James Guest, department head and professor in the Department of Civil and Systems Engineering (CaSE) at Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering, has been named one of seven inaugural Fellows of the International Society for Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (ISSMO). The distinction honors Guest’s contributions to the field of topology optimization and his leadership and service to the ISSMO community.
The induction took place at the 16th World Congress on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (WCSMO) in Kobe, Japan, May 18 to 23.
Guest was elected as a Fellow for his advancements in topology optimization—a mathematical approach to optimizing material layout in design—including novel methods for geometric control, robust design, fluid flow, and additive manufacturing.
Guest’s research centers on development of algorithms that optimize the design of structures, devices, and architected materials for use in aerospace, infrastructure, energy, and biomedical applications. His work helps automate the discovery of new, efficient structural forms and materials—many of which would be difficult or impossible to conceive manually—taking into account factors like manufacturability and material behavior in a range of scenarios and use cases.
“This recognition reflects the contributions of my students, collaborators, and the broader research community that has helped shape and advance the field of topology optimization,” Guest said. “It’s an honor to be named alongside a truly remarkable group of individuals who have dedicated their careers to structural and multidisciplinary optimization.”
Guest’s research has been funded by sponsors such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), NASA, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the Army Research Laboratory (AMRL), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and numerous industry partners.
As the department head for CaSE, Guest leads initiatives that emphasize interdisciplinary research and systems-level approaches to solving complex societal challenges. His leadership has helped showcase Johns Hopkins as a hub for innovation in civil and systems engineering.
In addition to his primary appointment in CaSE, Guest holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. He also serves as the deputy director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Additive Manufacturing and Architected Materials (JAM²) and associate director of the Center for Integrated Structure-Materials Modeling and Simulation (CISMMS).