Faculty Research Areas

Dr. Jason Ash
Dr. Jason Ash has research interests in the interfacial mechanics of composite materials as well as biaxial testing of composite materials.

Dr. Cassandra Birrenkott
Dr. Cassandra Birrenkott studies the design, fabrication, and analysis of multifunctional structures and materials including: manufacturing of structures with multifunctional potential; coupling mechanical stimuli with varied automatic responses; transfer of mechanochemistry knowledge; and elicit responses such as optical, chemical, magnetic, energetic, etc. For more information, visit the Joining and Mechanics of Polymers (JMP) Lab.

Dr. Aaron Lalley
Dr. Aaron Lalley’s current research activities include modeling chatter in VMC machining processes. Previous research includes: manufacturing process development for advanced solar cell production; ion implantation for enhanced tooling performance; nano-fiber composite modeling; novel tooling methods for thin metal coining; laser weld process control; and novel part handling.

Dr. Micah Lande
Dr. Micah Lande is the E.R. Stensaas Chair for Engineering Education, and he leads the Holistic Engineering Learning Lab and Observatory (HELLO). His research interests include design education, design thinking and making, and engineering education research. Research projects include the educational pathways of makers, the role of prototyping in design thinking, and public participation in making and engineering. For more information, visit the HELLO Lab.

Dr. Pierre Larochelle
Dr. Pierre Larochelle’s core research interests are focused on the kinematics and design of complex robotic mechanical systems. For more information, visit the Robotics and Computational Kinematics Innovation (ROCKIN) Lab.

Dr. Peter McKeon

Dr. Pierre Larochelle
Dr. Pierre Larochelle’s core research interests are focused on the kinematics and design of complex robotic mechanical systems. For more information please visit the Robotics and Computational Kinematics Innovation (ROCKIN) Lab.

Dr. Peter McKeon

Dr. Daniel Rederth
Dr. Daniel Rederth has research expertise in the area of nanoscale semiconductors. His recent work has focused on a numerical approach to modeling magnetic quantum dots.

Dr. Jason Ash
Dr. Jason Ash has research interests in the interfacial mechanics of composite materials as well as biaxial testing of composite materials.

Dr. Cassandra Birrenkott
Dr. Cassandra Birrenkott studies the design, fabrication, and analysis of multifunctional structures and materials including: manufacturing of structures with multifunctional potential; coupling mechanical stimuli with varied automatic responses; transfer of mechanochemistry knowledge; and elicit responses such as optical, chemical, magnetic, energetic, etc. For more information, visit the Joining and Mechanics of Polymers (JMP) Lab.

Dr. Aaron Lalley
Dr. Aaron Lalley’s current research activities include modeling chatter in VMC machining processes. Previous research includes: manufacturing process development for advanced solar cell production; ion implantation for enhanced tooling performance; nano-fiber composite modeling; novel tooling methods for thin metal coining; laser weld process control; and novel part handling.

Dr. Albert Romkes
Dr. Albert Romkes studies computational and applied mechanics and mathematics with an emphasis on: (multi-scale) modeling of heterogeneous media and multiphysics/interaction processes; numerical analysis of partial differential equations arising in continuum mechanics applications; development of finite element type methods of approximation; estimation of approximation and modeling error; and development of strategies for mesh-adaptive finite element processes.

Dr. Prasoon Diwakar
Dr. Prasoon Diwakar studies laser-based diagnostics, plasma-particle interactions, plasma diagnostics, plasma spectroscopy, aerosol analysis and instrumentation, thermal sciences, and combustion diagnostics. For more information, visit the Laser Plasma Diagnostics Lab (LPDL).

Dr. Joseph John Thalakkottor
Dr. Joseph Thalakkottor’s research is focused on gaining a deeper understanding of the nature, behavior, and effects of features existing at the limits of continuum field theory. Common examples of these features, which are often represented as discontinuities, are material or phase interface, vortex sheet, shock front, combustion front, and gravity wave, to name a few. These problems are intriguing and challenging at the same time as it is accompanied by rapid changes in scales, multi-physics, geometrical complexities, and fascinating chemical phenomena. He uses and develops theoretical and computational tools to study them. For more information, visit the Laboratory of Interfacial Transport (LIT).

Mr. Ardell Knudson

Dr. Khosro Shahbazi
Dr. Kohsro Shahbazi studies computational and theoretical fluid dynamics; high-order hybrid methods for multiscale high-speed flows; high-order discontinuous Galerkin methods; multigrid algorithms and Newton-Krylov solvers; high performance scientific computing and parallel algorithms; compressible and incompressible fluid mechanics; shock/ultrasound wave bubble interactions and multi-phase flows. 

Dr. Weibing Xing
Dr. Xing conducts research in electrochemical energy storage including primary lithium batteries, rechargeable Li-ion batteries, next-gen Li-ion batteries (Li metal anode, all-solid-sate), beyond-Li-ion battery chemistries (Li-S, Li-air), and supercapacitors (symmetric, asymmetric).  His research interests include fundamental material-level study (electrodes, electrolytes, separators) and integrated system cell-level investigation/optimization. For additional information, please visit the Energy Storage Lab's website.