Francesco Costanzo is an Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics in the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department at Penn State. He received the Laurea in Ingegneria Aeronautica from the Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy. After coming to the U.S. as a Fulbright scholar he received his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M University. His primary research interest is the mathematical and numerical modeling of material behavior. He has focused on the theoretical and numerical characterization of dynamic fracture in materials subject to thermo-mechanical loading via the use of cohesive zone models and various fi nite element methods, including space-time formulations. His research has also focused on the development of multi-scale methods for predicting continuum-level material properties from molecular calculations, including the development of molecular dynamics methods for the determination of the stress-strain response of nonlinear elastic systems. In addition to scientifi c research, he has contributed to various projects for the advancement of mechanics education under the sponsorship of several organizations, including the National Science Foundation. For his contributions, he has received various awards, including the 1998 and the 2003 GE Learning Excellence Awards, and the 1999 ASEE Outstanding New Mechanics Educator Award. In addition to teaching dynamics, he also teaches statics, mechanics of materials, continuum mechanics, and mathematical theory of elasticity.