From aircraft trajectory prediction and optimization, to finite element analysis of concrete structures, to molecular engineering and biotechnology, the Cockrell School’s newest faculty members span a wide range engineering expertise. Get to know our newest Texas Engineers who arrived in spring and fall of this year:
Narayana Aluru
Professor Mechanical EngineeringPh.D. Stanford University
Research interests include: Development of multiscale methods combining quantum, atomistic, mesoscale and continuum scales; application of multiscale methods to study nanofluidics, bionanotechnology, nanomaterials/nanoelectromechanical systems, and soft matter
Matthew Bartos
Assistant Professor Civil, Architectural and Environmental EngineeringPh.D. University of Michigan
Research interests include: Developing the next generation of smart urban water systems; real-time flood monitoring and stormwater control; digital twins for urban drainage infrastructure; algorithms for data assimilation, event detection and optimal control
Brian Belardi
Assistant Professor Chemical EngineeringPh.D. University of California, Berkeley
Research interests include: Molecular engineering, biotechnology, therapeutics and drug delivery, epithelial biology and extracellular matrix, post-translational modifications, synthetic cells and tissue, biophysics and biointerfaces
Sergio Castellanos
Assistant Professor Civil, Architectural and Environmental EngineeringPh.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research interests include: Environmental and energy justice, sustainable transportation, renewable energy technology manufacturing and deployment, and energy systems modeling
Edward Castillo
Associate Professor Biomedical EngineeringPh.D. Rice University
Research interests include: Theoretical development, implementation and clinical deployment of numerical methods for medical image analysis
Sandeep Chinchali
Assistant Professor Electrical and Computer EngineeringPh.D. Stanford University
Research interests include: Swarm robotics, edge computing, wireless networking, and energy-efficient deep learning
Shwetadwip Chowdhury
Assistant Professor Electrical and Computer EngineeringPh.D. Duke University
Research interests include: Optical microscopy, computational reconstruction, wave propagation through optical scatter, multi-dimensional imaging, large-scale data analysis, and scientific and medical translation
John-Paul Clarke
Professor Aerospace Engineering and Engineering MechanicsSc.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Research interests include: Environmental impact of aviation; trajectory prediction and optimization; stochastic models and optimization algorithms; increasingly autonomous aircraft-enabled mobility; human-machine teaming
Anca Ferche
Assistant Professor Civil, Architectural and Environmental EngineeringPh.D. University of Toronto
Research interests include: Analysis and performance assessment of concrete structures, structural implications of deterioration mechanisms, development of constitutive models for evolving concrete and reinforcement materials, and sustainability of concrete structures
David Fridovich-Keil
Assistant Professor Aerospace Engineering and Engineering MechanicsPh.D. University of California, Berkeley
Research interests include: Optimal control theory; dynamic game theory; motion planning; multi-agent decision making; machine learning and control
Matthew Hebdon
Associate Professor Civil, Architectural and Environmental EngineeringPh.D. Purdue University
Research interests include: Bridge engineering; large-scale testing of structures; in-situ monitoring and testing; drones for structural inspection, structurally redundant systems, fatigue and fracture evaluation; the corrosion behavior of steels; historical fabrication methods and materials
Yaoyao Jia
Assistant Professor Electrical and Computer EngineeringPh.D. Georgia Institute of Technology
Research interests include: Analog/mixed-signal integrated circuits inductive, ultrasonic and thermoelectric energy harvesting; implantable and wearable biomedical devices; miniature neural interface implants
Xiuling Li
Professor Electrical and Computer EngineeringPh.D. University of California, Los Angeles
Research interests include: Nanostructured semiconductor materials and devices
Silviu Livescu
Associate Professor Petroleum and Geosystems EngineeringPh.D. University of Delaware
Research interests include: Geothermal energy, carbon sequestration, hydrogen, underground storage and sustainable hydrocarbon production
Ruochen Lu
Assistant Professor Electrical and Computer EngineeringPh.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research interests include: Microwave acoustics; micro-electro-mechanical systems; microwave devices and circuits; reconfigurable RF and microwave systems; ultrasound transducer
Javad Mohammadi
Assistant Professor Civil, Architectural and Environmental EngineeringPh.D. Carnegie Mellon University
Research interests include: Optimization and artificial intelligence in power grids; electrified transportation systems, smart buildings, and smart cities; modeling implications of transitioning to a low-carbon energy economy
Arvind Ravikumar
Research Associate Professor Petroleum and Geosystems EngineeringPh.D. Princeton University
Research interests include: New technologies in decarbonizing the oil and gas industry, methane emissions and the future of LNG and natural gas, equitable energy transitions, and energy demand and sustainability in the developing world
Joaquin Resasco
Assistant Professor Chemical EngineeringPh.D. University of California, Berkeley
Research interests include: Understanding the structure and properties of catalysts to enable next-generation sustainable technologies
Gabriel Sanoja Lopez
Assistant Professor Chemical EngineeringPh.D. University of California, Berkeley
Research interests include: Engineering mechanical properties and lifetime of soft polymeric materials
Zhengui Sha
Assistant Professor Mechanical EngineeringPh.D. Purdue University
Research interests include: Human-system integration, swarm manufacturing, and complex sociotechnical systems
Donald Siegel
Professor and Department Chair Mechanical EngineeringPh.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research interests include: Electrical energy storage, thermal energy storage, and materials for gas capture and storage
Thomas Underwood
Assistant Professor Aerospace Engineering and Engineering MechanicsPh.D. Stanford University
Research interests include: Understanding how the chemistry and dynamics of reactive flows can be leveraged to address challenges in energy, transportation, the environment and security
Evan Wang
Assistant Professor Biomedical EngineeringPh.D. Stanford University
Research interests include: Development of new tools to modulate and record neural activity from targeted neuronal populations using minimally invasive methods