All Faculty and Staff
Anjana Asthana
Research Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Nanoscale Materials for energy application and data storage
- Graphene for nanoelectronics
- Materials characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction
- Insitu electrical and mechanical property measurement of nanoscale materials in TEM
- Giant magentoresistance materials, Superconducting materials, Intermetallic thin films
Paul L. Bergstrom
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Adjunct Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Areas of Interest
- Micro-electromechanical systems
- Micromachining materials and process technologies
- Inertial pressure
- Nanoscaled technologies enabling banoelectronic devices
- Technologies for the monolithic integration of sensors and actuators with electronics
Debra D. Charlesworth
Assistant Dean, Graduate School
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Specialties
- Review of theses and dissertations
- Presents and organizes professional development seminars
- Manages Graduate School website
- Processes withdrawals
- Manages new student orientation
- Coordinates NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
Jaroslaw W. Drelich
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Adhesion of fine particles
- Characterization of materials’ surfaces with atomic force microscopy
- Enhancement of biocompatibility of implant materials
- Wetting of solids and liquids – stability of thin liquid films
- Colloidal properties of nanoparticles
- Recycling of materials
- Minerals and oil sands processing
Paul Fraley
Engineer/Scientist
Research Interests
- Lightweight/High Strength Structural Materials
- Metal Matrix Composites
- Alloy Development
- Net Shape Processing Methods
- Powder Metallurgy
- Failure Mechanisms in Materials
Megan C. Frost
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Research Interests
- Nitric oxide releasing polymers
- Implantable sensors
- Biological response to polymeric materials
Stephen A. Hackney
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Electron microscopy
- Materials characterization
- Thermodynamics and kinetics
- Electronic materials
- Senior design
Research Interests
- Lithium ion batteries, ceramic battery materials
- Surface and interface dynamics
- Thin films and nanostructures
- Thermodynamics
- Magnetic materials
- Diffusional instabilities and applications of electron microscopy
Allison M. Hein
Research Engineer and Scientist I - IMP
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Benificiation of coal, minerals, and solid waste.
- Plating sludge leaching and pyro processing.
- Environmental compliance and permits.
- Technical and financial project planning and reporting.
Lloyd A. Heldt
Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering
Teaching Interests
- Materials science
- Corrosion
- Electronic materials
- Senior design
Research Interests
- Environmental effects on mechanical properties
- Corrosion
- Machinability of alloys
Yun Hang Hu
Charles and Carroll McArthur Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Graphene for solar energy
- Dye-sensitized solar cells
- Photocatalysis
- Synthesis of novel solid materials and liquid fuels from CO2
- Hydrogen storage materials
- Synthesis, structures and properties of nano-structured materials
- Heterogeneous catalysis for energy and fuels
- Predictions of material properties
Xiaodi (Scott) Huang
Project Manager and Research Leader - IMP
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Consolidation of metal and ceramic powders by CastCon processing.
- Microwave steel making, agglomeration of ceramics, injection molding, and material characterization.
Jiann-Yang (Jim) Hwang
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Adjunct Professor, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
Research Interests
- Materials Processing
- Microwave
- Hydrogen Storage Material
- Energy
- Recycling
- Extractive Metallurgy
- Environmental Engineering
John A. Jaszczak
Professor, Physics
Adjunct Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, Cognitive and Learning Sciences
Faculty Advisor, Nanotech Innovations Enterprise
Adjunct Curator, A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Nanotechnology Education
Research Interests
- Theoretical condensed matter physics
- Theory and modeling of single-electron transport devices
- Modeling and simulation of properties of interfaces and interface materials
- Atomistic computational physics of surface phases and surface dynamics
- Crystal growth
- Mineralogy of natural graphite
Yongmei M. Jin
Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Research Interests
- Microstructure Evolution in Crystalline Materials
- Solid State Phase Transformations
- Giant Magnetostrictive Materials
- Electromigration and Kirkendall Voiding in Interconnects and Lead-Free Solders
- Materials Modeling and Computer Simulation
Stephen L. Kampe
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Department Chair, Materials Science and Engineering
Franklin St. John Chair
Research Interests
- Microstructural mapping in laser additive manufactured titanium
- Modeling and characterization of Nextel® reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites
- Reactive synthesis processes
- Thermomechanical processing
- Co-deformation of multiphase alloys
- Mechanisms of strengthening
Ruth I. Kramer
Scientist and Academic Advisor
Advising Contact
Research Interests
- Metallography
- Materials characterization
- Scanning electron microscopy
- Mineral microstructures
- Geology
Edward A Laitila
Engineer and Scientist, X-Ray Diffraction and Spectroscopy
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Focus on X-ray diffraction techniques
Research Interests
- X-ray diffraction theory and applications
- Mechanical alloying
- Intermetallic materials
- Physical metallurgy
- Nanoscale materials
- Materials characterization
- Powder metallurgy
Jong K. Lee
Research Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering
Teaching Interests
- Thermodynamics
- Kinetics
- Phase transformations
- Computational materials science
Research Interests
- Computational materials science (especially in solid-state phase transformations)
- Theoretical and simulation studies of crystalline defects
- Structural changes, and kinetics
Miguel Levy
Professor, Physics and Materials Science and Engineering
Links of Interest
Specialties
- Photonics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Bowen Li
Research Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Research Interests
- Material processing
- Mineral processing
- Material characterization
- Ceramic process
- Applied mineralogy
- Antimicrobial behavior of materials
- Chemical analysis
Stephen Mashl
Research Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Research Interests
- Processing of Particulate Materials
- Powder Metallurgy Processing
- Metals Heat Treating
- Process modeling – Process simulation
- Surface Engineering
- Structure-Process-Property Relationships
Donald E. Mikkola
Research Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering
Teaching Interests
- Materials science
- Materials characterization
- X-ray diffraction
- Senior design
Research Interests
- Structure-property-processing relationships
- Deformation and strengthening mechanisms
- Intermetallics
- Shape memory alloys
- Composites
- Materials characterization with diffraction and microscopy
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- The use and application of Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Focused Ion Beam System, X-ray Microanalysis and Ultramicrotomy
- Operation and management of multi-user instrumentation facilities.
Peter D. Moran
Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Teaching Interests
- Electronic and Photonic Materials
- Diffraction (Physics and Applications)
- Experimental Design
Research Interests
- Heteroepitaxial growth on compliant substrates
- Fabrication, characterization, and properties of nanoscale layered structures
- Integration of dissimilar materials through wafer bonding
- The relationship between structural, optical, and electronic properties of heterostructures
- Quantitative x-ray diffraction analysis
- Materials Science curriculum development at all educational levels
- The relationship between information and atoms
Gregory M. Odegard
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Solid Mechanics (SM) Area Director
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Computational Mechanics
- Computational Materials Science
- Biomechanics
Areas of Expertise
- Mechanics of Materials
- Materials Science
Joshua M. Pearce
Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Photovoltaic Materials and Electronic Device Physics of Solar Photovoltaic Cells: Gallium nitride (GaN) and indium gallium nitride (InGaN), Hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon (a-Si:H, nc-Si:H)
- Applied Sustainability and Green Engineering: Solar energy, Sustainable development
Zhiwei Peng
Research Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
- Heat transfer in microwave heating
- Dielectric characterization of materials
- Non-thermal microwave effects
- Ironmaking and steelmaking
- Computational electromagnetics
- Microwave absorbing materials
John E. Pilling
Adjunct Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Teaching Interests
- Mechanical behavior of materials
- Composite materials
- Materials characterization
- Kinetics
- Senior design
Research Interests
- High temperature deformation and fracture
- Superplasticity
- Simulation of microstructural development during phase transformations
- Design of composite materials
Bruce J. Pletka
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Materials science
- Materials characterization
- Mechanical behavior of materials
- Ceramics
Research Interests
- Fracture of brittle materials
- High temperature deformation
- Solidification of ceramics
- Plasma spray processing
Mark R. Plichta
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Director, Institute of Materials Processing
Patrick Quimby
Laboratory/Demonstration Coordinator
Teaching Interests
- Focus on metal casting and characterization
- Scanning Electron Microscopy
- Materials Characterization
Research Interests
- Simulation, production, treatment, and characterization of castings and wrought alloys
- Microstructural analysis, heat treating, mechanical testing, and physical metallurgy
Karl B. Rundman
Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering
Teaching Interests
- Metal casting and solidification
- Materials selection
- Materials science
- Material and energy utilization in industrial societies
- Senior design
Research Interests
- Austempering and ausforming of cast irons
- Structure-property relations in cast and heat treated alloys
- Environmental concerns in the metal casting industry
Paul G. Sanders
Assistant Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Faculty Advisor, Advanced Metalworks Enterprise
Links of Interest
Teaching Interests
- Metals casting
- Design of experiments
- Enterprise
- Senior design
Research Interests
- Casting
- Solidification
- Material design
- Joining
- Surface coating
- Sustainability
- Transportation
Reza Shahbazian-Yassar
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering–Engineering Mechanics
Adjunct Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Nanotechnology for Electrochemical Energy Storage (Batteries and Supercapacitors)
- Nanogenerators and Piezotronic Sciences
- Nanoscale Degradation of Fuel Cell Materials
- Nanoscale Properties of Low Dimensional Materials for Thermoelectrics and Nanoelectronics
- Mechanics of Bio and Nano Materials and Composites
- In-Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy
Darrell W. Smith
Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering
Research Interests
- Powder metallurgy processing
- Influence of porosity on mechanical and physical properties of crystalline solids
Douglas J. Swenson
Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Teaching Interests
- Materials characterization
- Thermodynamics
- Kinetics
- Phase transformations
- Electronic materials
- Senior design
Research Interests
- Thermodynamics and phase diagram modeling
- Diffusion and solid-state reaction kinetics, and the application of these principles to the solution of materials problems
Duane M. Thayer
Professor Emeritus, Materials Science and Engineering
M&M 435
Yu U. Wang
Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Research Interests
- Phase Transforming Materials for Advanced Properties
- Coherent Scattering and Interference Effects in Nanodomain Diffraction
- Polymer-Matrix Dielectric, Piezoelectric, and Magnetostrictive Composites
- Colloidal Self-Assembly of Dipolar and Charged Particles
- Nanoparticle-Block Copolymer Self-Assembly
- Modeling and Simulation of Microstructures and Properties
Calvin L. White
Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Teaching Interests
- Accreditation issues
- Corrosion and environmental effects
- Mechanical behavior of materials
- Senior design
Research Interests
- Auger electron spectroscopy/microscopy
- Corrosion and environmental effects
- Fracture and failure of materials
- Interfacial segregation and fracture
- Intermetallic compounds
- Materials joining
- Process and synthesis of alloys
Yoke Khin Yap
Professor, Physics
Director, Engineering Physics Ph.D. Program
Adjunct Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Controlled synthesis of nanomaterials (Nanotubes, Nanowires, Nanosheets, Graphene, Quantum Dots, etc..), and wide band gap single crystals [h-BN, GaN, AlN, CsLiB6O10 (CLBO), etc.].
- Exploration of new functional nanomaterials, nano-hybrids, and nano-systems.
- Creative use of nanomaterials and nano-systems in advanced electronics, energy harvesting devices, and chemical and biological applications.