Hi, I’m Rowan and Your 3D Printing Expert:

Rowan Rolark is a Ph.D. Candidate at Northwestern University, exploring the intricacies of metal additive manufacturing. Specializing in directed energy deposition (DED) techniques, they investigate how to print critical structural metal parts with ‘the right properties in the right place.’ Their work focuses on linking process physics, parameter selection, and mixed-material design to enhance the performance of metal parts.

I earned my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa where I first became fascinated by 3D printing. My journey began when I purchased my first $200 hobbyist printer as a creative outlet. Since then, I’ve immersed myself in a wide range of 3D printing technologies and materials, ranging from fused deposition modeling (FDM) for plastics; stereolithography (SLA), digital light projection (DLP), projection microstereolithography (PµSL), and computed axial lithography (CAL) for resins; and directed energy deposition (DED) for metals, with more to come!

I am from ‘Ewa Beach, Hawai‘i and part Native Hawaiian. In everything that I do, I strive to embody the concept of mālama ‘āina (to “care for the land”). I find that this saying goes deeper than land stewardship, but to also care for everything that sustains us. In light of this, I bring great care into what keeps me going: the environment, my community, and my personal work.

Outside of the lab, I love trying out new foods, traveling to new places. Currently, I’m on a mission to find the best boba shop in Chicago. On especially sunny days, you’ll probably find me skateboarding along the Chicago lakefront.

Mahalo nui!