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Alumni

Graduated PhD Students

  • Elon Terrell – Thesis title: “Application of a Particle Augmented Mixed Lubrication Model to Chemical Mechanical Polishing: Modeling and Experimentation”. Graduated August 2007. (Currently: Assistant Professor at Columbia University)
  • Venkata Jasti – “Development of a Granular Shear Cell: Lattice-based Modeling and Experiments”. Graduated September 2008. (Currently: Scientific Numerical Modeler at Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.)
  • Emmanuel Wornyoh – “Development of an Oil-free, Powder Lubrication Mechanism for Extreme-Environments: Modeling and Experimentation”. Graduated January 2009. (Currently: Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
  • Jeremiah Mpagazehe – “A Physics-based, Eulerian-Lagrangian Computational Modeling Framework to Predict Particle Flow and Tribological Phenomena”. Graduated May 2013. (Currently: Project Scientist, CMU Mechanical Engineering Dept. and Chief Technical Officer, InnovAlgae, LLC, a CMU start-up, Pittsburgh).
  • Martin Marinack, Jr. – “Sheared Granular Material: Single and Multi-Particle Experiments and Physics-Based Cellular Automata Modeling”. Graduated May 2013. (Currently: Senior Engineer, Alcoa Technical Center, Alcoa, PA.)

Graduated MS Students

Master of Science Project Option (Students pursue research with classes over 2 years):

  • Venkata Jasti – “Development of a Granular Shear Cell: Lattice-based Modeling and Experiments”. Graduated May 2005.
  • Joseph Bonivel (co-advised with B. Ozdoganlar) – “Considering Microstructure Behavior in the Tribological Performance of Abrasive Manufacturing Processes for Microelectronic Devices”. Graduated May 2008.
  • Sunny M Jhurani – “Modeling Particle-dynamics of wear debris in Hip Joints”. Graduated May 2009.
  • Kanate Thana-Anekcharoen – “Drilling fluid induced filter cake in oil drilling”, Graduated in May 2011.
  • Isaac Marx – “Flight of the granular lubricated journal bearing”, Graduated May 2013.
  • Varoon Shankar – “An Experimentally-validated Modeling Framework to Predict Skin Friction during Cleansing”, Graduated December 2012.
  • Prathamesh Desai – “Evaluation, Mesh and Accuracy Advancement of the in-house Particle-Surface Tribology Analysis Code (P-STAC)”, Graduated May 2013. (CEE dept.)

Master of Science Course Option (Students conduct a one-semester research project):

  • Mohamad Talib – “Using a Nanoindenter to Integrate Actual Surface Topography into Tribology Models”. Graduated Summer 2005.
  • Courtney Heller – “Development of A Granular Lubricated Journal Bearing”. Graduated December 2005.
  • Christopher Racusen – “Development of Granular Flow Data Acquisition and Visualization Techniques”. Graduated December 2005.
  • David Engel – “Development of CMP simulation asperity tracking algorithm”, Graduated August 2006.
  • Thomas Diaz – “Contamination Modeling of in a Head/Disk Interface: Modeling and Simulations”. Graduated December 2007.
  • Gloria Kim (ChemE) – “Development of Self-assembled Solid Lubricant: Experiments and Characterization”. Graduated December 2008.
  • Michael Salame – “The tribology of ultra-deep oil extraction”. Graduated May 2009.
  • Randyka Pudjoprawoto – “In situ self-replenishing powder lubrication”, Graduated in Summer 2009.
  • Carlton Reeves – “Drilling fluid induced filter cake in oil drilling”, Graduated December 2009.
  • Ashik Mohideen – “Space particle abrasion experimental setup”, Expected Graduated in December 2010.
  • Boyuan Li – “CMP experimentation and modeling”, Graduated in December 2010.
  • Andrew Tremblay – “Development of a faster PAML modeling approach”, Graduated in December, 2010.
  • Geo A Thukalil – “Modeling of artificial hip joints”, Graduated in December, 2010.

Graduated Undergraduate Researchers

  1. David Keyser – “Tribology of thin solid lubricants.” Member of the powder sub-group in Fall 2013 – Spring 2014.
  2. Gloriana Redondo – “Evaluation of P–STAC”, Member of the Slurry sub–group in Fall 2013 – Spring 2014.
  3. Daniel Cardenas – “Tribology of thin solid lubricants.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2012 – Spring 2013.
  4. Hannah Shepard (MSE/BME) – “Materials characterization of powder/solid lubricated sliding contacts.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2012 – Spring 2013.
  5. Pamela Hu (EPP/ME) – “The impact of friction on the U.S. economy.” Member of the slurry sub-group in Spring 2012 – Fall 2012.
  6. Yixing Shi (BME/ME) – “Modeling of artificial hip joint tribology.” Member of the slurry sub–group in Spring 2012 – Fall 2012.
  7. Brian Duff# (ECE) – “Parallelization of the slurry Eulerian–Lagrangian solver on supercomputers.” Member of the slurry sub–group in Fall 2012 – present.
  8. Nicholas Ricciardi – “Tribology of thin solid lubricants.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2012 – Spring 2013.
  9. Phanindraja (Indu) Ancha – “Utilizing CFD software and in–house CFD code to model the multiphase problems.” Member of the slurry/deep oil sub–group in Fall 2012 – Spring 2013.
  10. Andre Sutanto – “Experimental characterization of slurries.” Member of the slurry sub-group in Fall 2012 – Spring 2013.
  11. Miranda McCoy – “Characterization of Electrical Sliding Contacts.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2012 – Spring 2013. 
  12. Aditya Bhandaru (ECE) – “Parallelization of cellular automata code on supercomputers.” Member of the granular sub–group in Fall 2012 – Spring 2013.
  13. Gautham Nagaraju (ECE) – “Parallelization of cellular automata code on supercomputers.” Member of the granular sub–group in Fall 2012 – Spring 2013.
  14. Benjamin Cosio – “Design of COR tester.” Member of the granular sub–group in Fall 2012 – present.
  15. Kyle Irish – “Experiments in Granular & Slurry Tribology.” Member of the slurry/granular sub–group in Summer 2012.
  16. Mikio David – “Development of Powder Lubricated Electrical Sliding Contacts.” Member of the powder sub–group in Spring 2012 – present.
  17. Cecily Sunday – “Characterization of Electrical Sliding Contacts.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2011 – Spring 2012. (CMU Meeting of Mind Undergraduate Research Symposium, finalist)
  18. Alex Chou (ChemE) – “Experimental characterization of filter cake phenomena.” Member of the slurry sub-group in Fall 2011 – Spring 2012.
  19. Jonathan Fijal (ChemE) – “Chemical characterization of powder/solid lubricated sliding contacts.” Member of the powder sub–group for Fall 2011 – Spring 2012.
  20. Nelson Jenkins (Morehouse College) – ”Numerical predictions of the hydrodynamic pressure in CMP and air bearing slider systems.” Member of the slurry–integrated circuit (IC) sub–group in Summer 2011.
  21. Sean Lubner – “Modeling of soft–EHL tribosystems.”, Member of the slurry sub–group in Fall 2010 – Spring 2011.
  22. Jacob Beatty – “Utilizing Fluent to model the momentum kill problem.” Member of the slurry/deep oil sub–group in Fall 2010 – Spring 2011. (CMU Meeting of Mind Undergraduate Research Symposium, finalist)
  23. David Daniel Stonestrom – “Tribology of thin solid lubricants.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2010 – Spring 2011.
  24. Patrick S. Dougherty – “Analysis of powder lubrication.” Member of the powder sub–group for Spring 2009 – Spring 2011.
  25. Joan Onyejekwe – “Increasing the Computational Efficiency of the Particle Augmented Mixed Lubrication.” Member of slurry sub–groups in Summer 2009.
  26. Alejandro Francisco Queiruga – “Parallel computing in particle tribology.” Member of slurry/granular sub–groups in Fall 2008 – Spring 2011.
  27. Shrey Aggarwal – “Utilizing MFIX to model the momentum kill problem.” Member of the slurry/deep oil sub–group in Fall 2010 – Spring 2011.
  28. Santia N. Valerio – “Literature search on OpenFOAM applications.” Member of the slurry/deep oil sub–group in Fall 2010 – Spring 2011.
  29. Kory Francis McDonald – “Design of force instrumentation for a Granular Lubricated Journal Bearing.” Member of the granular sub–groups in Fall 2010 – Spring 2011.
  30. Brandon VanTassel – “Utilizing Fluent to model filter cake experiments for oil drilling.” Member of the slurry/deep oil sub–group in Fall 2010 – Spring 2011.
  31. Reyes Flete – “Powder lubricated tribometer testing.” Member of the powder sub–group in the Summer 2010.
  32. Kayla Aloyo – “Development of a wheel abrasion tester for NASA research.” Member of the slurry sub–group in Spring 2010 – Spring 2012.
  33. Richard Musgrave – “Experimental measurements in granular flow.” Member of the granular sub–group in Spring 2010 – Spring 2012.
  34. Steven Christopher Das (ECE) – “Automated fractal code and integration of CAD software.” Member of the slurry sub–group in Fall 2009.
  35. Yung–King Leo Ma – “Measurements on a filtration rig for oil drilling fluid tests.” Member of the slurry/deep oil sub-group in Fall 2009 – Spring 2010.
  36. Thomas J. Lambert – “Learning CFD using OpenFOAM software.” Member of the slurry sub–group in sub–group in Fall 2009 – Spring 2010.
  37. Terrence Long (CS) – “Mobile computing in mechanical engineering.” Member of the slurry–IC and A–Team sub–group in Fall 2009 – Spring 2010.
  38. Stephanie C. Paticopoulos (MSE) – “Microstructure characterization of thin films.” Member of the slurry–materials sub–group in Fall 2009 – Spring 2010.
  39. Sean Coleman (ECE) – “Parallel processing using CUDA & Nvidia GPUs.” Member of slurry – IC sub–group in Fall 2009 – Spring 2010.
  40. Ryan Leonard Yates – “Properties of compacted powder lubrication.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2009 – Spring 2010.
  41. Daniel Lin (ECE) – “Integration of CMP modeling into Cadence and Mobile computing in mechanical engineering.” Member of the slurry–IC and A–Team sub–groups in Summer 2009 – Spring 2010.
  42. Daniel Alan Liptz –“Tribology of thin solid lubricants.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2009 – Spring 2010.
  43. Christopher E. Rizzo (ChemE) – “Explicit FEM simulations of grain drops.” Member of the granular sub–group in Fall 2009 – Spring 2010.
  44. Francisco Santiago – “Design modification and tests with the granular lubricated journal bearing.” Member of the granular sub–group in Summer 2009.
  45. Kristoffer Mauclaire – “Modification of a filtration rig for oil drilling fluid tests.” Member of the slurry/deep oil sub–group in Summer 2009.
  46. Nicola Kisson (FAMU/FSU) – “Investigating the Mechanical Properties of Constituent Particle Matrix using Nanoindentation.” Member of the materials sub–group in Summer 2009.
  47. Jessica Vanterpool (FAMU/FSU) – “Renovation and setup of a Bridgeman Crystal Growth Furnace.” Member of the materials sub–group in Summer 2009.
  48. Brian Gaudio – “Design of force instrumentation for a Granular Lubricated Journal Bearing.” Member of the granular sub–groups in Spring 2009 – Spring 2010.
  49. Travis Iwanaga (ECE) – “Liaison between Physics–based CMP modeling and CAD of ICs.” Member of the slurry sub–group in Fall 2008 – Spring 2009.
  50. Geo A Thukalil – “Experimental studies in nanoscale slurry tribosystems.” Member of the granular sub–group in Fall 2008 – Spring 2010.
  51. Takahiro Matsuura – “Granular Lubrication: Modeling and Experiments.” Member of the granular sub–group in Fall 2008 – Spring 2009.
  52. Jonathan Kyle – “Analysis of powder lubrication & Labview Development.” Member of the slurry/powder sub–group in Spring 2006 – Fall 2008.
  53. Randyka Pudjoprawoto – “Dry and Wet Powder Lubrication.” Member of the slurry/powder sub–group in Summer 2008 – Fall 2008.
  54. Young Eun Choi – “DPTV and Granular Coefficient of Restitution Testing.” Member of the granular sub–group in Summer 2007 – Summer 2008.
  55. Ryan Comes (ECE) – “Liaison between Physics-based CMP modeling and CAD of ICs.” Member of the slurry sub–group for Fall 2007 – Spring 2008. (CMU Meeting of Mind Undergraduate Research Symposium, finalist)
  56. Martin Marinack Jr. – “Granular Lubrication: Novel Modeling and Experimentation.” Member of the granular sub–group for Fall 2007 – Spring 2008.
  57. Sarah Neyer – “Development of Solid Lubrication for MEMS Devices.” Member of the slurry sub-group in Fall 2006 – Spring 2008.
  58. Karim Shaban (CS) – “Interactive Web-based Numerical Tools for Enhancing Collaborative Research with the PFTL.” Member of PFTL in Fall 2005 – Summer 2008.
  59. John Bistline – “Development of a Data–Acquisition Platform for an Extreme-tribometer.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2005 – Spring 2008.
  60. Sarah Biltz – “Optimization of a High-speed Granular Flow Lubrication Video and Material Issues in CMP.” Member of the granular and slurry materials sub-groups in Fall 2005 – Fall 2007.
  61. Kellsey Brown (Cal Univ. of PA) – “Exploration of CMP modeling inside a CAD/SPICE Framework”, Member of slurry sub–group, in Summer 2007.
  62. Brie Witherspoon (FAMU/FSU) – “Materials and mechanical characterization of thin films”, Member of the slurry sub–group, in Summer 2007.
  63. Alyssa Haney – “Research on Powder Lubrication and Artificial Hip Joints tribology tests.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2006 – Summer 2007.
  64. Michael Kuo – “Development of CMP Test Procedure and Wafer/Pad Position code in MM.” Member of the slurry sub–group in Fall 2006 – Spring 2007.
  65. Brian Chin – “Development of a Granular Coefficient of Restitution Test Rig.” Member of the granular sub–group in Fall 2006 – Spring 2007.
  66. Justin Feig – “Research on Electromagnetic Solid Lubrication.” Member of the powder sub–group in 2006 – Fall 2006.
  67. Bradley Camburn – “Simulation of granular bearing using EDEM.” Member of the granular sub–group in Summer 2006.
  68. Jason Waddell – “Weight optimization in a granular journal bearing.”Member of the granular sub–group in Summer 2006.
  69. Storm Walden – “ Enhancement of the Pellet TribometerDAQ.”Member of the powder sub–group in Summer 2006.
  70. Brad Brown – “Development of 3D Granular Dynamics Simulations.” Member of the granular sub–group in Spring 2006.
  71. Jeremiah Mpagazehe – “Research on Electromagnetic Solid Lubrication.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2005 – Spring 2006.
  72. Nadav Cohen (The Technion) – “Development of a Granular Dynamics Computational Simulation tool.” Member of the granular sub–group in Fall 2005.
  73. Mark Trapp – “Design and development of high–speed, powder–lubricated pellet–on disk tribometer for measuring friction and wear at multiple sliding interfaces.” Member of the powder sub–group in Fall 2004 – Spring 2005.
  74. Julian Dunn+ – “Development of digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) tool for tracking the granular particles in an annular shear cell.” Member of the granular sub–group in Fall 2004 – Spring 2005.
  75. Yoojin Kwak (CS) – “Development of the original PFTL website and platform–independent web Mathematica front–end interface for computational models.” Member of PFTL in Fall 2004 – Spring 2005.
  76. Jeff Thoene – “Upgrade of an optical profilometer.” Member of slurry sub–group in Fall 2004.
  77. Jonathan Garcia – “Nanofabrication of magnetic head wafers.” Member of slurry sub–group in Spring 2004 – Fall 2005.

Former Postdoctoral Researchers (year departed from the PFTL)

  • Dr. Elon Terrell, (2008)
  • Dr. Aslam Kabir (2009)
  • Dr. Emmanuel Wornyoh (2009)
  • Dr. Hojjat Nasr (2011)