L. Zane Shuck, Ph.D., P.E. '58

Dr. L. Zane Shuck, Ph.D., P.E., is a distinguished research scientist and engineer based in Morgantown, West Virginia. With over 60 years of professional experience, Dr. Shuck is the founder and president of Technology Development Inc. (since 1980) and the founder and president of The WMAC Foundation non-profit (since 1997). Dr. Shuck has extensive experience in a wide array of industries, including academia, research & administration, design and sales in the manufacturing industry, conducting interdisciplinary research in biomechanics, hydraulic fracturing, rheology, human gut gastroenterology, consulting in R&D companies, inventor, and real estate development. A pioneer in his field, Dr. Shuck earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1958 from the West Virginia Institute of Technology. In 1965, he obtained his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University (WVU). Subsequently, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Biomechanics in 1970 from WVU. As a dedicated student, Dr. Shuck pursued every opportunity to further his education. He was the recipient of countless scholarships and fellowships, such as 3 NSF graduate scholarships, 4 Ford Foundation fellowships, special summer programs at Iowa State University, Wayne State University, and four summer programs at MIT. Dr. Shuck launched his engineering career at West Virginia Armature Co. in Bluefield, WV, as a sales and design engineer in 1959. Then, he joined the West Virginia Institute of Technology as an Instructor and became an Associate Professor and Chairman of the Mechanical Engineering Department (1960 to 1965). He is a Registered Professional Engineer and Licensed Surveyor in West Virginia and Ohio, certified by National Council of Engineering Examiners, and U. S. security “Q” clearance (1970’s). Dr. Shuck held several notable positions throughout his career. He served as a National Science Foundation Science Faculty Fellow & Res. Engineer WVU (1968 to 1970); U.S. Dept. of Energy, Supervisory Mechanical Engineer (1970 to 1976); WVU Adjunct Professor (1980 to 1985); and WVU Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Director, Engineering Experiment Station, Member Graduate Faculty, 5 master theses and 8 doctoral dissertations advisor (1976 to 1980). In the 1980’s Dr. Shuck formed his own company, Technology Development Inc, and developed and completed over 65 oil and gas wells in WV and OH.

As a renowned researcher and innovator, Dr. Shuck is author of 62 publications, 23 US patents (including the first patent ever awarded through WVU). He also holds 5 new patents (2013 – 2018) constituting a new Human Healthcare Gastrointestinal Research & Patient Treatment System. Notably, Dr. Shuck was the producer of 3 technical films for the U.S. Department of Energy. He has given 18 national invited lectures, organized several national professional society conferences, and served as Editor of Transactions Journals and Symposia Proceedings. Dr. Shuck is renowned for discovering and hypothesizing important roles the human microbiome plays in symptoms, diseases, and brain-gut communications. Dr. Shuck believes the human brain and G.I. tract, which are in constant intensive communication, are the two most complex and sophisticated systems to model on earth, and many diseases are affiliated jointly and severally with both systems. Notably, he is a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honorary Society and several professional organizations and public service, including W.V. Region VI Planning and Development Council (member, since 2000), Monongalia Co. West Run Expressway Committee (chairperson, 2000), Morgantown Chamber of Commerce Vision 2000 Infrastructure Comm. (member, 1992 to 2001), Dunkard Creek Watershed Association (member, 1997 to 2005), Appalachian Rivers Conference & Exhibit (founder and chair, 1998 to 2000), and in advisory capacity, WVU Tech and WVU Colleges of Engineering Advisory Committees (member, 2002 to 2018), State of W.V. Governor Rockefeller appointed Coal & Energy Advisory Committee (1978 to 1981), W.V. Governor John D. Rockefeller IV (Science Advisor, 1978 to 1981), and appointed WV Science and Technology Coordinator WV Legislature (1979-80). Dr. Shuck is included in several notoriety publications, e.g.  Who’s Who, and received significant national awards of: Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Who, American Society for Testing Materials National Award (1970), American Society of Mechanical Engineers Ralph James National Award (1980), and U. S. Dept. of Energy National Award of “Most U. S. Patents awarded in one year ever to a federal government employee” (1975), and the WVU L. Zane Shuck Nanobiotechnology Lab. named in his honor. Dr. Shuck even in retirement, is still active in education, inventing, research, and public service. He has initiated and is working with, academia, government agencies, and private sector CEOs to create a local advanced technology manufacturing-based new economy formerly based on coal. As a side interest, he has also bought and renovated many real estate rental properties. However, he continues most enthusiastically and aggressively to pursue research in, perhaps the two most diverse disciplines of, gastroenterology and causative roles microbes play in human diseases, and in oil and gas extraction technology, innovative drilling and unconventional well stimulation without fracking and use of water. His methods are designed to avoid the irreversible and catastrophic damage to reservoirs world-wide using the same methodology, wherein only 20% of original gas in place is recovered, as opposed to 60% or more conventionally. Current methodology gravely impacts even national energy independence, when applied to deeper formations such as Marcellus Shale, nominally 7,500’ and Utica Shale 13,500’ deep, with laterals exceeding 10,000’ long.  The impact can be even greater in certain oil reservoirs around the world, including the U. S.