Faculty and Staff

Meet our mechanical and aerospace engineering faculty and staff.
Chair

Robert Gao

Department Chair, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Develops multi-physics sensing and stochastic modeling methods for improving observability in dynamical systems
Faculty

Ozan Akkus

Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Director, Center for Applied Raman Spectroscopy
Creates biologically active and mechanically functional tissue repair systems, and develops chemical imaging instrumentation for noninvasive biomedical and hazard diagnostics

Richard Bachmann

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Researches biologically inspired robotics

Paul Barnhart

Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Researches aerospace system design, propulsion, gas dynamics, shock wave boundary layer interactions and fluid/thermal systems modeling

Sunniva Collins

Associate Dean, Case School of Engineering
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Engineers metallic surfaces for improved performance; selects materials and designs manufacturing processes for innovative outcomes

Kathryn Daltorio

Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Co-Director, Biologically-Inspired Robotics Lab
Develops robots that can traverse and operate in new environments, inspired by biological models of smart physical systems

 

Biologically-Inspired Robotic Lab

Umut Gurkan

Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Improves human health via research in cell mechanics and microtechnology to develop biosensors and point-of-care diagnostic systems

 

Biomanufacturing and Microfabrication Lab

 

Steve Hostler

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Develops and characterizes novel thermal management materials

Melinda Lake-Speers

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Develops lab-on-a-chip devices for critical health challenges in cancer, global health, and biological modeling

Chengyu Li

Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Develop computational models to investigate the underlying flow physics and transport phenomena associated with biological and biomedical flows.

Ya-Ting Liao

Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Creates computational models of combustion, fire and fire behavior and develops fire-resistant structures

 

Computational Fire Dynamics Lab

Roger Quinn

Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Director, Biologically Inspired Robotics
Develops neural and mechanical models of animals and uses data to design and control robots and exoskeletons

 

Biologically-Inspired Robotic Lab

Majid Rashidi

Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Machine and medical device design

Bryan Schmidt

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Researches turbulent and unsteady flows from low-speed to hypersonic using advanced imaging methods

 

Flow Physics and Imaging Lab

Brian Taylor

Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Uses engineering approaches to understand biological sensation and navigation, and leverages biological understanding to develop novel engineered autonomous systems.

Peng (Edward) Wang

Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Develops advanced AI/ML tools for smart manufacturing, including predictive maintenance, quality assurance in additive manufacturing, and robotic automation

Chris Yingchun Yuan

Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Researches design, manufacturing and sustainability science of lithium ion batteries, solar cells and nanotechnologies.
Research Faculty

R Balasubramaniam

Research Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Enables the development and understanding of thermal and fluid systems to advance space exploration

Uday Hegde

Research Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Develops supercritical water oxidation technologies for waste management and water reclamation for extended duration space missions

Olga Kartuzova

Research Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Studies and develops computational models for cryogenic storage tanks, and investigates zero boil-off tanks

Mohammad Kassemi

Research Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Researches microgravity fluid physics and combustion research, including ZBOT, cryogenic fluid management, propellant tank models and gravity’s impact on systems

Jun Kojima

Research Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Advance optical diagnostics and thermal fluids science for aero-propulsion and low-gravity exploration researches

Vedha Nayagam

Research Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Emeritus Faculty

Dwight Davy

Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Jai Kadambi

Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Yasuhiro Kamotani

Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Designs and conducts two-phase flow experiments for space stations

Joseph Mansour

Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Eli Reshotko

Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Clare Rimnac

Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Advances the long-term performance of implants and structural bone allografts through material analysis and characterization

Jim Tien

Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Researches the effect of gravity on combustion and flammability of solid materials with applications in space exploration
Administrative Staff

Ruth Hrusch

Develops, implements and manages procedures for the administration and operation of the Office of the Chair for the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace and Engineering.

Ewa Malicki

Department Assistant, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department

Provides clerical and administrative assistance to the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Angelika Szakacs

Academic and Research Team Leader/ Business Manager, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Nathaniel Vishner

EMAE & ECIV Student Affairs Manager,

Handles student affairs for Departments of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering.