Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ, 2012
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ, 2009
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ, 2008
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer, North Carolina, #057108
  • OSHA 30 Hour Outreach Training Program - General Industry
Academic Appointments
  • James F. Will Career Development Professor, Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 2020-2023.
  • Professor, Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2015-2020.
  • Postdoctoral Scientist, University of Michigan, 2012-2015.
Professional Honors
  • 2023 U.S. Air Force Research Lab Faculty Fellowship. RXAS Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, WPAFB, OH. May 2023.
  • Invited speaker for the 2023 SPIE Smart Structures & Non-Destructive Evaluation Conference. Long Beach, CA. March 2023.
  • Featured in ASME Magazine Article “If It Only Had A Brain”, November 2022, highlighting research accomplishments in the development of materials that think.
  • Invited speaker for the 2022 Gordon Research Conference “Imparting Intelligence in and Through Self-Learning Materials and Structures”. Ventura, CA. September 2022.
  • Invited speaker for the 2022 National Academy of Engineering China-America Frontiers of Engineering Conference. Irvine, CA. July 2022.
  • 2021 U.S. Air Force Research Lab Faculty Fellowship. RXAS Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, WPAFB, OH. May 2021.
  • 2020 ASME CD Mote Jr. Early Career Award. August 2020.
  • 2019 ASME Gary Anderson Early Achievement Award. September 2019.
  • 2019 U.S. Air Force Research Lab Faculty Fellowship. RXAS Soft Matter Materials Branch, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, WPAFB, OH. March 2019.
  • Invitation to participate in the ARO Workshop on “Meta‐structures: Dynamics, Topology and Related Opportunities”. May 2018.
  • National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. March 2018.
  • Recognized by the ASME as a “Newsmaker” for the Society. October 2017. https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/society-news/asme-news/newsmakers
  • Invitation to participate in the NSF Workshop on “Acoustics: New Fundamentals and Applications”. October 2017.
  • 2017 U.S. Air Force Research Lab Faculty Fellowship. RQHF Hypersonic Sciences Branch, Aerospace Systems Directorate, WPAFB, OH. May 2017.
  • 2017 ASME Best Paper Award in Structures and Structural Dynamics.
  • 2016 ASME Haythornthwaite Young Investigator Award, facilitated by the Applied Mechanics Division. October 2016.
  • Royal invitation to present “Energy-Generating Mechanical Trees” before H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and His Excellency Bernard Fautrier, Vice President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation at The Ohio State University. August 2016.
Professional Affiliations
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (Fellow)
  • Member 1239916, Acoustical Society of America (ASA), 2010-11, 2016-present
  • Member 3438137, International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE), 2013-present

Dr. Harne's expertise is in mechanical engineering, with specializations in the fields of mechanical design, acoustics, vibration, manufacturing, and construction. Dr. Harne has a long practical history of applying his specializations to investigate the functioning and failure of mechanical components and systems, such as those in consumer products, industrial equipment and processes, building construction products and practices, manufacturing technology, automotive applications, and more.

Dr. Harne has applied his expertise in mechanical engineering and mechanical systems to numerous matters of industrial and occupational safety and product liability. He has investigated incidents involving engineering controls, occupational noise exposure, excavations, hazardous energy control, material handling, scaffolding, falls, confined spaces, machine guarding, and other workplace hazards. He has investigated reported defects and malfunctions in numerous consumer and industrial products, such as recreational products, building hardware, power tools, and more.

Dr. Harne has a comprehensive knowledge of the effects that vibration, shock, and noise have on people, machines, and processes. He is able to correlate such stimuli to perception and psychoacoustic metrics that forecast human responses to acoustic and vibration cues, such as for auditory warnings, vehicle alerts, community noise and vibration, and the suitability of room acoustics. Dr. Harne has significant experience analyzing the impact of noise and vibration on machines and industrial processes for sake of quality control, maintaining performance and efficiency, and investigating failure.

Dr. Harne has also led numerous investigations on the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in concrete and wood structures, including changes to the functioning of these systems as a result of defects, construction practices, and natural hazards. He has particular experience investigating the design, operation, and failure of septic systems, and the management and drainage of stormwater.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Harne was a professor of mechanical engineering at The Pennsylvania State University (2020 to 2023) and at The Ohio State University (2015 to 2020), where he led research programs earning millions in grant revenue. His academic work culminated in over 100 publications (including in the journals Nature, Nature Communications, and Advanced Science), dozens of accolades for his research achievements, and invited presentations before heads-of-state, the US Department of Defense, and other international and domestic foundations. From 2018 to 2023, Dr. Harne was the Chief Technology Officer of HyperDamping, Inc., where he helped transition the company from applied research idea of vibration damping technology, to minimum viable product, and finally to sustainable commercial revenue.