Jan D. Achenbach is Walter P. Murphy Professor and Distinguished McCormick School Professor of the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Director of the Center for Quality Engineering and Failure Prevention. Professor Achenbach is a recipient of the 2003 National Medal of Technology (the nation's highest honor awarded by the President of the U.S. for technological innovation), a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is also a Corresponding Member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences, an honorary member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and a fellow of ASME, ASA, SES, AMA and AAAS. His awards include the Timoshenko Medal and the William Prager Medal.

Professor Achenbach's research interests include propagation of mechanical disturbances in solids, ultrasonic methods in quantitative non-destructive evaluation, damage mechanisms in composites and vibrations of complex structures. His work with the Institute has involved nondestructive testing and evaluation of bridges with emphasis on testing and modeling of bridge hanger pins and assemblies.