Team – The Ramesh Laboratory

CURRRENT TEAM (2021-2022)

2019-2020

2018-2019

2017-2018

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigator
K.T. Ramesh, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

K.T. Ramesh, Ph.D.

Malone Hall 140
3400 N Charles St
(410) 516-7735
[email protected]

Email:[email protected]

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Lockheed Martin

Peter Yip

GRADUATE STUDENT

Connor Bradfield

Graduate Student

Sakshi Braroo

Ph.D. candidate: Johns Hopkins University
M.S., Civil Engineering: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
B.Tech. Civil Engineering: National Institute of Technology, Nagpur, India

I am a graduate student, in Mechanical Engineering, at Johns Hopkins University. Broadly, my research interests lie at the intersection of Mechanics and Materials. I have always been fascinated by the physics of deformation and I hope to contribute to furthering the understanding of mechanics and mechanisms of deformation of materials. Other than research, I love cooking, reading, and sometimes writing. I also love photography and Badminton.

Graduate Student

Jacob Diamond

PhD candidate: Johns Hopkins University

Masters: Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2020

B.S: Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2020

GRADUATE STUDENT

Adyota Gupta

Ph.D. candidate: Johns Hopkins University (co-advised with Prof. Ryan Hurley)
B.Sc. Materials Science and Engineering: University of California, Berkeley (2018)

My current research interests include fracture mechanics in granular materials. In particular, I have great interest in computational modeling, and plan to leverage machine learning to predict mechanical properties of these materials. Furthermore, I plan to develop more skills in experimental work. Outside of the lab, I enjoy hiking, climbing, taking long walks, and listening to doo-wop music.

Graduate Student

Keion Howard

Graduate Student

Gary Simpson

Ph.D Student: Johns Hopkins University
M.S. Aerospace Engineering, University of Texas at Austin,2015
B.S. Physics Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 2013
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 2013

My research interests include high-strain-rate failure and deformation mechanics, ballistic impact/perforation, and localization in structures under dynamic loadings. The peculiarities of a dynamic response can provide unexpected benefits or catastrophic shortcomings; either way, they need to be understood. My experience is primarily experimental but I believe integrated experiment and computational modeling gives the best chance to yield robust and meaningful insight. I also like to fish, play golf and work in the woodshop, all of which can be just as frustrating or rewarding as research itself.

Lockheed Martin

Peter Yip

Graduate Student

Lily Zhao

Ph.D. candidate: Johns Hopkins University

B.S.: Mechanical Engineering: Columbia University (2019)

I am interested in how biological systems respond to the high pressures and shear stresses attributed to dynamic asteroid impact. Using experiments such as pressure-shear plate impact and compression-torsion Kolsky bar tests, I can subject various extremophiles isolated from Mars analog environments to different shear stresses. Post processing can then determine the survival rate and underlying cellular responses to the dynamically applied impact stresses. Outside of lab, I like reading, doodling, hiking, and amateur star gazing.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS

Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Aaron Baumgarten

Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Pinkesh Malhotra

Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Kshitiz Upadhyay

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Ahmed Alshareef

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D.: University of Virginia (2019)
B.S.: Duke University (2014)

My research interests are in injury and sports biomechanics, computational modeling, and traumatic brain injury (TBI),. I am currently co-advised by Dr. KT Ramesh and Dr. Jerry Prince on a study investigating the deformation of the human brain in volunteers subjected to mild impact using magnetic resonance imaging techniques, with the goal of developing biofidelic computational models of the human brain for TBI research.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Aaron Baumgarten

Ph.D.: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2021
B.S.: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016

My research interests are primarily in the field of continuum modeling of fluid saturated, earthen materials through large deformations. During my Ph.D., my research focused on fluid–sediment mixture modeling, which included the development of constitutive models for idealized granular sediments mixed with liquids or gases as well as the formulation and implementation of numerical methods to simulate these materials in complex loading scenarios. With The Ramesh Laboratory, my research on the coupling of porous solids with interstitial fluids will continue by focusing on brittle geomaterials and their failure processes.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Chris DiMarco

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D.: Columbia University (2020)
Masters: Columbia University (2015)

I am interested in exploring small-scale failure phenomena in microstructural material systems from an experimental and computational perspective. During my PhD, I examined the mechanical behavior of polycrystalline two-dimensional materials, primarily graphene, through chemical vapor deposition synthesis, quasi-static nanoindentation experiments, and the development of multiscale models. With the Ramesh Group, I look to expand my research horizons by exploring small-scale dynamic failure mechanisms within three-dimensional material systems through laser shock experiments.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Liuchi Li

Ph.D: California Institute of Technology, 2020
M.Sc.: California Institute of Technology, 2016
B.S: Tongji University, 2014

My current research interests lie in using computational and experimental tools to understand the physics and mechanics of disordered (e.g., granular or glassy) materials under extreme loading conditions (e.g., high strain rate loadings).

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Pinkesh Malhotra

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D.: Ph.D. Solid Mechanics, Brown University, 2020
Masters: ScM Solid Mechanics, Brown University, 2016
B.S.: B.Tech + M.Tech, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, 2014

My interests lie in: Dynamic Behavior of Materials, High Speed Imaging, Energetic Materials and Simulants, Polymers and Granular Materials. I am interested in thermodynamics-based constitutive modeling of materials. I like to work on experiments, theory and simulations.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Kshitiz Upadhyay

Ph.D.: Mechanical Engineering (Minor in Materials Science and Engineering), University of Florida, 2020

B.Tech.: Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, 2014

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Arezoo Zare

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D.: Oklahoma State University (2019)
Masters: Sharif University of Technology (2009)

Interests: My Ph.D. research has been primarily focused on experimental characterization of near-surface mechanical and structural properties in order to establish fundamental structure-property relationships, understand ion-solid interactions, and optimize the processes utilized in creation of ultraprecision surfaces. At Ramesh Lab, I focus on deformation and failure of ultra-hard ceramics across a variety of length scales and timescales. My research aims to identify a criterion for the onset of pressure-induced amorphization in anisotropic materials and characterize the subsequent effects on material properties.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Undergraduate Student

Nat Davenport

Undergraduate Student

Elizabeth Hsieh

Undergraduate Student

Kevin Hu

Undergraduate Student

Roshan Jagani

Undergraduate Student

Gavin Mackay

Undergraduate Student

Ari Miller

Undergraduate Student

Angela Torrejon

HEMI/MICA EXTREME ARTS

Professor of Photography

Jay Gould

GROUP ALUMNI

U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center
Dr. Jason Parker

Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison
Dr. Alex (Xiangyu) Sun

Pusan National University, S. Korea
Dr. YunHo Kim

Beijing Institute of Technology
Dr. Qinglei Zeng

Los Alamos National Laboratory
Dr. Andrew Fwu Tay Leong

CCDC Army Research Laboratory
Dr. Debjoy D. Mallick

U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Dr. Amy Dagro

Saint Louis University, Madrid
Dr. Charles El Mir

Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC
Dr. Yuan-Chiao Lu

University of Arizona
Prof. Kavan Hazeli

IIT Gandhinagar
Prof. Ravi Sastri Ayyagari

Iowa State University
Prof. Sarah Bentil

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Angela Stickle

IIT Indore
Prof. Eswara Prasad Korimilli

Colorado School of Mines
Prof. Leslie Lamberson

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Dr. Nitin Daphalapurkar

New Mexico Institute of Technology
Dr. Jamie Kimberley

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Changqiang Chen

University of Houston
Prof. Shailendra Joshi

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Dr. Hong Wang

University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Prof. Qiuming Wei

Northwestern Polytechnical University
Prof. Yulong Li

Texas A&M University
Prof. Justin Wilkerson

Army Research Laboratory
Dr. Andrew Tonge

Institute for Defense Analyses
Dr. Cynthia Byer

Army Research Laboratory
Dr. Cyril Williams

Robert Morris University
Prof. Rika Wright

University of Wisconsin, Platteville
Prof. Jessica Meulbroek

University of Twente
Prof. Sarthak Misra

Penn State University
Prof. Reuben Kraft

Mississippi State University
Dr. Bhasker Paliwal

University of Texas, El Paso
Dr. Brian Schuster

Johns Hopkins University
Prof. Steven Marra

US Army Research Laboratory
Stephan Bilyk

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Andrew Lennon

US Army Research Laboratory
Randy Coates

University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Prof. Ruqiang Feng

U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier Center

Dr. Jason Parker

Ph.D.: Johns Hopkins University, 2021
M.S.: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
B.S.: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

My research interests include solid mechanics and the dynamic behavior of materials. I am currently investigating the mechanical behavior of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene composites at high strain-rates.

Lam Research

Dr. Chengyun Miao

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D.: Auburn University (2019)

My Ph.D. research is focused on studying dynamic fracture mechanics of materials (composites, glass, polymer films) using optical techniques, and developing full-field optical metrology tool to measure surface topography of thin structures. Currently, I am working on spall failure of aluminum alloy using laser shock and photon doppler velocimeter.

Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison

Dr. Alex (Xiangyu) Sun

Ph.D.: Johns Hopkins University
M.Sc: Johns Hopkins University (2015-2017)

My research is high strain rate multi-axial loading granular flow of boron carbide. Using pressure shear plate impact and Compression/Torsion Kolsky bar experiment, the strain rate can be reached up to 10^6s^-1 for granular material. Shear stress and normal stress are obtained during the experiments. Effects of grain size, normal pressure, shear strain rate and microstructure evolution on granular boron carbide will be investigated. My hobbies include cooking, swimming, playing table tennis, and watching movies!

Novelis

Dr. Minju Kang

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D.: Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)
B.E: Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)

My research interests are microstructural evolution and deformation mechanisms of various materials under high strain rate loading. Here, in JHU, I am working on visualizing the failure of glasses and brittle materials at high strain rates using a synchrotron.

Apple

Dr. Weixin Li

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D:
B.E:

Interests:

Pusan National University, S. Korea

Dr. YunHo Kim

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Integrated MS and Ph.D.: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (2018)

My primary research interest is dynamic behavior of advanced metal and ceramic materials under hypervelocity impact. Currently, my research focus on understanding failure mechanisms considering high strain rate and shock wave propagation of the materials experimentally using HyFIRE, our 2 stage light gas gun equipped with high speed imaging and various sensors in impact regimes between 1-7 km/s.

Beijing Institute of Technology

Dr. Qinglei Zeng

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D: Tsinghua University (2017)
B.E: Tsinghua University (2012)

Interests:
I’m interested in computational solid mechanics and fracture mechanics. Currently I focus on the development and numerical implementation of micromechanics-based multiscale models to describe the dynamic failure process of geological materials.

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Dr. Andrew Fwu Tay Leong

Postdoctoral Fellow: Johns Hopkins University
Ph.D. Physics: Monash University
Honours Degree Physics Monash University
B.Sc. Biomedical Science/Science: Monash University

Interests:
G’day! I am an Australian physicist specializing in synchrotron imaging. My high school teacher once stated light allows you to see things. I initially smirked but quickly realized that I didn’t exactly know why. From then on I am always trying to develop a deeper understanding of light and how it interacts with matter to apply it to the research I am doing; be it imaging the failure of geological materials undergoing high rate loading to diagnosing respiratory diseases.

CCDC Army Research Laboratory

Dr. Debjoy D. Mallick

Ph.D.: Johns Hopkins University (2019)
B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering:Johns Hopkins University (2009)

Interests:
I’m interested in the high rate failure of protection materials and am learning about the failure process using laser based techniques- laser based interferometry and laser shock loading. My background as a US Army scientist keeps my interest in impact regimes between 1 and 4 km/sec.

Vanguard

Dr. Meng Zhao

Ph.D.: Johns Hopkins University
M.S.E. Solid Mechanics: Johns Hopkins University
B.S. Aircraft Design and Engineering: Northwestern Polytechnical University

Interests:
My interests lie in extremely high strain rate deformation of lightweight materials, like Magnesium alloys. I am an experimentalist with focus on experiments using ultra high strain rate pressure shear plate impact and dynamic Kolsky bar tests.

STX

Kimberly (Leonard) Andes

Ph.D. candidate: Johns Hopkins University
M.Sc. Solid Mechanics: Johns Hopkins University
B.S.E. Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science: Duke University

Interests:
My primary research interests are in the failure of brittle materials, including ceramics and quartz. I am an experimentalist with focus on using indentation and a multi-axial Kolsky bar. In particular, I am focusing on understanding amorphization, a critical mechanism in the high energy failure of Boron Carbide. For fun, I love hiking, reading, beach volleyball and playing with my dog.

U.S. Army Research Laboratory

Dr. Amy Dagro

Ph.D. candidate: Johns Hopkins University
M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering: Columbia University (2010)
B.Sc. Biomedical Engineering: Johns Hopkins University (2009)

Interests:
My primary research interests are in soft tissue injury biomechanics. I am investigating ways to test the mechanical properties of brain cells with the purpose of understanding which cellular networks are damaged the most during traumatic brain injury.

ETH Zurich

Dr. Vignesh Kannan

Ph.D. candidate, Mechanical Engineering: Johns Hopkins University
M. S. E, Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University (2014)
B.Tech, Production Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchchirappalli (2012)

Interests:
I am currently working towards understanding plastic deformation and failure in magnesium under high rates of loading. Specifically I perform dynamic compression experiments with in-situ diagnostics to interrogate mechanisms active during plastic deformation and failure. Outside the lab, I enjoy food, playing badminton and am trying to renew my once-almost-addictive reading habits.

Saint Louis University, Madrid

Dr. Charles El Mir

Ph.D. candidate Johns Hopkins University
M.Sc. University of Dayton, Ohio
B.Sc. University of Balamand, Lebanon

Interests:
My current research interest is in developing physics-based computational models that simulate mechanical events across a wide range of timescales. Specifically, I am currently investigating the breakdown of asteroidal rocks over the course of several thousands of years, as a result of a large number of periodic thermal cycles on the order of a few hours. In addition, I am exploring the coupling of high velocity planetary-scale impacts that happen in a few seconds, along with the gravitational response (ejection and re-accumulation) that occurs over several hours and days. In my research, I attempt to develop systematic approaches to bridge across these timescales in order to build a framework that can be used for interpreting observations from real-life planetary missions.

Kuwait University

Prof. Fatma A. Madouh

Ph.D. candidate: Johns Hopkins University
M.Sc: Johns Hopkins University (2013)
B.Sc: Kuwait University (2007)

Interests:
Biomechanics of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is my primary research interest and more specifically mild TBI (mTBI). Currently I am working on investigating the vasculature network effects on the brain response under mTBI loading using Finite Element Method (FEM) and Material Point Method (MPM).

Children’s National Medical Center, Washington DC

Dr. Yuan-Chiao Lu

University of Arizona

Prof. Kavan Hazeli

Dr. Hazeli research lies at the intersection of applied mechanics and materials science and engineering and thrusts on multi-scale experimental and computational characterization of material response and aims to for enhanced functionality and high-performance in novel materials under extreme environments such as temperature, strain rate and fatigue. His work looks to develop a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms by which materials deform and fail across multiple lengths and timescales. Our lab focuses on 2D and 3D characterization of microstructural evolution and instability during deformation and failure processes that take place in materials under extreme environments such as temperature, strain rate and fatigue. Our research provides information that can be directly used in the materials by design framework to guide efforts towards the development of next generation, high-strength, light-weight alloys and composites for critical structural materials such as automotive and aerospace applications.

IIT Roorkee

Prof. Shailesh Ganpule

IIT Gandhinagar

Prof. Ravi Sastri Ayyagari

Oxford University

Dr. Lukasz Farbaniec

Lukasz Farbaniec is a Research Associate in the Institute of Shock Physics at Imperial College London.Between 2013 and 2015 he worked as a Research Associate in the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute at Johns Hopkins University (USA). His research interests were focused on studying novel materials under dynamic loading conditions to evaluate their potential for defence applications (The Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments research program). He was particularly interested in the dynamic response of advanced ceramics under uniaxial and confined loading conditions, covering topics such as the rate dependence of the strengths and damage modes. He also studied the microstructural effects of ultrafine-grained hcp materials on the spall strength and incipient spall damage.

University of Alberta

Prof. Jamie Hogan

Iowa State University

Prof. Sarah Bentil

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Dr. Angela Stickle

I am a planetary geologist specializing in hypervelocity impact processes and dynamic failure of materials. Currently, I am a science team member on the Mini-RF radar and LAMP UV spectrometer onboard the Lunar Reconaissance Orbiter, a member of the Steering Committee and Investigation Team for the AIDA Double Asteroid Redirect Test kinetic impactor mission, and involved in studying phenomenology following hypervelocity impacts into a variety of materials.

My main research interests include: dynamic properties and failure/fragmentation mechanisms of brittle materials, impact cratering on planetary surfaces (both rocky and icy bodies), planetary surface evolution, lunar lighting analysis for mission planning, modeling impact signature phenomenology, and planetary defense.

My research utilizes experimental facilities such as the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range, the APL planetary impact lab, and Kolsky bar systems at the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute, numerical models using the CTH hydrocode, and analysis of planetary spacecraft data.

IIT Indore

Prof. Eswara Prasad Korimilli

Eswar is currently is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science Engineering at IIT Indore. Prior joining at IIT Indore he worked as an Assistant Professor at the school of engineering, Mahindra Ecole Centrale, Hyderabad. He was a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. KT. Ramesh’s group at Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute, Johns Hopkins University from 2011-2014.

Colorado School of Mines

Prof. Leslie Lamberson

Los Alamos National Laboratory

Dr. Nitin Daphalapurkar

New Mexico Institute of Technology

Dr. Jamie Kimberley

GE Research

Dr. Swapnil Patil

IIT Bombay

Prof. Krishna Jonnalagadda

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Dr. Changqiang Chen

Consulting

Dr. George Zhang

Caterpillar

Dr. Buyang Cao

University of Houston

Prof. Shailendra Joshi

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Dr. Hong Wang

Schlumberger

Dr. Haitao Zhang

Saint Gobain

Dr. Tonia Jiao

Ningbo University

Prof. Fenghua Zhou

University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Prof. Qiuming Wei

Northwestern Polytechnical University

Prof. Yulong Li

Texas A&M University

Prof. Justin Wilkerson

Google

Dr. Neha Dixit

PEO Soldier

Dr. Adam Fournier

Army Research Laboratory

Dr. Andrew Tonge

Institute for Defense Analyses

Dr. Cynthia Byer

Merck

Dr. Guangli Hu

Army Research Laboratory

Dr. Cyril Williams

Robert Morris University

Prof. Rika Wright

US Naval Academy

Prof. Emily Huskins

University of Wisconsin, Platteville

Prof. Jessica Meulbroek

University of Twente

Prof. Sarthak Misra

Penn State University

Prof. Reuben Kraft

Mississippi State University

Dr. Bhasker Paliwal

University of Texas, El Paso

Dr. Brian Schuster

Lincoln Labs

Dr. Michael Glynn

University of Arizona

Prof. Xiawoyi Wu

Sierra Nevada Corp.

Dr. Dexin Jia

Johns Hopkins University

Prof. Steven Marra

US Army Research Laboratory

Stephan Bilyk

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Dr. Andrew Lennon

Del Monte

Dr. Deepak Chichili

Complete Genomics

Dr. Yongwei Zhang

MFA FINANCIAL

Dr. Sunil Yadav

Exponent

Dr. Mark da Silva

US Army Research Laboratory

Randy Coates

University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Prof. Ruqiang Feng

Ruqiang Feng
Associate Professor
Mechanical & Materials Engineering
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
W316 Nebraska Hall
Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0526
Office: 402-472-2384