical parts for clean energy and defense applications.
