The Lab

Current Members

Principal Investigator: Prof. Srikanth Pilla

Graduate Students, Postdocs, and Research Faculty/Staff

1. Dr. Morteza Sabet (Postdoctoral Fellow; 4/18-present)
   Research topic: “Si-based Anodes: Synthesis and Manufacturing”.
2. Dr. Ting Zheng (Postdoctoral Fellow; 9/17-present)
   Research topic: “Nanocellulose-based Composites”.
3. Mr. James Sternberg (pursuing PhD in AuE; 08/17-present).
   Research topic: “Lignin-based Polymers”.
   Status: Candidate for PhD
4. Mr. Saeed Farahani (pursuing PhD in AuE; 08/17-present)
   Research topic: “Polymer Injection Forming”.
   Status:Successfully Defended Comprehensive Exam/Proposal Defense in May 2018
5. Mr. Sai Aditya Pradeep (pursuing PhD in AuE; 08/16-present)
   Research topic: “Nanocellular Foams: Investigation into Foaming Phenomena”.
   Status: Passed Qualifiers in August 2017
6. Mr. Veer Aditya Yerra (pursuing PhD in AuE; 08/14-present)
   Research topic: “Improving Scalability and Mechanical Performance of Resistive Fusion Welding of Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics in Automotive Applications”.
   Status: Successfully Defended Comprehensive Exam/Proposal Defense in August 2017
7. Mr. Shiferaw Beyene (pursuing PhD in AuE; 08/15-present). (Co-Advisor)
   Research topic: “Modeling and Control Additive Manufacturing Processes”.
   Status:Successfully Defended Comprehensive Exam/Proposal Defense in August 2018
8. Mr. Rakesh Iyer (pursuing PhD in AuE; 01/16-present).
   Research topic: “Polymer Derived Ceramics as Thermoelectric Materials”.
   Status: Passed PhD Qualifiers in Jan 2017
9. Mr. Arthur Cartwright (pursuing PhD in AuE; 08/14-present).
   Research topic: “Systems Engineering Approach to Value-Based Refinement of the Cost Estimation for the Applied Research and Development of an Automotive Thermoelectric Module”.
   Status: Passed PhD Qualifiers in August 2015
10. Ms. Kousaalya Bakthavatchalam (pursuing PhD in AuE; 08/14-present)
    Research topic: “UV Based Stepped Concurrent Curing of Biobased Thermoset Composites”.
    Status:Successfully Defended Comprehensive Exam/Proposal Defense in August 2018
11. Mr. Hakan Kazan (pursuing PhD in AuE; 01/14-present)
    Research topic: “Novel Methodology to Manufacture Thermoset-Thermoplastic Hybrid Components”.
    Status: Passed PhD Qualifiers in Jan 2015

MS Research Assistants

1. Mr. Akash Yelne (pursuing MS in Automotive Engineering; 05/18-present).
   Research topic: “Polymer Injection Sheet Metal Forming”.
2. Mr. Ajinkya Gulanikar (pursuing MS in Automotive Engineering; 06/18-present).
   Research topic: “Polymer Injection Sheet Metal Forming”.
3. Mr. Senthil Raj Ramesh (pursuing MS in Automotive Engineering; 01/18-present).
   Research topic: “Ultra Lightweight Thermoplastics Composites Door Assembly”.

Undergraduate Research Assistants

1. Mr. Nathaniel Brown (pursuing BS in Mechanical Engineering; 08/15-present).
   Research topic: “Application of Industry 4.0 to Composites Manufacturing Processes”.
2. Mr. Jonathan Loftis (pursuing BS in Mechanical Engineering; 08/18-present).
   Research topic: “Polymer Processing, Structure-Property Relationships”.
3. Mr. Ryan Quinn (pursuing BS in Mechanical Engineering; 08/18-present).
   Research topic: “Polymer Processing, Structure-Property Relationships”.