Dr. Grant Musgrave graduated magna cum laude from the University of Colorado Boulder with a B.S. in chemical engineering in 2020. During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research on photopolymerization kinetics under Dr. Christopher Bowman and completed an internship at Colorado Photopolymer Solutions, focusing on the formulation and material testing of 3D-printing resins. Following graduation, Dr. Musgrave interned at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, under the mentorship of Dr. Chen Wang, where he contributed to the development of recyclable-by-design composites for wind turbine blades. He subsequently joined Dr. Wang at the University of Utah in 2021 to pursue his doctorate, centering his research on orthogonal polymerization reactions for use in recyclable polymer composites and 3D printing. After publishing five first-author papers, he earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering in 2025. Dr. Musgrave is currently a staff engineer at Bloom Energy in San Jose, California, where he leverages his materials science background in the development of solid oxide fuel cells.
When did you first learn about UV&EB as an industry and technology?
I first was introduced to the technology during my undergrad at CU Boulder. I was doing research in Dr. Bowman’s lab, and that’s where I fell in love with the field. My project involved characterizing thiol-ene kinetics using real-time FTIR, and it was eye-opening to watch the photopolymerization chemistry happen in seconds.
The following summer, I interned at Colorado Photopolymer Solutions, where I got to apply that knowledge to the industry side. That experience was pivotal because it took the chemistry out of the academic lab and into the real world. I went from studying kinetics to helping formulate resins, seeing firsthand how the speed and efficiency of UV curing solves actual manufacturing problems.
Have you run into any challenges as a young professional?
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered is dealing with projects stalling due to the technical challenge of the project or factors outside my control. In a Ph.D., you’re used to the long grind, but you generally own your own timeline. In industry, if a material is delayed or equipment goes down, it can impact many more people than just you. Early on, I found those external delays frustrating, but I’ve learned that the key is being flexible and adaptable. Now, when hurdles arise, I focus specifically on what is within my control. I set smaller, intermediate targets to keep the momentum going. This way, even if the project timeline slips, I’m still adding value and ensuring we make progress despite the setbacks.
How could more young professionals be encouraged to get involved in UV/EB technology?
I think it comes down to better exposure and better branding around sustainability. In most undergraduate curricula, we spend years on traditional thermal processing. UV and EB are treated as a niche subject. I also think young professionals today are incredibly motivated by green alternatives and decarbonization. UV and EB offer massive benefits, like energy savings and solvent-free processing, but we don’t always tell that story loudly enough. If we can highlight those sustainability benefits, I think we’ll naturally attract the next generation of engineers who want to push the industry in a more sustainable direction.
What are your suggestions for those who are just starting their professional careers?
My biggest suggestion is simply to get into the lab. You can read papers and textbooks all day, but there is no substitute for time spent doing the actual work. You won’t truly understand a material or a process until you physically work with it yourself. There is a level of intuition you get from holding a sample or watching a reaction that you just can’t get from reading about it. Textbooks describe the ideal scenario, but the lab teaches you the reality. You start to pick up on the small details, like how a resin actually flows or exactly when it starts to gel, that data alone can’t tell you. Putting in that time at the bench is the only way to build that real-world understanding.
What else do you want to share?
I’m glad I’ve gotten to know so many people in the field over the years. The mentorship I received along the way gave me the foundation for everything I’m doing now. Whether it’s through UV curing or my current work in fuel cells, we are solving massive sustainability challenges right now. It’s an exciting time to be an engineer and materials scientist, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.
The RadTech YP Committee aims to help young professionals (YPs) grow in the use and development of UV/EB technology. The committee is composed of a group dedicated to enhancing interactions between YPs and senior experts within RadTech. YPs are students and professionals early in their careers who utilize UV and EB technology in industry, government or academia. To ask questions or get involved, contact yp@radtech.org.
