4/14/2023 Taylor Tucker
Written by Taylor Tucker
Three-time MechSE alumnus Bryan Petrus (BSME 2005, MSME 2013, PhD ME 2014) is one of this year’s recipients of the MechSE Outstanding Young Alumni Award. The honor recognizes alumni who have graduated from the department fewer than 10 years ago and who have embodied the department and university’s values in their professional careers.
Since earning his PhD in 2014, Petrus has worked at Nucor Steel Decatur as a principal member of the Process Automation team. Nucor is the second largest steelmaker in North America and the largest recycler. In 2001, the company purchased the then-shuttered Decatur facility with a designed annual production capacity of 2.2 million tons. In 2021, this same mill produced over 3 million tons of steel and broke every profitability record in Nucor history, all while maintaining a world-class safety record.
Petrus, a Process Automation Engineer, was proud to be part of the team who made that possible.
“Finding a passion for discovery [and having] the simple willingness to just dig in and spend your time and effort on something matter quite a lot,” he remarked. His role is to develop and maintain the suite of thermal and mechanical models, adaptation algorithms, and machine learning systems involved in running the hot strip rolling mill. The advanced models and control systems he developed have helped the technical and operations teams expand Nucor Decatur's product line from low-cost commodity steels to high-end products for the automotive and energy markets, helping to increase the division's competitive advantage while building a sustainable future.
Petrus was recognized with the award at the MechSE Awards Banquet last month.
“I’m grateful for how much learning and labor are a part of me, and they would not be so if MechSE and Illinois were not a part of me,” he said.
Chris Nobre (BSME 2015) and Samantha Knoll (BSEM 2005, MS TAM 2013, PhD TAM 2016) were also winners of the 2023 MechSE Outstanding Young Alumni Award.