Membership Overview
Membership in the Center is open to all faculty, staff, postdoctoral associates, and adjunct faculty participating in aerospace-related research and graduate education in the subject area. Members are classified as Voting or Affiliated.
- Voting members are limited to those members serving as Principal Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator or Official Collaborator on extramural projects that generate overhead return to the center of $2,000 or more on an annual basis (based on activities in the current and preceding Michigan Tech fiscal years). An Official Collaborator contributes to the scientific development or execution of the project in a substantive, measurable way and has attached a letter of collaboration to an extramurally funded grant at the time of submission that generates overhead return if awarded, but they are not listed as a Co-Principal Investigator on the grant cover sheet. Voting membership may also be granted to faculty and staff that directly support Center activities through other funding avenues at the discretion of center leadership.
- Affiliated members are those that do not qualify as a voting member. Affiliated members can participate in Center activities, but cannot vote on the allocation of Center resources, appointment of the Director, changes in the Center Charter, or any other action that requires a formal vote by the voting members.
The members of MARC will be engaged through a regular strategic planning meeting in which we will discuss funding opportunities, resource utilization, IRAD return usage, and research collaboration. The goal of these meetings will be to use our resources in the best manner to facilitate the members’ research success and the growth of aerospace engineering research at Michigan Tech.
MARC Director
- Associate Professor, Lou and Herbert Wacker Professorship of Mechanical Engineering
- Affiliated Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE) Faculty Advisor
- pjvansus@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3253
- R. L. Smith 915A
Teaching Interests
- Engineering Design Process
- Mechanics of Materials
- System Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering Practice
- Finite Element Analysis
- Intro to Aerospace Engineering
- Space System Engineering
- Space Resource Utilization
- Senior Design Capstone / Enterprise Project
- Product Realization
Areas of Expertise
- Solid Mechanics
- Structural Design
- Finite Element Analysis
- Engineering Design Process
- System Engineering
- Interdisciplinary Engineering (Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Mining, Architecture)
- Extreme Environment Design
- Civil and Mining Engineering
- Education
- Optimization and Modeling
Research Interests
- Extreme Environment Technologies (Space, Underwater, Mining, Arctic, etc.)
- Excavation and Mining Technology
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- In-Situ Resource Utilization
- Space Mining and Construction
- Design Optimization
- Robotics and Automation
- System Engineering and Integration
Sub-Center Directors
AeroMatS
- University Professor
- John O. Hallquist Endowed Chair in Computational Mechanics, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Affiliated Professor, Materials Science and Engineering and ASME Faculty Advisor
- gmodegar@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2329
- R. L. Smith 805
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Mechanics of Materials
- Materials Science
Research Interests
- Computational Mechanics
- Computational Materials Science
- Computational Chemistry
CR3ST
- Associate Professor, Lou and Herbert Wacker Professorship of Mechanical Engineering
- Affiliated Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE) Faculty Advisor
- pjvansus@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3253
- R. L. Smith 915A
Teaching Interests
- Engineering Design Process
- Mechanics of Materials
- System Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering Practice
- Finite Element Analysis
- Intro to Aerospace Engineering
- Space System Engineering
- Space Resource Utilization
- Senior Design Capstone / Enterprise Project
- Product Realization
Areas of Expertise
- Solid Mechanics
- Structural Design
- Finite Element Analysis
- Engineering Design Process
- System Engineering
- Interdisciplinary Engineering (Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Mining, Architecture)
- Extreme Environment Design
- Civil and Mining Engineering
- Education
- Optimization and Modeling
Research Interests
- Extreme Environment Technologies (Space, Underwater, Mining, Arctic, etc.)
- Excavation and Mining Technology
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- In-Situ Resource Utilization
- Space Mining and Construction
- Design Optimization
- Robotics and Automation
- System Engineering and Integration
CODES
CMuST
- Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Studies, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
- Associate Professor, MAE
- Faculty advisor, Aeronautics and Rocketry Enterprise (AERE) and AIAA MTU chapter
- ktajiri@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2675
- R. L. Smith 807
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Fuel cells and hydrogen technologies for transportation application
- Transonic/supersonic flows and shock waves
- Thermofluid dynamics in jet engines and rocket engines
Research Interests
- Transport phenomena in multiscale/multiphase systems
- Polymer electrolyte fuel cells for automotive/aircraft application
- Hydrogen compression devices
- Shock wave-particles interaction
- Shock wave-boundary layer interaction
Voting Members
- Chair and Distinguished Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Clean Snowmobile Team Faculty Advisor
- jrblough@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1020
- R. L. Smith 808
Areas of Expertise
- Vibrations
- Unique Instrumentation/Data Acquisition
- Digital Signal Processing
- Noise Control
Research Interests
- Dynamic Measurement Problems
- Developing new digital signal processing algorithms to understand NVH type problems
- Ways to improve the NVH characteristics of virtually any machine
- University Professor
- John O. Hallquist Endowed Chair in Computational Mechanics, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Affiliated Professor, Materials Science and Engineering and ASME Faculty Advisor
- gmodegar@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2329
- R. L. Smith 805
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Mechanics of Materials
- Materials Science
Research Interests
- Computational Mechanics
- Computational Materials Science
- Computational Chemistry
- John and Cathi Drake Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering
- ggparker@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1850
- R. L. Smith 803
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Nonlinear and Optimal Control
- Modeling and Simulation
- Real-Time Embedded Systems
Research Interests
- Wave Energy Converter (WEC) modeling, control, and experimental validation
- Point absorber nonlinear response shaping
- Passive and active vibration control
- Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Studies, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
- Associate Professor, MAE
- Faculty advisor, Aeronautics and Rocketry Enterprise (AERE) and AIAA MTU chapter
- ktajiri@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2675
- R. L. Smith 807
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Fuel cells and hydrogen technologies for transportation application
- Transonic/supersonic flows and shock waves
- Thermofluid dynamics in jet engines and rocket engines
Research Interests
- Transport phenomena in multiscale/multiphase systems
- Polymer electrolyte fuel cells for automotive/aircraft application
- Hydrogen compression devices
- Shock wave-particles interaction
- Shock wave-boundary layer interaction
- Associate Professor, Lou and Herbert Wacker Professorship of Mechanical Engineering
- Affiliated Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE) Faculty Advisor
- pjvansus@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3253
- R. L. Smith 915A
Teaching Interests
- Engineering Design Process
- Mechanics of Materials
- System Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering Practice
- Finite Element Analysis
- Intro to Aerospace Engineering
- Space System Engineering
- Space Resource Utilization
- Senior Design Capstone / Enterprise Project
- Product Realization
Areas of Expertise
- Solid Mechanics
- Structural Design
- Finite Element Analysis
- Engineering Design Process
- System Engineering
- Interdisciplinary Engineering (Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Mining, Architecture)
- Extreme Environment Design
- Civil and Mining Engineering
- Education
- Optimization and Modeling
Research Interests
- Extreme Environment Technologies (Space, Underwater, Mining, Arctic, etc.)
- Excavation and Mining Technology
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- In-Situ Resource Utilization
- Space Mining and Construction
- Design Optimization
- Robotics and Automation
- System Engineering and Integration
Affiliate Members
- John F. and Joan M. Calder Endowed Professor in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
- Associate Chair and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- jstallen@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2349
- R. L. Smith 810
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Capillary Flow
- Interfacial Transport Phenomena
- Fuel Cells
- Phase-Change Heat Transfer
- Microgravity Fluid Physics
Research Interests
- Stability of evaporating and condensing liquid films
- Capillary-Scale Gas-Liquid Flow
- Near-Field Optical Diagnostics
- Thermal and Mass Transport in Porous Media and Fuel Cells
- Low-gravity fluid dynamics
- Weak Atmospheric Shock Waves
- Chair and Distinguished Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Clean Snowmobile Team Faculty Advisor
- jrblough@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1020
- R. L. Smith 808
Areas of Expertise
- Vibrations
- Unique Instrumentation/Data Acquisition
- Digital Signal Processing
- Noise Control
Research Interests
- Dynamic Measurement Problems
- Developing new digital signal processing algorithms to understand NVH type problems
- Ways to improve the NVH characteristics of virtually any machine
- Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Faculty Advisor, Robotic Systems Enterprise
- jpbos@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3161
- EERC 236
Links of Interest
Areas of Interest
- Atmospheric optics
- Statistical optics
- Quantum optics
- Image and Signal Processing
- Autonomous vehicles and vehicular networks
- Industrial automation and controls
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Links of Interest
Courses Taught
- Introduction to Mechanical Engineering
- Thermodynamics I.
- Material Science
- Theoretical and Computational Fluid Dynamics
Research Interests
- Giant planet (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) atmospheric dynamics
- Convection and storm dynamics in planetary atmospheres
- Remote sensing of planets (telescopic and spacecraft imaging)
- Lake effect snow storms
- Turbulence
- Spacecraft mission development and design
- Computational fluid dynamics
- Remote sensing for amphibian population studies.
- Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- fbcosta@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1582
- EERC 613
Areas of Interest
- Smart Grid
- Integration of Renewable Energy Systems
- Power System Protection, Control, and Monitoring
- Power Quality
- Power Systems and Power Electronics
- AC/DC Microgrids
- High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Electric Power Transmission Systems
- Application of Signal Processing in Power Systems
- Application of Artificial Intelligence, including Machine Learning, in Power Systems
- Assistant Teaching Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- tsdemont@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1735
- MAE 818
Links of Interest
Areas of Interest
- Dynamic systems modeling and simulation
- Linear and nonlinear control design
- Marine renewable energy technologies (wave energy converters, PTO systems)
- Multi-domain physical system modeling (mechanical, electrical, thermal)
- Experimental testing and validation in wave tanks and marine environments
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- zgan@mtu.edu
- R. L. Smith 911
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
-
Aeroacoustics
-
Acoustic signal processing
-
Rotorcraft modeling
-
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
-
Electric aircraft
Research Interests
-
Noise control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
-
Rotorcraft psychoacoustics
-
Acoustic measurements in anechoic chambers and flight tests
-
Rotorcraft flight dynamics, control, and simulation
-
Sustainable aviation
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- gmgutow@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3671
- R. L. Smith 830
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Motion Planning
- Optimization and Search
- In Space Servicing
Research Interests
- Task and Motion Planning
- Generalizations of the Traveling Salesman Problem
- Bayesian Reasoning for planning, control, estimation, and active perception
- Generalized Branch and Bound
Parallel Algorithms for Robotics
- Associate Teaching Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- tjhassel@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2240
- EERC 825
Areas of Interest
- Power Electronics Systems
- Electric Drives and Machinery
- Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Systems
- Microgrids
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- kbhoward@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3393
- R. L. Smith 917
Areas of Expertise
- Automotive Aerodynamics
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Experimental Fluid Measurements
- Wind Tunnel Design / Operation
- Design Optimization
- Wind Energy Aerodynamics
- Atmospheric Flows
- Turbulence
Research Interests
- Automotive aerodynamics and interaction with industrial design
- AI / ML techniques for computational and experimental fluids
- Experimental fluids measurement techniques
- Wind tunnel / model-scale testing / measurements
- Aerodynamics of tires
- Ground effect aerodynamics
- Atmospheric flows and turbulence
- Computational aero-acoustics
- Agricultural processes for liquid and solid particle application
- Aviation design for fixed wing and small rotorcraft / drone
- Design optimization for complex fluids problems
- Sports fluid mechanics (bicycle aero, watersports, wing foiling, waterskis, etc.)
- Associate Professor, Mathematical Sciences
- aelabovs@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3543
- Fisher 303
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Turbulence Modeling, Computational Fluid dynamics
- High-accuracy numerical methods for PDEs
- Uncertainty Quantification, high-dimensional integration
- Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
- Affiliated Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
- yixinliu@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3576
- HSTEM 253
Links of Interest
Teaching
- CM2110 Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering I (Material and Energy Balance) (Fall 2020)
Research Interests
- Chemical sensors and biosensors
- Advanced sensing materials
- Electronic noses/tongues
- Sensor and sensor-array chemometrics/data analytics
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- mamacrob@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1510
- R. L. Smith 924
Research Interests
- Aerospace physiology
- Mechanobiology
- Space mission architecture
- Analog mission design
- Crewed operations in extreme environments
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- smalladi@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3503
- R. L. Smith 933
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Vibrations; Modal Testing
- Anechoic Traveling Waves
- Digital Signal Processing
- Data-Analytics
- Smart Materials
Research Interests
- Adaptive Systems and Meta-structures
- Internet-of-Vibrations
- Environmental Testing
- Human-structure Interaction
- Piezoceramics and SMAs
- Wave Propagation
- Structural Health Monitoring
- Bio-inspired Dynamics
- Associate Teaching Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Affiliated Associate Teaching Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- smmorse@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3241
- R. L. Smith 820
Research Interests
- Window Glass Strength Design
- Wind loads on Structures
- Finite Element Modeling of Brittle Materials
- Large Scale Data Processing and Data Mining
- Teaching Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- dnaneet@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3019
- R. L. Smith 929
Links of Interest
Pedagogic Interests
- Blended learning approach.
- Flipped-classroom for active learning.
- Collaborative learning.
Research Interests
- Quantitative and qualitative discourse analysis.
- Numerical solutions and applications to engineering of non-linear partial differential equations
- Low Reynolds Number fluid physics
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Director, Michigan Tech Center for AI; Coordinator, MTU NIST PREP Program
- Affiliated Assistant Professor, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology
- vinhn@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3110
- R. L. Smith 926
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Advanced manufacturing
- Industry 4.0
- Human-robot-machine interaction
- Physics-based/data-driven modeling
- Manufacturing process monitoring
- Industrial automation
- University Professor
- John O. Hallquist Endowed Chair in Computational Mechanics, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Affiliated Professor, Materials Science and Engineering and ASME Faculty Advisor
- gmodegar@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2329
- R. L. Smith 805
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Mechanics of Materials
- Materials Science
Research Interests
- Computational Mechanics
- Computational Materials Science
- Computational Chemistry
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- aoliva@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3023
- R. L. Smith 823
Areas of Expertise
-
Fluid mechanics
-
Thermodynamics
-
Aerothermodynamics
-
Entropy analysis
-
Computational fluid dynamics
Research Interests
- High-speed air-breathing propulsion: rotating detonation engines, turbomachinery, scramjets, ramjets
- Hypersonic aerothermodynamics, radiation, entropy transport
- Aero-optics
- Physics-based reduced order modeling
- Multi-physics coupling with fluid mechanics: electromagnetism, chemical nonequilibrium, vibrational nonequilibrium, solid mechanics
- Nonlinear root-finding and optimal approximation methods
- John and Cathi Drake Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering
- ggparker@mtu.edu
- 906-487-1850
- R. L. Smith 803
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Nonlinear and Optimal Control
- Modeling and Simulation
- Real-Time Embedded Systems
Research Interests
- Wave Energy Converter (WEC) modeling, control, and experimental validation
- Point absorber nonlinear response shaping
- Passive and active vibration control
- Associate Professor, Chemistry
- Affiliated Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
- kaperrin@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3214
- Chem Sci 402C
Links of Interest
- Perrine Research Group
- Positions are open for undergraduate, masters, and PhD students.
- Google Scholar Publications
- ORCID
Research Interests
- Surface chemistry and interfacial science
- Bridging reactions at the gas/solid and liquid/solid interfaces under model (ultra-high vacuum) and real (near ambient pressure) conditions
- Growth, properties, and reactions on complex surfaces for energy and environmental applications
- Designing metal and oxide architectures and nanostructured materials using tailored bottom-up approaches; growth techniques including, atomic layer deposition, physical vapor deposition, self-assembly, solution nucleation
- Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- tsain@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2977
- R. L. Smith 921
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Multiscale, multiphysics modeling of aging in polymers & polymer composites
- Degradation of metallic implants in physiological environment
- Fracture, damage and impact behavior on materials
- Analysis, design and testing of novel multifunctional lightweight polymer composite materials
- Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- bnsharma@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2786
- R. L. Smith 925
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Acoustic and Elastic Metamaterials
- Cellular Structures
- Advanced and Additive Manufacturing
- Vibration and Modal Analysis
- Elastic Wave Propagation
- Multiphysics Modeling
- Inflatable Structures
- Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Studies, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
- Associate Professor, MAE
- Faculty advisor, Aeronautics and Rocketry Enterprise (AERE) and AIAA MTU chapter
- ktajiri@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2675
- R. L. Smith 807
Links of Interest
Areas of Expertise
- Fuel cells and hydrogen technologies for transportation application
- Transonic/supersonic flows and shock waves
- Thermofluid dynamics in jet engines and rocket engines
Research Interests
- Transport phenomena in multiscale/multiphase systems
- Polymer electrolyte fuel cells for automotive/aircraft application
- Hydrogen compression devices
- Shock wave-particles interaction
- Shock wave-boundary layer interaction
- Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- qntran2@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3053
- Dillman 301H
Links of Interest
Research Interests
- Pressure sensing
- Non-destructive testing
- Noninvasive characterization of construction materials and biological tissues
- Visual sensing and Deep learning algorithms
- Ultrasound and microbubble cavitation
- Associate Professor, Lou and Herbert Wacker Professorship of Mechanical Engineering
- Affiliated Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
- Multiplanetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE) Faculty Advisor
- pjvansus@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3253
- R. L. Smith 915A
Teaching Interests
- Engineering Design Process
- Mechanics of Materials
- System Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering Practice
- Finite Element Analysis
- Intro to Aerospace Engineering
- Space System Engineering
- Space Resource Utilization
- Senior Design Capstone / Enterprise Project
- Product Realization
Areas of Expertise
- Solid Mechanics
- Structural Design
- Finite Element Analysis
- Engineering Design Process
- System Engineering
- Interdisciplinary Engineering (Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Mining, Architecture)
- Extreme Environment Design
- Civil and Mining Engineering
- Education
- Optimization and Modeling
Research Interests
- Extreme Environment Technologies (Space, Underwater, Mining, Arctic, etc.)
- Excavation and Mining Technology
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- In-Situ Resource Utilization
- Space Mining and Construction
- Design Optimization
- Robotics and Automation
- System Engineering and Integration
- Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- wwei4@mtu.edu
- 906-487-3405
- R. L. Smith 927
Areas of Interest
• Advanced Power Systems
• Sustainable Manufacturing and Design
• Mechanics of Multi-scale Materials
Link of interest
Research Interests
• Additive manufacturing
• Advanced materials for electrochemical applications
• Nanotechnology
• Renewable energy conversion and storage
• Clean fuel production
- Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Research Interests
- Adaptive and Reconfigurable Structures
- Computational Mechanics
- Origami Engineering
- Machine Learning with Application in Structural Design
- Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- shangyan@mtu.edu
- 906-487-2129
- R. L. Smith 802
Areas of Expertise
- Dynamics and Control
- Wave-Structure Interaction
- Multi-Agent Systems
- State Estimation
Research Interests
- Dynamics modeling and control of ocean renewable systems
- Swarm behavior of networked marine energy systems
- Fluid-structure interaction of soft ocean energy converters
- Control and automation of unmanned underwater vehicles