John B. Brunski, Ph.D.Professor, Biomedical Engineering |
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Biographical SketchJohn Brunski received all of his degrees in Metallurgy and Materials Science: B.S. University of Pennsylvania, 1970; M.S. Stanford University, 1972; Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania, 1977. His doctoral work was supported by the National Institute for Dental Research (NIDR). His thesis research demonstrated that the extent of implant micromotion during healing was a key determinant in whether there is direct bone-implant apposition ("osseointegration") or fibrous tissue at the interface of dental implants. He joined the faculty of Biomedical Engineering at Rensselaer in 1977 and became a full professor in 1994.Dr. Brunski has been active in committee work for a number of national and international societies, such as the Academy of Osseointegration, the Orthopaedic Research Society, the Society for Biomaterials, and the International Association for Dental Research. In 1991-92 he was President of the Implantology Research Group of the International Association for Dental research (IADR). He continues to be a consultant to the Dental Devices Panel of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which oversees the safety and efficacy of dental implants and devices. Professor Brunski has also professionally consulted for a number of US and International corporations, as well as a number of legal firms. He is Section Editor for Biomaterials and Biomechanics, International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants and Assistant Editor, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. He is also a member of the editorial boards of Journal of Applied Biomaterials and Clinical Oral Implant Research. Dr. Brunski has taught undergraduate Core Engineering courses in statics/linear algebra/computing (Intro to Eng. Analysis), dynamics, continuum mechanics, materials science, and engineering modeling & design. He has also taught undergraduate courses in several areas of biomedical engineering (e.g., biomaterials, biomechanics, capstone design). At the graduate level, Dr. Brunski teaches courses entitled Biomechanics of Soft Tissues and Biomechanics of Hard Tissues. In 1995, Professor Brunski was a member of a 10-person team at Rensselaer that received the first Boeing Corporation Outstanding Educator Award. This $50,000 prize was for the team having made "...a significant difference in undergraduate teaching in engineering, manufacturing, computing, mathematics and chemistry." Dr. Brunski was also part of the group that was cited in connection with Rensselaer's winning of the 1995 Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for innovation in undergraduate education. These awards were largely for work related to course development and delivery in the studio-laptop mode, which involves a highly interactive/collaborative classroom environment and use of various types of technology as learning aids. Dr. Brunski enjoys athletics; he is an avid squash and tennis player, golfer and occasional surfer. His wife Betsy is an editor. His daughter, Leah, attended Stanford University for her bachelor's degree, and Teachers College of Columbia University for a masters. She now teaches in Brooklyn Heights, NY. His son, Jeff, also graduated from Stanford, with a degree in mech. eng. He now works in the R&D division of Cleveland Golf Company in Huntington Beach, CA. •
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