Members | NanoEnggLab

Meet The Team

Current and former students and Post-docs

Professor Gurpreet Singh

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Professor, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department, Kansas State University

Fellow ASME

Project PI, NSF PIRE project on Polymer Derived Ceramics: k-state.edu/pire

PhD Mechanical Engineering (December 2007), University of Colorado at Boulder.

Dissertation: Nanodevices for Applications in Lifesciences and Engineering; Fabrication and Mechanical Characterization

M.S. Mechanical Engineering (May 2006), University of Colorado at Boulder

Thesis Title: The Mechanical Strength of Al-Spinel Interfaces

Shakir Mujib

Defended Summer 2022

Dissertation title: Advanced Covalent ceramics from organosilicon polymers for sustainable energy and environment.

Author of 12 peer-review journal papers.

Awards: 2nd position in the Graduate Student Poster Competition at the 45th International Conference and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC2021) conference.

Carla Real, U-Campinas

(Expected graduation Fall 2023)

Supported by Brazilian government, Carla is jointly advised by Professor Singh and Professor Hudson at University of Campinas in Brazil. The student spent spring/summer 2019 semesters at Kansas State and returned in 2021 for a semester.

Lokesh Vendra, IIT-Madras

(Expected graduation Fall 2022)

This student is co-supervised by Singh and Professor Ravikumar at IIT-Madras through MoU between K-State and IIT-Madras.

Davi Soares, PhD

Defended May 2021, currently employed at XALT Energy

Dissertation title: Comparative study of polymorph nanosheet materials for emerging metal-ion batteries.

Author of eight journal papers related to PhD work.

Awards: Recipient of Dr. Pau-Chang Lu Graduate Scholarship and Naim Z. and Beverly J. Azer Mechanical Engineering Graduate Scholarship.

Awards: Best poster award in the Material Advantage Graduate Student Poster Competition #MST 2020

Zhongkan Ren, PhD

Defended August 2020, Presently employed at a research institute in PRC

Dissertation title: Polymer Derived Ceramic Fibers: Synthesis and Characterization.

Author of five journal papers and one book chapter.

Dipta Sarkar, PhD

Defended Jan 2020, currently employed at Intel Corp. OR.

Dissertation title: Development of Suspended Thermoreflectance Technique and its Application in Thermal Property Measurement of Semiconductor Material.

Awards: Best poster award at the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Salt Lake City, UT, November 2019.

Lamuel David, PhD

Defended April 2015, currently employed at Fiat Chrysler, Detroit, MI.

Dissertation title: van der Waals Sheets for Rechargeable Metal-ion Batteries.

Awards: MNE Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award for 2013-2014.

(2010-2011)M.S. Thesis title: Synthesis of Large-Area Few Layer Graphene Films by Rapid Heating and Cooling in a Modified APCVD furnace.

Romil Bhandavat, PhD

Defended March 2013, currently employed at Intel Corp., OR.

Dissertation title: Molecular Precursor Derived SiBCN/CNT and SiOC/CNT Composite Nanowires for Energy Based Applications.

Awards: MNE Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award for 2011-2012

Kansas State University Graduate Award for Academics for 2013.

Sonjoy Dey

(Expected graduation Summer 2023)

Mr. Federico Toigo

Thesis research at K-State summer 2019; co-advisor with Paolo Colombo, University of Padova: worked on direct write 3D printing of ceramics

Mr. Riccardo Cuccato

Thesis done at K-State summer 2017; co-advisor with Paolo Colombo, University of Padova: Defended December 2017, currently employed in Italy. M.S. Thesis title (December 2017): Polymer-derived Ceramics for Energy Storage Application.

Ms. Abigail Weaver

(Fall 2015-Spring 2017):

Defended December 2016, currently employed at Honeywell, Kansas City. M.S. Thesis title (December 2016): Mechanical and Electrical Properties of 3D-Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Composites Reinforced with Carbon Nanomaterials.

Monsur Abass

(Spring 2016-Spring 2017)

Defended December 2016, currently at Intel corp. M.S. Thesis title (December 2016): Boron Nitride Nanotube-Modified Silicon Oxycarbide Ceramic Composite: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications in Electrochemical Energy Storage.

Awards: 1st place at the Technical Poster Competition at the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) 43rd Annual Convention

Deepu Asok

(2012-2013)

Defended November 2013, currently employed at Pfizer. M.S. Title: Study of Si(Al)CN Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Composite as a High Temperature Thermal Absorber Coating Material.

Visiting PhD Students/Scholars

1. Heloisa Ramlow (Spring 2022): PhD student, University Federal University of Santa Catarina

2. Murilo Machado Amaral (Fall 2022): PhD student, University of Campinas

Post-doctoral Associates

Dr. Santanu Mukherjee: Postdoctoral Associate (August 2017-July 2018)
Dr. M. Shareef Kolathodi: Postdoctoral Associate (October 2015-August 2016)

Undergraduate Students

Ms. Bailey Walke (Spring 2023-current): Sophomore in M.E., Kansas State University
Ms. Jessica Barnett (Spring 2022-current): Junior in Chem E, Kansas State University
Ms. Caitlin Donahue (Spring 2022-current): Junior in Chem E, Kansas State University
Ms. Alison Holthaus (Spring 2022-current): Junior in Chem E, Kansas State University
Mr. Mohammed Rasheed (Fall 2021-current): Senior in M.E., Kansas State University
Ms. Emma Bafia (Spring 2022): Junior in M.E., Kansas State University
Ms. Mabel Anstine (Fall 2020-current): Senior in M.E., Kansas State University
Ms. Hildana Abamegal (Spring 2022-Summer 2022): M.E., Kansas State University
Ms. Maren Ellis (Fall 2019-Spring 2022): presently employed at Burns & McDonnell
Ms. Lanie Mannebach (Fall 2020-Spring 2022): presently employed at Honeywell
Ms. Porter Heirold (Spring 2020-Fall 2020): Sophomore in M.E., Kansas State University
Ms. Maureen Holthaus (Fall 2019-Spring 2020): presently employed at Burns & McDonnell
Ms. Sophia Justus (Fall 2018-Fall 2021): presently employed at B&V
Mr. Keegan Taylor (Fall 2021-Fall 2021): presently employed at Honeywell
Mr. Dylan Kruep (Fall 2020-Summer 2021): presently employed at Spirit Aerosystems
Ms. Stacia Satzler (Summer 2018-Fall 2018): currently employed in Industry
Ms. Isabella Cesarone (Fall 2017-Spring 2019): currently employed at P&G, St. Louis
Ms. MacKenzy Meis (Fall 2017-Fall 2018): currently employed at Exxon Mobil, Houston
Mr. Kenneth Mcloud (Summer 2018-Fall 2018): McNair Scholar, currently at Honeywell, Kansas City
Ms. Kylie Alejos (Fall 2017-Spring 2018): current employed at Kiewet, Kansas City
Mr. Jonathan Turnley (Summer 2017): NSF-REU student; currently pursuing PhD at Purdue
Ms. Tyler Farthing (Spring 2017-Fall 2018): currently employed at Bechtel Oil, Gas, & Chemicals, WV
Ms. Jordan Walburn (Fall 2016)
Mr. John Petrovich (Summer 2016): NSF-REU student; currently pursuing PhD at UC-Berkeley
Ms. Gaby Biby (Summer 2016-Spring 2017): Design Engineer at Engineered Air
Ms. Diana Arreola (Fall 2015-Spring 2018)
Ms. Victoria Voigt (Summer 2015- Spring 2016): currently at Epic Systems, Madison, WI
Mr. Harrison Gunn (Summer 2015): NSF-REU student from Syracuse University, U-Penn JD/MS degree. Goodwin Law, Boston
Ms. Myra McLenon (Summer 2015): E.E., Kansas State University
Ms. Allison Sommer (2014- 2015): currently at Logic, Inc. Kansas City, KS (Best poster award, College of Engineering)
Ms. Kelsey Harlow (Spring 2015): BCS, Building Controls and Services (Best poster award, College of Engineering)
Ms. Erin Black (2013- 2014): currently working full time for an engineering firm in Salina, KS
Mr. Uriel Barerra (2011-2015): currently at Dow Chemicals in New Orleans, LA
Mr. Saksham Pahwa (Summer 2012): currently in India
Mr. Alex Wu (2011-2012): currently at G.E. Aviation, KS
Mr. Quentin Adams (2009-2011): currently at Chevron in Houston, TX
Mr. Samuel Browning (2009-2010): currently status unknown
Mr. Manuel Garcia (2009-2010): currently at ExxonMobil in Houston, TX.