Our research activities are broadly organized into the four areas shown below. Faculty conduct research individually and in collaboration with others at South Dakota Mines and around the globe. Click to expand any of the four areas below for more information
about individual faculty specializations.
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. Andrea Surovek
Dr. Andrea Surovek’s research interests include bringing bio-inspired design into structural engineering research and practice.
Her research examines termite mounds as a potential model for sustainable structural forms, integrating functions of strength, stability, and ventilation. For more information, visit
termitemounds.org. In addition, she serves as the Director of the School’s EPICS Program. EPICS (Engineering Projects In Community Service) is a service-learning program that
combines multidisciplinary design projects with community service.
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. Nickolaus Bruno
Dr. Nickolas Bruno studies the behaviors and application of active materials. His main interest is in the thermodynamic behavior
of meta-magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs). For additional information, please visit
his personal webpage.
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. Andrea Surovek
Dr. Andrea Surovek’s research interests include bringing bio-inspired design into structural engineering research and practice.
Her research examines termite mounds as a potential model for sustainable structural forms, integrating functions of strength, stability and ventilation. For more information, visit
termitemounds.org. In addition, she serves as the Director of the School’s EPICS Program. EPICS (Engineering Projects In Community Service) is a service-learning program that
combines multidisciplinary design projects with community service.
Dr. Duane Abata
Dr. Duane Abata’s areas of research expertise include transient and steady state combustion, internal combustion engines, alternative biofuels,
fuel delivery and fuel sprays, and high-pressure ignition.
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.