Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
New Faculty 2016
The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University is pleased to announce the college’s newest faculty and leadership. The addition of these talented individuals represents the most significant investment that we have ever made in our most important attribute — our people. This publication highlights faculty and administrators who began their appointments since fall 2015, and those who will be joining us in spring 2017. These individuals have outstanding research and education credentials, and their expertise will further enhance our impact as we strive to become one of the nation’s premier engineering institutions. These individuals are undertaking scholarly work in areas of strategic national and international importance that will significantly bolster our college’s research in fields such as energy and the environment, biomedical and pharmaceutical engineering, cybersecurity and information technology, infrastructure and transportation, advanced manufacturing, and engineered materials and nanotechnology. The influx of new faculty will also help us improve our student-faculty ratio and create a more student-centered experience as we aim to educate engineers capable of addressing the world’s greatest challenges. I am confident our new faculty members and administrators will elevate our academic and research activities to an entirely new level of prominence in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. Please join me in welcoming my new colleagues to Auburn University. Sincerely,
Christopher B. Roberts Dean, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
New Leadership
Steven Taylor Associate Dean for Research
Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering, 1988 Texas A&M University M.S. Agricultural Engineering, 1985 University of Florida B.S. Agricultural Engineering, 1983 University of Florida
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Department Head Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University Director Bioenergy and Bioproducts Center, Auburn University Assistant/Associate Professor Auburn University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Bioenergy and bioproducts • Structural wood engineering • Forest engineering • Geospatial technologies
John L. Evans
Chair Industrial and Systems Engineering Charles D. Miller Endowed Chair Director, Thomas Walter Center for Technology Management
EDUCATION Ph.D. Industrial and Systems Engineering, 1991 University of Alabama in Huntsville M.S.E. Industrial and Systems Engineering, 1987 University of Alabama in Huntsville B.E.E. Electrical Engineering, 1984 Auburn University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Thomas Walter Professor of Technology Management/Associate Professor Auburn University Manager, Strategic Business and Advanced Technology DaimlerChrysler Manager, Advanced Technology Engineering DaimlerChrysler
Supervisor, Advanced Electronics Packaging and Systems Chrysler Corp. – Huntsville Electronics Division
RESEARCH INTERESTS • New product innovation • Next generation electronics packaging • Electronic manufacturing technologies • Development of automotive engineering education program
N. Hari Narayanan
Chair Computer Science and Software Engineering John H. and Gail Watson Professor
EDUCATION Ph.D. Computer and Information Science, 1992 Ohio State University M.S. Computer Science, 1986 University of Rochester M.E. Automation, 1984 Indian Institute of Science B.E. Electrical and Electronics Engineering, 1982 Birla Institute of Technology and Science, India
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Research Scientist Advanced Research Laboratory, Hitachi Visiting Scholar Stanford University
Postdoctoral Fellow EduTech Institute Research Scientist Georgia Institute of Technology
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Applied artificial intelligence • Cognitive science • Human-computer interaction • Learning sciences and technologies
Brian Thurow Chair Aerospace Engineering
W. Allen and Martha Reed Associate Professor
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2005 Ohio State University M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2001 Ohio State University B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1999 Ohio State University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant/Associate Professor Auburn University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Experimental fluid dynamics • Light field imaging • Plenoptic cameras • 3-D flow visualization • Compressible and turbulent flows
Maria L. Auad
Director Center for Polymer and Advanced Composites Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Materials Science, 2000 University of Mar del Plata, Argentina
• Control of microstructures and nanostructure in polymer and nanomaterials
B.S. Chemical Engineering, 1995 University of Mar del Plata, Argentina
• Shape memory polymers
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Interim Department Chair, Polymer and Fiber Engineering Auburn University Research Associate University of Southern California Postdoctoral Scholar California Institute of Technology
• Interpenetrating polymer networks for transparent and high impact applications • Polymers for structural and biomedical applications
Cordelia Brown
Director Alabama Power Academic Excellence Program Senior Lecturer, Electrical and Computer Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, 2005 Vanderbilt University
• Community-centered engineering learning environment
M.S. Electrical Engineering, 2001 Vanderbilt University
• Near peer and professional mentoring efforts
B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1999 Tuskegee University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant Professor Purdue University Visiting Assistant Professor Purdue University
• Historical analysis of engineering diversity initiatives • Understanding the needs of first-generation engineering students • Recruitment and retention initiatives project
Michael Hamilton
Director Alabama Micro/Nano Science and Technology Center Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, 2005 University of Michigan
• Packaging and integration of dense, high-performance electronics systems
M.S.E.E. Electrical Engineering, 2003 University of Michigan
• Signal and power integrity of advanced computing and communications systems
B.S.E.E. Electrical Engineering, 2000 Auburn University
• Fabrication and application of micro/nanostructures for enhanced performance of RF and microwave systems
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant Professor Auburn University Assistant Director Alabama Micro/Nano Science and Technology Center Staff Member Lincoln Laboratory – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Packaging for extreme environments (both high and low temperature) • Cryogenic and superconducting electronics technologies
Gregory Harris
Director Southern Alliance for Advanced Vehicle Manufacturing Associate Professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2007 University of Alabama in Huntsville MBA Management- Operations, 1986 St. Edward’s University B.I.E. Industrial Engineering, 1981 Auburn University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Government Program Manager, The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute Presidential Initiative for Manufacturing Innovation General Engineer Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center – U.S. Army Manufacturing Technology Program Office of the Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy Detail
Acting Chief Technology Officer Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute Adjunct Assistant Professor of Systems Engineering Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Director, Center for Management and Economic Research Director, Alabama Technology Network Center University of Alabama in Huntsville
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Advanced manufacturing involving the application of new technologies to the product realization process • Alignment of efficient and effective manufacturing processes with product characteristics • Development of new innovative strategies for satisfying market demand for products and systems
Zhihua Jiang
Director, Alabama Center for Paper and Bioresource Engineering Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Organic Chemistry, 1998 McGill University, Canada
• Advanced manufacturing technologies in pulping, bleaching and papermaking
M.S. Wood and Pulping Chemistry, 1989 Nanjing Forestry University, China
• Value-added utilization of lignocellulosic biomass including nanocellulose composites and applying oxidation chemistry for lignin valorization
B.S. Wood and Pulping Chemistry, 1986 Nanjing Forestry University, China
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Senior Principal Chemist Packaging Cooperation America Scientist/Senior Scientist/Principal Scientist FPInnovations, Canada Deputy Manager Shanghai Li Hua Paper Mill, China
Shiwen Mao
Director, Wireless Engineering Research and Education Center Samuel Ginn Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2004 Polytechnic University M.S. Systems Engineering, 2000 Polytechnic University M.S. Electronic Engineering, 1997 Tsinghua University, China B.S. Electronic Engineering, 1994 B.S. Business Management, 1994 Tsinghua University, China
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant Professor/McWane Associate Professor Auburn University Postdoctoral Research Associate and Research Scientist Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Research Staff IBM China Research Lab
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Design, algorithmic, performance and optimization issues in wireless communications and networks • Multimedia communications over wired and wireless networks • Cognitive radio networks, femtocell networks, 60 GHz mmWave networks, massive MIMO and free space optical networks • Smart grid, green communications and networking, and cloud computing • Indoor localization
Tony Overfelt
Director, Center for Industrialized Additive Manufacturing William and Elizabeth Reed Professor Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, 1984 Vanderbilt University M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, 1981 Vanderbilt University B.S. Engineering Science, 1978 Tennessee Technological University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Executive Director FAA National Air Transportation Center of Excellence for Airliner Cabin Environment Research Director NASA Solidification Design Center Senior Research Fellow Space Power Institute, Auburn University Associate Professor Auburn University
Assistant Research Professor Vanderbilt University Metallurgical Engineer General Electric Process Control Metallurgist General Dynamics Corp.
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Materials processes in manufacturing, including additive manufacturing, casting and welding • Characterization of metallurgical microstructures, defects and mechanical properties resulting from solidification • Computational simulation of transport phenomena during manufacturing, including high temperature thermophysical property measurements • Low-g effects during solidification and applications to in-space manufacturing
Anthony (Tony) Skjellum Director, Charles D. McCrary Institute Director, Auburn Cyber Research Center Charles D. McCrary Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair Computer Science and Software Engineering EDUCATION Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 1990 Minor: Computer Science California Institute of Technology M.S. Chemical Engineering, 1985 California Institute of Technology B.S. Physics, 1984 California Institute of Technology
Director and Co-Founder Center for Information Assurance and Joint Forensics Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Assistant/Associate Professor Mississippi State University Computer Scientist Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
RESEARCH INTERESTS
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Cyber systems
COLSA Professor of Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Auburn University
• Applications of high performance computing to
Professor and Department Chair Department of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
intrusion detection
• Message passing systems • Embedded high performance computing • Scientific computing and parallel computing
New Faculty
Ali Abdel-Hadi Lecturer Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION
Inspection and Quality Control Engineer Aboulela Engineering Co., Mercedes-Benz Division, Sudan
Ph.D. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2003 Minor: Mechanical Engineering University of Florida
RESEARCH INTERESTS
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, 1998 University of Florida
• Designing, building and utilizing low-stress geologic-
material constitutive-property measurement equipment to characterize the quasi-static deformation and shear behavior of granular materials
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1993 University of Khartoum, Sudan
• Powder flow, rheology and consolidation
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Performance of quasi-static measurements on materials
Visiting Assistant Professor Auburn University Assistant Professor Tuskegee University Temporary Assistant Professor University of Georgia
of interest to NASA’s National Center for Space Exploration Research programs
• Development of a micro shear tester for pharmaceutical powders, and further development of a micro screw feeder for fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Anahita Ayasoufi Lecturer Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2004 University of Toledo
Postdoctoral Scholar University of Alabama at Birmingham
RESEARCH INTERESTS
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, 1997 Sharif University of Technology, Iran
• Numerical simulation of turbulent flow in helical static mixers
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1995 University of Tehran, Iran
• Numerical simulation of blood flow in arteries
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Numerical simulation of ablative heat shields using finite-rate chemistry
Visiting Assistant Professor Auburn University
• Numerical simulation of solid-liquid phase change problems using the CE/SE method
Instructor Northeast State Community College
• Numerical simulation of supersonic flow
Full-time temporary faculty East Tennessee State University
Bryan Beckingham Assistant Professor Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Chemical and Materials Engineering, 2013 Princeton University M.A. Chemical Engineering, 2009 Princeton University B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2007 Clarkson University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Fellow Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Polymer synthesis and polymer physics • Polymer miscibility • Self-assembly of hierarchical soft matter • Ionic transport in polymer membranes • Semiconducting polymers
Lauren E. Beckingham Assistant Professor Civil Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2012 Princeton University
• Subsurface environmental geochemistry and engineering for energy technologies
M.A. Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2009 Princeton University
• Multi-scale imaging and analysis of porous media
B.S.E. Environmental Engineering, 2007 Michigan Technological University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Fellow Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Subsurface hydrology, water-rock interactions, and reactive transport • Geologic sequestration of CO2
Majid Beidaghi Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, 2012 Florida International University
• Materials for electrochemical energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors) and conversion
M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, 2006 K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Iran
• 2-D materials (beyond Graphene) for electrical, mechanical and electrochemical applications
B.S. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, 2003 Isfahan University of Technology, Iran
• Electrochemical interfaces and electrode/electrolyte interactions in electrochemical systems
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Design and fabrication of miniaturized energy storage devices for integrated micro/nanosystems
Research Associate Drexel University Postdoctoral Research Fellow Drexel University Staff R&D Engineer Supplying Automotive Parts Co., Iran
Carlos Carrero Assistant Professor Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Natural Science, 2012 Technical University of Berlin, Germany B.S. Chemistry, 2006 University of the Andes, Venezuela
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Heterogenous catalysis • In situ/operando Raman spectroscopy • Oil and natural gas upgrading
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Design, synthesis and application of metal oxide catalysts
Postdoctoral Researcher University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Sustainable catalytic processes
Postdoctoral Researcher Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Germany Junior Researcher PDVSA-INTEVEP, Venezuela
• Electrocatalysis
Asha-Dee Celestine Assistant Professor Aerospace Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering, 2014 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign M.S. Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2007 Stanford University B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2005 Howard University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Researcher Harvard University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Damage sensing and self-healing composite materials • Degradable structural composites • High strength, self-actuating composites
Pengyu Chen Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering, 2012 Clemson University M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, 2009 Clemson University B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, 2006 Nanjing University, China
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Research Fellow University of Michigan
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Advanced nanobiosensors • Precision medicine • Single cell analysis, cell-to-cell communication
Lorenzo Cremaschi Associate Professor Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2004 University of Maryland B.S. and M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2001 University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Energy efficiency and scalable energy systems • Nano-micro-mini-scale heat and mass transfer • HVAC, moisture transport and building energy systems
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Refrigeration and energy conversion
Assistant/Associate Professor Oklahoma State University
• Low GWP refrigerants, lubricants and nanolubricants
Postdoctoral Research Associate Purdue University
• Frost and defrost, mini- and micro-channels heat exchangers • Fouling and environmental heat transfer
Selen Cremaschi B. Redd Associate Professor Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 2006 Purdue University M.S. Chemical Engineering, 2001 Bogazici University, Turkey B.S. Chemical Engineering, 1999 Bogazici University, Turkey
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant/Associate Professor University of Tulsa Postdoctoral Research Associate Purdue University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Recipient of NSF CAREER Award given to early career faculty who epitomize excellence in research and education • Process synthesis, design and operations • Optimization under uncertainty • Energy systems engineering • Cancer care engineering
Edward Davis Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 1997 University of Akron
Researcher Shell Research and Technical Center, Belgium
RESEARCH INTERESTS
M.S. Chemical Engineering, 1993 Tulane University
• Structured polymer systems, with and without nanoscale additives, to achieve novel properties
B.S. Biomedical Engineering, 1990 Tulane University
• Incorporation of nanomaterials to achieve enhanced performance properties in synthetic and biological polymers
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Lecturer/Assistant Research Professor Auburn University Quality Improvement Engineer CSP Technologies Senior Principal Research Engineer EVAL Co. of America Technical Support Representative Shell Chemicals
• Materials and systems for the controlled release of therapeutic agents • Shape memory materials • Contactless activation of morphological and structural changes • Nanomaterial synthesis and scalable processing • Development of biomechanical test protocols
Jeremiah Davis Associate Professor Biosystems Engineering
Associate Director, National Poultry Technology Center
EDUCATION Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering, 2007 Iowa State University M.S. Agricultural Engineering, 2003 University of Kentucky B.S. Agricultural Engineering, 2001 Texas A&M University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant/Associate Professor Mississippi State University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Heat transfer and psychrometrics in animal housing • Energy and water efficiency in animal housing • Animal instrumentation and tracking • Animal bedding materials
Ujjwal Guin
Assistant Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2016 University of Connecticut M.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2010 Temple University B.E. Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering, 2004 Bengal Engineering and Science University, India
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Graduate Research Assistant University of Connecticut Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant Temple University Assistant Manager Samtel Color Limited, India
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Cybersecurity • Detection and avoidance of counterfeit electronics • Hardware security and trust
Sa’d Hamasha
Assistant Professor Industrial and Systems Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2015 State University of New York, Binghamton M.S. Industrial Engineering, 2010 Jordan University of Science and Technology B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2007 Jordan University of Science and Technology
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant Professor Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Reliability and quality engineering • Electronics manufacturing and packaging • Reliability testing and modeling of electronic assemblies • Fatigue and damage accumulation in materials • Lean Six Sigma and continuous process improvement
Joel Hayworth Associate Professor Civil Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 1992 Auburn University
• Basic and applied environmental and ecosystem research, assessment and restoration
M.S. Hydrology, 1988 Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Behavior and fate of anthropogenic micropollutants in terrestrial and estuarine systems
B.S. Geophysics, 1986 University of California, Santa Barbara
• Environmental resilience of natural systems
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Associate Research Professor Auburn University President Hayworth Engineering Science Inc. Research Scientist U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Postdoctoral Fellow Tennessee Valley Authority Engineering Laboratory
Peter He
Associate Professor Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 2005 University of Texas at Austin
• Industrial informatics in advanced manufacturing and cybermanufacturing
M.S. Chemical Engineering, 2002 University of Texas at Austin
• Nexus of food-energy-water systems
B.E. Chemical Engineering, 1996 Tsinghua University, China
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant/Associate Professor Tuskegee University
• Systems engineering enhanced biomedical big data analytics • Integrative analysis of omics data • Cancer informatics
Brendan Higgins Assistant Professor Biosystems Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Biological Systems Engineering, 2014 University of California, Davis M.S. Transportation Technology and Policy, 2010 University of California, Davis B.S. Civil Engineering, 2009 Northwestern University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Researcher University of California, Davis
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Engineering applications of algal-bacterial processes • Biofuels, bioproducts, waste remediation and nutraceuticals • Organism interaction at the molecular level
W. Jeffrey Horne Lecturer Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Chemical and Biological Engineering, 2015 University of Alabama M.S. Chemical Engineering, 2005 Mississippi State University B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2001 Mississippi State University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Instructor/Postdoctoral Researcher University of Alabama Engineering Manager Handex Consulting and Remediation Senior Staff Engineer URS Corp.
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Carbon capture • Ionic liquids • Environmental remediation • Water purification • Polymers
Jasmeet Lamba Assistant Professor Biosystems Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Biological Systems Engineering, 2014 University of Wisconsin-Madison M.S. Civil Engineering, 2009 Auburn University B.S. Agricultural Engineering, 2007 Punjab Agricultural University, India
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Scholar Pennsylvania State University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Sediment and nutrient management • Sediment fingerprinting • Watershed-scale modeling • Fate and transport of nutrients and contaminants in watersheds
Fabricio Leiva-Villacorta Assistant Research Professor National Center for Asphalt Technology
EDUCATION Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2012 Auburn University M.S. Civil Engineering, 2007 Auburn University MBA Business Administration, 2005 Distance State University, Costa Rica B.S. Civil Engineering, 2002 University of Costa Rica
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Researcher/Professor University of Costa Rica
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Pavement materials • Asphalt properties • Nanotechnology • Accelerated pavement testing • Finite element analysis • Artificial neural networks modeling
Bo Liu
Assistant Professor Computer Science and Software Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Computer Science, 2015 University of Massachusetts Amherst M.S. Computer Engineering, 2010 Stevens Institute of Technology M.S. Electrical Engineering, 2008 University of Science and Technology of China
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Research Scientist Philips Research North America
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Deep learning • Reinforcement learning • Transfer learning • Large-scale optimization
Jack Montgomery Assistant Professor Civil Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2015 University of California, Davis M.S. Civil Engineering, 2012 University of California, Davis B.S. Civil Engineering, 2009 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Graduate Research Assistant University of California, Davis
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Slope stability and embankment design • Numerical modeling • Site characterization • Geotechnical earthquake engineering
Stephen Nichols Assistant Professor Aerospace Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Engineering, 2002 Mississippi State University M.S. Aerospace Engineering, 1998 Mississippi State University B.S. Aerospace Engineering, 1992 United States Naval Academy
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Associate Research Professor Auburn University Assistant/Associate Research Professor University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Associate Mississippi State University Aerospace Engineer Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Parallel unstructured and structured flow solvers • Unsteady free-surface flows • Turbulence modeling • Multi-phase and multi-species modeling • Turbomachinery
Frances O’Donnell Assistant Professor Civil Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2013 Princeton University B.A. Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, 2007 Harvard University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Scholar Northern Arizona University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Relationships between vegetation and the water cycle • Soil moisture and evapotranspiration • Sustainability of water resources, particularly in waterscarce environments • Hydrologic processes in ecosystems with sporadic precipitation and heterogeneous vegetation
Tae-Sik Oh Assistant Professor Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Materials Science, 2012 California Institute of Technology
• Energy conversion materials: fuel cell catalysts, oxide thermoelectrics and solid-state ionic conductors.
M.S. Materials Science, 2008 California Institute of Technology
• Catalysis for chemical production: solar-thermal synthesis of fuels (methanol and ammonia), CO2 capture and utilization, and membrane reactor
M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, 2006 Seoul National University, South Korea B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, 2004 Seoul National University, South Korea
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Scholar University of Pennsylvania
• Water and air treatment: filtration membranes, capacitive deionization and gas sensors to detect hydrocarbon pollutant
Robert Pantazes Assistant Professor Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 2014 Pennsylvania State University B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2008 Pennsylvania State University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Therapeutic protein design • Protein structure prediction • Protein-protein interface prediction
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Modeling protein-protein interaction networks
Data Scientist Serimmune Inc.
• Diagnosing disease
Postdoctoral Fellow University of California, Santa Barbara
Edmon Perkins Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2015 University of Maryland M.S. Mathematics, 2008 University of Oklahoma B.S. Mathematics, 2006 University of Oklahoma
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Graduate Research Assistant University of Maryland Instructor East Central University Adjunct Professor Oklahoma State University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Nonlinear dynamics • Stochastic dynamics • Computational dynamics • Experimental methods • Design
Joseph Ragan Lecturer Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2014 Auburn University M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2002 Auburn University B.M.E. Mechanical Engineering, 1998 Auburn University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Visiting Assistant Professor Auburn University Engineer Boiler Efficiency Institute
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Utilization of reverse osmosis for water desalination • Numerical simulations of solid body collisions • High temperature heat pump cycles
Jeffrey Rice Lecturer Chemical Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 2007 University of California, Santa Barbara
• Improving engineering education methods and engaging students through active learning techniques
B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2001 Georgia Institute of Technology
• Development of novel combinatorial protein engineering techniques
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Engineering extracellular matrix proteins for enhanced tissue healing and regeneration
Assistant Professor Tennessee Technological University Postdoctoral Scholar Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland Scientist CytomX
• Applying combinatorial protein display techniques to create novel cell signaling molecules and fluorescent proteins • Development of in vitro cellular flow chambers to study angiogenesis, cellular migration and gene delivery
Jordan Roberts Lecturer Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2014 Auburn University M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2008 Auburn University B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2003 University of Alabama at Birmingham
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Visiting Assistant Professor Auburn University Private Consultant
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Additive manufacturing • Experimental and numerical methods in solid mechanics • Electronic packaging, materials and reliability • Stress sensing and reliability test chips
Jorge Rueda-Benavides Assistant Professor Civil Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, 2016 Iowa State University
• Alternative project delivery methods
M.S. Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering and Management, 2013 Iowa State University
• Data mining in the transportation industry
B.S. Civil Engineering, 2010 Industrial University of Santander, Colombia
• Preconstruction/construction cost estimating
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Graduate Research Assistant Iowa State University
• Risk management
• Transportation asset management
Rodrigo Sardinas
Lecturer Computer Science and Software Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Computer Science and Software Engineering (in progress) Auburn University
• Information security
M.S. Computer Science, 2013 Columbus State University
• Cloud forensics and security
B.S. Computer Science, 2011 Columbus State University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Adjunct Instructor Chattahoochee Valley Community College
• Cloud
• Malware detection • Programming
David Scarborough Assistant Professor Aerospace Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2010 Georgia Institute of Technology M.S.M.E. Mechanical Engineering, 1998 Georgia Institute of Technology B.M.E. Mechanical Engineering, 1993 Georgia Institute of Technology
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Research Engineer/Senior Research Engineer Georgia Institute of Technology Process Engineer Trane Inc. Project Engineer International Paper Co.
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Combustion • Acoustics • Thermodynamics • Hypersonics
Mark Schall
Assistant Professor Industrial and Systems Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Industrial Engineering, 2014 University of Iowa M.S. Industrial Engineering, 2011 University of Iowa B.S. Industrial Engineering, 2010 University of Iowa
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Research Scholar University of Iowa
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Developing, evaluating, and applying direct measurement technologies to assess exposure to occupational risk factors associated with musculoskeletal health outcomes • Designing ergonomic interventions to prevent the incidence of musculoskeletal health outcomes among working people
Nima Shamsaei Associate Professor Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2010 University of Toledo M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2001 Sharif University of Technology, Iran B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1999 Isfahan University of Technology, Iran
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant Professor Mississippi State University Senior Engineer and Technical Leader Durability Test Development, Chrysler Group
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Additive manufacturing • Fatigue and failure analysis • Fracture mechanics • Mechanical behavior of materials • Solid mechanics and design
Tao Shu
Assistant Professor Computer Science and Software Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering, 2010 University of Arizona Ph.D. Communication and Information Systems, 2003 Tsinghua University, China M.S. Electrical Engineering, 1999 South China University of Technology B.S. Radio Engineering, 1996 South China University of Technology
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant Professor Oakland University Senior Engineer Qualcomm Inc.
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Wireless networking • Wireless security and privacy • Applied cryptography and information assurance • Network economics
Daniel Silva
Assistant Professor Industrial and Systems Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Operations Research, 2016 Georgia Institute of Technology M.S. Operations Research, 2015 Georgia Institute of Technology M.S. Industrial Engineering, 2008 University of the Andes, Colombia B.S. Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, 2006 University of the Andes, Colombia
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Graduate Research Assistant Georgia Institute of Technology
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Stochastic optimization • Markov decision processes • Stochastic processes • Applied probability • Queueing systems
Jakita Thomas
Philpott-WestPoint Stevens Associate Professor Computer Science and Software Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Computer Science, 2006 Georgia Institute of Technology
• Recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for
B.S. Computer Science, 1999 Spelman College
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Assistant Professor Spelman College Adjunct Professor San Jose State University Research Staff Member IBM Research – Almaden
Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor the U.S. government bestows on those in the early stages of their research careers
• Exploring the development of computational algorithmic thinking
• Socially and culturally relevant computing • Promoting access to healthcare information and services for under-served populations
• Improving reasoning using expert cases • Scientific reasoning • Complex cognitive skills learning • Computer-supported collaborative learning
Scott Thompson Associate Professor Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, 2012 University of Missouri B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2008 University of Missouri
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Additive manufacturing • Phase change heat transfer • High heat flux thermal modeling
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Heat exchanger design
Assistant Professor Mississippi State University
• Energy harvesting and conversion
Adriana Vargas-Nordcbeck Assistant Research Professor National Center for Asphalt Technology
EDUCATION Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2012 Auburn University M.S. Civil Engineering, 2007 Auburn University MBA Business Administration, 2005 Distance State University, Costa Rica B.S. Civil Engineering, 2003 University of Costa Rica
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Researcher and Professor University of Costa Rica Staff Engineer Nichols Consulting Engineers Construction Engineer Ultrapark, Costa Rica
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Testing methods • Additives/modifiers • Pavement performance • Pavement management • Pavement preservation • Sustainable materials
Aleksandr Vinel
Assistant Professor Industrial and Systems Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Industrial Engineering, 2015 University of Iowa M.S. Applied Mathematics and Physics, 2012 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia B.S. Applied Mathematics and Physics, 2010 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Russia
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Graduate Assistant University of Iowa
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Decision making under uncertainty • Risk-averse stochastic optimization • Conic and nonlinear programming • Mixed-integer nonlinear programming
Yi Wang
Assistant Professor Biosystems Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 2012 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign M.S. Environmental Engineering, 2006 University of Science and Technology of China B.S. Environmental Engineering, 2003 University of Science and Technology Beijing, China
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Research Associate University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Value-added biochemical and bioenergy production • Environmental molecular biology • Water pollution control • Bioremediation • Environmental-friendly materials development for environment and bioenergy applications
Rick Williams Lecturer Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2002 Auburn University M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1983 Georgia Institute of Technology B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1982 Georgia Institute of Technology
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Visiting Associate Professor Auburn University Assistant/Associate Professor East Carolina University Associate Research Professor Auburn University
Associate Director, Materials Processing Center Auburn University Engineer and Section Supervisor Corning Inc. Submarine Officer and Naval Academy Instructor United States Navy
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Thermal-fluid systems: process heating and cooling, electronic equipment cooling and phase change heat transfer • Additive manufacturing: 3-D printing processes and applications • Engineering education: pedagogy, active learning and content development
Michael Zabala Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering
EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2013 Stanford University
• Biomechanics associated with musculoskeletal function, joint injury and disease
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2010 Stanford University
• MRI-based analysis of musculoskeletal joint injury and disease
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2007 Auburn University
• Human movement for patient rehabilitation and performance enhancement in athletes
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
• Biomechanics of the soldier and the effects of performance enhancing wearable devices
Senior Associate Exponent Inc.
New Faculty Spring 2017
Vinamra Agrawal Assistant Professor Aerospace Engineering EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2016 California Institute of Technology M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2012 California Institute of Technology B.Tech. Mechanical Engineering, 2011 Indian Institute of Technology
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Researcher California Institute of Technology and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Mechanics of composites and heterogeneous materials • Energy harvesting through ferroic and multiferroic materials • Damage mechanics • Smart composites and engineered metamaterials
Adil Bashir
Associate Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering EDUCATION Ph.D. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1999 Massachusetts Institute of Technology M.S. Electrical and Computer Science, 1995 Massachusetts Institute of Technology B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1991 University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Research Scientist/Associate and Instructor Washington University in St. Louis Director of Consulting Techlogix Postdoctoral Fellow Harvard Medical School
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Developing new magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy techniques to study structural, functional and biochemical abnormalities in tissues caused by pathology • Multinuclear MR spectroscopy and hemodynamic imaging to study the effects of diabetes and heart failure on cardiac and skeletal muscle energetics • Proton MR spectroscopy and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) based MRI methods to identify tumors of different grades and monitor pathological changes with tumor progression and in response to treatment
Xiaowen Gong
Assistant Professor Electrical and Computer Engineering EDUCATION Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, 2015 Arizona State University M.S. Communications, 2010 University of Alberta, Canada B.E. Electronics and Information Engineering, 2008 Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Researcher Ohio State University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Mobile social computing and networks • Crowdsourcing • Cybersecurity and privacy
Hoe Joon Kim Assistant Professor Mechanical Engineering EDUCATION Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, 2015 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign M.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2011 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign B.S. Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics and Statistics, 2009 Johns Hopkins University
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Postdoctoral Research Associate Carnegie Mellon University
RESEARCH INTERESTS • Heat transfer, thermal engineering • Micro/nano electromechanical systems • Synthesis and device integration of carbon nanomaterials and advanced materials • Nanomanufacturing and nanometrology
Marta Miletić Assistant Professor Civil Engineering EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Civil Engineering (Geotechnical Engineering), 2016 Kansas State University
• Computational and experimental modeling of strain localization in pressure sensitive materials
M.S. Civil Engineering (Geotechnical Engineering), 2011 University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Resilient and sustainable infrastructure materials
B.S. Civil Engineering, 2009 University of Zagreb, Croatia
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant Kansas State University Graduate Research Assistant University of New South Wales, Australia Civil Engineering Designer Dalekovod Projekt d.o.o., Croatia
• Soil-structure interaction • Thermally active geo-systems (energy foundations) • Advanced geotechnical laboratory testing
Vrishank Raghav Assistant Professor Aerospace Engineering EDUCATION
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Ph.D. Aerospace Engineering, 2014 Georgia Institute of Technology
• Aerodynamics: unsteady flow, fluid-structure interaction and rotorcraft aerodynamics
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, 2010 Georgia Institute of Technology
• Biofluid mechanics: heart valve and ventricular fluid mechanics
B.Tech. Mechanical Engineering, 2008 National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellow Georgia Institute of Technology
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering 1301 Shelby Center 1161 West Samford Avenue, Building 8 Auburn, AL 36830-9989
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