Randyka Pudjoprawoto
Powder Sub-Group

Randy began his PhD in August 2009 as a student who conducts experiments and modeling in thin film solid lubrication systems. Through control volume and control mass approaches, he develops in-house computational models to predict the deposition and depletion of transfer films in self-replenishing and surface-textured configurations.

Randy completed his B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering with a minor in physics in from Carnegie Mellon University.; In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Jonatan A Sierra-Suarez
Slurry Sub-Group

Jonatan started his PhD in electrical and computer engineering in Jan. 2010. He focuses on physics-based modeling of real contact, localized wear phenomena, and design for manufacturability in the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of integrated circuits. His efforts center on CMP applications in emerging areas such as next generation hard disk drives. He is also an Alfred P. Sloan Scholar.

He received two B.S. degree from Carnegie Mellon. One in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and one in Mechanical Engineering (ME) and is originally from Naguabo, PR. In his free time he enjoys autocross, water-sports, and skiing.

Gagan Srivastava
Slurry Sub-Group

Gagan is a third year PhD candidate who works on computational modeling and experimental validation of mixed lubrication systems. His primary focus has been on studying the chemical mechanical polishing process for several materials that find a wide range of application in microelectronics and data storage systems. He is also working on developing predictive modeling capabilities for bio-engineered systems like artificial joint prosthesis.

He is a Philip and Marsha Dowd Fellow.

Gagan received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, and is originally from Bhopal, India. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, soccer and watching movies

Patrick S. M. Dougherty
Powder Sub-Group

Patrick is a second year PhD candidate who focuses on experimentally characterizing and numerically simulating wear mechanisms in a variety of industrially relevant contacts. These include solid lubrication systems using coatings and transfer films, bio-engineered contacts like the artificial hip joint, and deep drilling for natural energy resources. He is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow and Recipient of the CMU College of Engineering Shaw Fellowship.

He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon and is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. Patrick enjoys playing and listening to music, reading philosophy, basketball, and soccer

Kristin M. Warren
Slurry Sub-Group

Kristin joined PFTL as a PhD student in the Fall of 2011 as a Gates Millennium Scholar. Her research employs both solid and fluid mechanics for the optimization of microalgae as a biofuel. Through her analysis, Kristin hopes to develop a more cost-effective technical solution for producing algae biofuel. Kristin is co-advised by Prof. Philip LeDuc.

Kristin received her B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University with a specialty in bioengineering and a minor in business. She is from Memphis, TN by way of Hernando, MS. In her spare time, she enjoys basketball, as well as Latin and African dance.

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Deepak C. Patil
Granular Sub-Group

Deepak has recently joined as a PhD student in Spring 2013. He studies combining classical and cellular automata techniques for computationally efficient modeling of granular flows, which has applications in tribology, pharmaceuticals and oilfield industries. His research involves developing discrete particle models and performing experiments at both the single particle and multi-particle scales.

Deepak is originally from Mumbai, India. He received his undergraduate degrees from University of Mumbai in 2007. Before joining CMU, he worked at Schlumberger Technology Corporation in Houston. Outside of his research, Deepak enjoys reading Philosophy, listening to music and visiting national parks whenever possible.

Prathamesh Desai
Slurry Sub-Group

Prathamesh has been associated with PFTL as a Reseach intern since Summer’13 and will start his Ph.D. in Fall’14. His research focuses on the development of in-house multi-physics codes for fluid and particle dynamics. Specifically, his doctoral research will be directed towards computational modeling and experimentation related to ultra-deep drilling for energy resources.

Prathamesh earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Mumbai University. He received his M.S. degree in Computational Mechanics from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He is originally from Mumbai, India. Painting, poetry-writing and travel makeup the other facets of his personality.

Website