Our Faculty
mechanical and aerospace sciences and engineering
CORE FACULTY
Venkattraman (Venkatt) Ayyaswamy
Plasma science and engineering; microplasmas; plasma-wave interaction; nanomaterial synthesis modeling; stochastic modeling of non-equilibrium flows; rarefied/microscale gas dynamics
Email: vayyaswamy@ucmerced.edu
mehmet z. baykara
Mechanics on the nanometer and atomic scales; scanning probe microscopy with applications in nanotribology and nanoelectronics; atomic-resolution imaging and spectroscopy of surfaces; surface science
Email: mehmet.baykara@ucmerced.edu
Po-YA abel chuang
Experimental and modeling research of renewable energy: Hydrogen, electrochemistry, Fuel cell, electrolysis, heat transfer, fluid flow, two-phase, porous media, etc.
Email: abel.chuang@ucmerced.edu
gerardo diaz
Renewable energy conversion; dynamic simulation and control of thermal systems; biomass gasification; thermal and non-thermal plasma applications to energy generation and water conservation; optimization of thermal systems; solar thermal
Email: gdiaz@ucmerced.edu
reza ehsani
Automation, robotics, and intelligent machines for agriculture; developing sensors and systems with applications in agriculture, food industry; precision agriculture and horticulture, mechanization and mechanical harvesting systems
Email: rehsani@ucmerced.edu
sachin goyal
Computational dynamics, mechanics, and controls with biomechanical applications such as human biomechanics in various pathological conditions and modeling the deformations of biological filaments.
Email: sachin.goyal@ucmerced.edu
Alejandro Gutierrez
Linear and non-linear modeling of solids with applications to the mechanical and civil works industry, computer-aided-engineering, structural design, experimental testing, data analysis, and engineering programming
Email: agutierrez78@ucmerced.edu
Francesco Danzi
Composite Structures and Optimization; Structural Dynamics and Vibrations; Nonlinear Dynamics; Fluid–Structure Interaction and Aeroelasticity; Mechanical Metamaterials and Architected Structures; Topology Optimization.
Email: fdanzi@ucmerced.edu
Samarth Patel
Rotating detonation rocket engines and advanced propulsion; compressible and multiphase flows; computational fluid dynamics; shock-wave and droplet interactions; aerospace simulation; engineering education and evidence-based learning tools
Email: samarthpatel@ucmerced.edu
Marcus lee
STEM pedagogy; feedback and assessment methods for developing critical thinking; computational fluid dynamics; unsteady aerodynamics
Email: mlee406@ucmerced.edu
min hwan lee
Electrochemical energy conversion and storage, fuel cells, electrocatalysis, nanoscale materials engineering
Email: mlee49@ucmerced.edu
yanbao ma
Heat transfer, metallic additive manufacturing, water and energy technologies, and X-ray technologies
Email: yma5@ucmerced.edu
ashlie martini
Tribology (friction, wear and lubrication) and phenomena associated with sliding interfaces and their mechanisms from atomic- to macro-scale; wear due to surface contact and sliding; use of solid coatings to minimize friction and wear in extreme environments; the role of lubricants and lubricant additives in interface efficiency and performance
Email: amartini@ucmerced.edu
michael modest (emeritus)
Radiative Heat Transfer (both experimentally and theoretically); Laser Machining of Ceramics (both experimentally and theoretically)
Email: mmodest@ucmerced.edu
james palko
Multiphase heat transfer and electrokinetic transport in porous media; modeling heat transfer and flow in additive manufacturing; thermal management of power electronics and mobile devices; electrochemical energy storage; water purification technologies
Email: jpalko@ucmerced.edu
Ricardo Pinto de Castro
Zero-emission vehicles; control and optimization; power conversion and energy management; energy storage systems; electric and robotic vehicles; safe and resilient motion control
Email: rpintodecastro@ucmerced.edu
Debora Lyn Porter
Bioinspired design; characterization of natural and advanced materials; advanced manufacturing of biomimetic materials; structure-property relationships in natural materials
Email: deboralynporter@ucmerced.edu
Brandon Stark
Unmanned aerial systems safety, control, unmanned vehicles
Email: bstark2@ucmerced.edu