About

Keith Williams is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science. His research and professional background include extensive work in nanophysics, materials physics, and nanoelectronics. He completed his Ph.D. in materials physics at Penn State University in 2001, following a Master’s degree in physics from the University of Kentucky in 1998, and postdoctoral research in the Molecular Biophysics Group at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Williams has also held roles outside academia, including Program Manager and division CTO for the Materials, Corrosion, and Environmental Technologies Department of Leidos, based at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Williams is deeply engaged in teaching and training young scientists and engineers, emphasizing experiential research. He has contributed to curriculum development, including designing a maker-style introductory engineering course that incorporates hands-on design, CAD, 3D printing, and prototyping techniques. His efforts also include implementing embedded advising in UVa's introductory engineering curriculum, which has been highly successful. Williams is committed to supporting the growth and progress of young scientists and engineers, maintaining ongoing communication with his students long after graduation.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Engineering management
• Engineering
• Engineering ethics
• Knowledge management
• Pedagogy
• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Nanotechnology
• Cell biology
• Materials science
• Medicine
• Biology
• Mathematics education
• Biomedical engineering

Selected publications

• Retraction of “Nanogrooved Elastomeric Diaphragm Arrays for Assessment of Cardiomyocytes under Synergistic Effects of Circular Mechanical Stimuli and Electrical Conductivity to Enhance Intercellular Communication”

  ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering · 2025-05-27

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• RETRACTED: Nanogrooved Elastomeric Diaphragm Arrays for Assessment of Cardiomyocytes under Synergistic Effects of Circular Mechanical Stimuli and Electrical Conductivity to Enhance Intercellular Communication

  ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering · 2024 · 2 citations

  • Materials science
  • Biomedical engineering
  • Nanotechnology

  platform can potentially transform cardiac tissue engineering, drug screening, and precision medicine approaches.

  PublisherDOI

• Work in Progress: A Novel Two-Semester Course Sequence that Integrates Engineering Design, Sociotechnical Skills, Career Development, and Academic Advising

  2024

  • Computer Science
  • Engineering ethics
  • Pedagogy

  Shaylin Williams is invested in identifying ways to improve the engineering education experience for future generations of engineers.As a McNair Scholar, Shaylin worked on chemical engineering projects creating thermal barriers for food packaging

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Response of square honeycomb core sandwich panels to granular matter impact

  International Journal of Impact Engineering · 2018-02-23 · 29 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Orion Avionics Path to Deep Space Human Exploration

  NASA Technical Reports Server (NASA) · 2017-10-17

  article1st authorCorresponding
  Publisher

• High intensity impact of granular matter with edge-clamped ductile plates

  International Journal of Impact Engineering · 2017-09-09 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• High intensity impulsive loading by explosively accelerated granular matter

  International Journal of Impact Engineering · 2017-02-17 · 15 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• HVAC control loop performance assessment: A critical review (1587-RP)

  Science and Technology for the Built Environment · 2016-10-10 · 27 citations

  reviewOpen accessSenior author

  This article presents a comprehensive review of control loop performance assessments in the context of building HVAC controls. Few studies are available for assessing HVAC control loop performance using a single control quality factor. A control quality factor should be an objective and quantitative metric with simple-to-interpret criteria and should only use data available from the actual control system, such as the control output. The authors systematically reviewed 34 indices and the associated methods of evaluating control loop performance and cataloged the drawbacks and merits of the different indices. Most of these performance assessment indices are currently used in process control industry applications. There were 14 of the 34 indices selected for further review, due to their particular suitability for implementation in HVAC control loop performance assessment. Finally, the selected 14 indices are implemented for assessments of three regulatory control loops with proportional-integral controllers: a heating coil outlet air temperature control loop and variable air volume room air temperature control loop using simulated data from a dynamic Modelica model, and variable air volume room air temperature control loop in a heating mode from real field data. Based on the review and preliminary results, the Normalized Harris Index and exponentially weighted moving averages based index are proposed as potential candidates for control quality factor, and further investigation of the use of them in HVAC control loop performance assessment is recommended.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Dynamic System Simulation Using Distributed Computation Hardware

  2016-09-28

  article1st authorCorresponding

  The availability of low-cost, readily programmable digital hardware offers numerous opportunities for novel modeling and control approaches. One such opportunity is the realization of hardware modeling of distributed dynamic systems. Such models could be useful for control algorithms that require high-fidelity models operating in real-time. The ultimate goal is to utilize digital systems with programmable hardware. As a proof-of-concept, multiple discrete microcontrollers have been used to emulate how programmable hardware devices may be used to simulate a distributed vibrating system. Specifically, each microcontroller is treated as a single vibrating mass with stiffness and damping coupling between the masses. Each microcontroller has associated position and velocity variables. The only additional knowledge required to compute the acceleration of each “mass” is thus the position and velocity of each immediate neighboring mass/microcontroller. The computation time is independent of the number of nodes; adding nodes results in no reduction in processing speed. Consequently, the computational approach will be applicable to very high order models. Practical implementation of such models will require digitally programmable hardware such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), however an added benefit will be a still greater reduction in cost, as multiple microcontrollers are replaced by a single FPGA. It is expected that the hardware modeling approach described in this work will have application not only in the field of vibration modeling and control, but also in other fields where control of distributed dynamic systems is desired.

  PublisherDOI

• Compression Resistance Testing of Combat Helmets and the Effects on Ballistic Performance

  2014-12-01 · 1 citations

  article

  Abstract : With the current focus on weight reduction, combat helmets are evolving toward more technologically advanced laminate material systems which happen to have a lower stiffness in comparison with the traditional aramid helmets. Higher ballistic limit resistance- weight ratio have been obtained using Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibres and advanced aramid fibre reinforced thermoplastic laminates. However, in both cases, there are concerns about the lower overall rigidity of the resulting helmet shells and the effect this may have on the performance of the helmet over its life cycle. Quantification of helmet stiffness would be valuable to prevent permanent deformation under normal use to a point where safety and operability are compromised. The challenge is to define requirements that ensure soldiers safety for a loading that is representative of what a helmet may experience in day to day training and combat activities. Underestimated requirements can reduce the helmet life cycles and put the soldier at risk. On the other hand, overestimated rigidity requirements can increase helmet weight needlessly and be detrimental to the operational effectiveness of the soldier.

  Publisher

Frequent coauthors

• P. C. Eklund

  Pennsylvania State University

  27 shared

• Brian Burke

  Material Measurement Laboratory

  20 shared

• Shunji Bandow

  Meijo University

  18 shared

• R. E. Smalley

  18 shared

• Andreas Theß

  CureVac (Germany)

  18 shared

• Apparao M. Rao

  Clemson University

  17 shared

• Jack Chan

  The University of Texas at Dallas

  15 shared

• R. K. Singal

  11 shared

Labs

• Keith Williams LabPI

Education

• B.S.

  Local/Native Schools

• M.S.

  Local/Native Schools

• Ph.D.

  University of Virginia

Awards & honors

• NSF Nanoscience Undergraduate Education (NUE) Grant 0532515:…