Professor John Parmigiani has long and varied experience in engineering. Academic training began with metals-machining and vehicle-mechanics courses prior to college, B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University, and a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. Professional experience includes 10 years as a practicing engineer in industry with several Pennsylvania manufacturing firms. He has a life-long passion for creating mechanical devices and solving engineering problems. His current position is as a Research Associate Professor in the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University where he is Director of the Prototype Development Lab, Director of Industry Research, and Capstone Coordinator.

He has been at Oregon State University since 2004.