Lead
Peter C Collins
Professor
Entrepreneural Fellow
Materials Science & Engineering
Iowa State University
515-294-5127
pcollins [at] iastate.edu
Ph.D., Materials Science & Engineering, The Ohio State Univ., 2004
M.S., Materials Science & Engineering, The Ohio State Univ., 2001
B.S., Metallurgical Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, 1999
Selected Honors and Awards
- Ohio Advanced Technology Summit Award – Measurements and Instrumentation – Methods for Remote Microscopy (2007)
- Early Career Award for Research and Creativity – Univ. North Texas (2013)
- Akinc Award for Excellence in Teaching – Iowa State Univ. (2017)
- Henry Marion Howe Medal – ASM best paper (2019)
- Champion H. Mathewson – TMS/AIME best paper (2019)
Senior Leadership
Thomas Ales
Research Associate II
tkales [at] iastate.edu
“I used to be an artist, but then I had to pay rent.”
Specialty: Synthesis. Design. Integration
Toolkits: Development. Microscopy. Photography.
Projects: Developing the first 3D spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS) and applying it to address nonferrous problems.
MS Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., 2018
BS Materials Science & Engineering,Univ. of North Texas, 2014
AS Science, North Central Texas College, 2009
Maria J. Quintana
Research Scientist II
mariaqh [at] iastate.edu
“Materials engineer by day. Fossil collector, nail artist, and Formula 1 fan in my free time.”
Specialty: Physical Metallurgy. Mechanical Behavior. Microscopy.
Toolkits: Phase Transformations. Electron Microscopy. Mathematics.
Project: Exploring the role of phase transformations during AM of Ti- and Ni-based alloys. Understanding the relationship of processing-microstructure-properties of AM structural alloys.
PhD, Science and Technology of Materials, University of Oviedo, 2013
Fatih Sikan
Postdoctoral Research Associate
fsikan [at] iastate.edu
“When you are an experimentalist, failure is not an option; it’s a lifestyle…”
Specialty: Physical Metallurgy, Solidification, Metallic Glasses, Additive Manufacturing.
Toolkits: Materials Characterization, Experimentation, Finite Element Analysis.
Project: Advanced defect characterization using precession electron diffraction tomography.
Ph.D. Materials Engineering, McGill University, Canada, 2023.
M.Sc. Materials Science & Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Turkey, 2017.
B.Sc. Materials Science & Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Turkey, 2014.
Jaydeep Saha
Postdoctoral Research Associate
jaydeeps [at] iastate.edu
“A world without Materials Scientists – unimaginable! And I am honored to be a part of that community.”
Specialty: Physical Metallurgy. Mechanical Behaviors of Materials.
Toolkits: Micrograph. Texture. Characterization of Materials.
Project: Designing and Manufacturing of the Gradient Materials.
Ph.D., Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology
Hyderabad, India, 2022
M.Tech., Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology
Tiruchirappalli, India, 2016
B.E., Metallurgical and Material Engineering, Jadavpur University, India, 2013
The Team
Jonathan Zaugg
Graduate Research Associate
jzaugg [at] iastate.edu
Specialty: Lightweight Alloy Development
Toolkits: Investment Casting, 3D Resin & Filament Printing, Ultrasonic Testing, SRAS, and Microhardness Testing.
Project: Light-Weight Materials and Structures for Ballistic Protection.
3rd yr. PhD student at Iowa State University
Amamchukwu B. Ilogebe
Graduate Research Associate
Ph.D. Student
ailogebe [at] iastate.edu
“I am proud to be a Materials Engineer, the bedrock of science.”
Specialty: Additive Manufacturing. Metallurgy.
Toolkits: Metallography. Experimentation. Dedication.
Project: Understanding thermal gyrations on microstructural evolution in Ni-based superalloys.
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, North Carolina A&T State Univ., 2017
B.S., Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Enugu State University and Technology, Nigeria, 2008
Matt Dolde
UG Research Assistant
mdolde [at] iastate.edu
“What is research but a blind date with knowledge.”
Specialty: Additive Manufacturing. Prototyping.
Toolkits: Metallography. CAD.
Project: Design and Manufacture of Metallic Gradient Materials
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Fall 2021
Grant Johnson
Graduate Research Assistant
Ph.D. Student
grantajo [at] iastate.edu
“Research is knowing that you don’t know anything about something. And then you accidentally find out about something completely unrelated.”
Specialty: Characterization. Stainless Steels. Additive Manufacturing. Physical Metallurgy.
Toolkits: Scanning Electron Microscopy. Metallography.
Project: Processing-Microstructure-Property Relations for Directed Energy Deposition Additively Manufactured Duplex Stainless Steels.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Sp. 2021
Erin Cleary
UG Research Assistant
ecleary [at] iastate.edu
“I started asking questions and now I’m here. What’s next?”
Specialty: Metallurgy
Toolkits: Optical Microscopy
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Sp. 2024
Sofiya Palasyuk
UG Research Assistant
spalasy [at] iastate.edu
“There is a fine line between curiosity and insanity. I intend to dance on this line.”
Specialty: Metallurgy
Toolkits: Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Sp. 2025
Irina Pogorelko
UG Research Assistant
irinap [at] iastate.edu
“I can get through anything with my iced matcha latte.”
Specialty: Metallurgy
Toolkits: Casting, Researching and assisting with DED systems, Photogrammetry.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Fall. 2025
John Titus Barnett
UG Research Assistant
jetwbar [at] iastate.edu
“People who quote themselves are often quite creative and clever, but sometimes they are just plain silly.”
Specialty: Metallurgy
Toolkits: Optical Microscopy, Combinatorics
Project: Role of Thermomechanical Processing (TMP) on the Evolution of Microstructure and Response in Multi-Phase Refractory Alloys
Communication & Administration Specialists
Some Past Group Members
Scott Blazanin
Graduate Research Associate
M.S. Student
blazanin [at] iastate.edu
“I have never allowed my education to get in the way of my learning.”
Specialty: Non-ferrous metallurgy. Fracture & failure analysis. Investment casting.
Toolkits: Project management. Microscopy.
Project: Fracture and crack growth in advanced non-ferrous structural alloys (Ti-6Al-4V, high strength aluminum).
B.S., Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Iowa State Univ., 2019
John Kaman
UG Research Assistant
jwkaman [at] iastate.edu
“Living in a material world … and I am a materials guy.”
Specialty: Additive manufacturing. Audio. Powder Flow. Electronics.
Toolkits: Python. Zaber motion devices. Audio equipment. Fender Telecaster.
Projects: Acoustic delivery of powder.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Sp. 2022
Matt Kenney
Graduate Research Associate
M.S. Student
“I like to solve puzzles. One script at a time.”
Specialty: Image processing. Computer scripting.
Toolkits: Microscopy. Automated Feature Quantification. 3D Image Processing.
Project: Analyzing and quantifying defects in additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V in 3D.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., 2015
Katie O’Donnell
Graduate Research Associate
Ph.D. Student
katieo1 [at] iastate.edu
“I’ve been fascinated by materials science before I knew materials science was a ‘thing‘.”
Specialty: Metallurgy. Additive Manufacturing.
Toolkits: Materials Characterization. Phase Transformations.
Project: Assessing the influence of temperature and stress gradients on microstructure in nonferrous alloys.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Clemson Univ. 2015.
Alana Pauls
Jointly advised (Thuo group) Graduate Research Associate
B.S./M.S. Student
ampauls [at] iastate.edu
“As Einstein said, ‘If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough’, so I try to understand a little more each day.”
Specialty: Metallurgy. Undercooling.
Toolkits: Characterization. Experimentation.
Project: Quantifying Defects in Metallic AM Builds using Magnetic Levitation.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., 2021
Andrew Temple
Graduate Research Associate
Ph.D. Student
ajtemple [at] iastate.edu
“A wannabe welder turned materials engineer.”
Specialty: Physical Metallurgy.
Toolkits: Experimentation. Characterization. Leadership.
Project: Studying the microstructure-property relationships in SLM Ti-alloys, including in the beta Ti-alloys. Developing machine learning approaches.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., 2017
Noah Welch
UG/G Research Associate
Ph.D. Student
Chemical Engineer II at Honeywell FM&T
njwelch [at] iastate.edu
“Good with metals. Imperfect with words. Part-time musician.”
Specialty: Refractory alloys. High-temperature oxidation. Characterization.
Toolkits: Microscopy. Metallography.
Project: The influence of composition, microstructure, and surface modification on the oxidation behaviors of novel Ta-Ti-Cr refractory complex concentrated alloys.
B.S. Iowa State University, Sp. 2021
Ph.D. Iowa State University, 2023.
Madison Harrington
UG Research Assistant
madisonh [at] iastate.edu
“Your local crazy plant, rock, and tea lady who dabbles in science”
Specialty: Physical Metallurgy. Microscopy. Titanium.
Toolkits: Characterization. Additive Manufacturing.
Projects: Microstructural characterization of SLM beta Ti-alloys. Microphotogrammetry.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Sp. 2021
B.A., Religious Studies, Iowa State Univ., Sp. 2021
Robert Kaman
UG Research Assistant
rckaman [at] iastate.edu
“Physics thinker-abouter. Nothing understander.”
Specialty: Characterization. Modeling. Fundamentals.
Toolkits: 3D Modeling. Audio. Python.
Projects: Determining surface normals from point clouds. Modeling surface acoustic waves.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Sp. 2022
Kelsey McInturff
UG Research Assistant
kmcintur [at] iastate.edu
“A materials enthusiast and data connoisseur.”
Specialty: Titanium. Statistics. Data Science.
Toolkits: R. VBA. Python.
Projects: Property predictions of SLM Ti-alloys. Microphotogrammetry.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Sp. 2021
Mrinal Redij
Boeing Research Fellow
mredij [at] iastate.ed
“I believe only in atoms and space between them. Everything else is just an opinion.”
Specialty: Independent learning.
Toolkits: Photogrammetry.
Project: Qualitative analysis of additively manufactured titanium alloys.
Expected: B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State Univ.
Luke Weston
UG Research Assistant
llweston [at] iastate.edu
“If it walks like an arc welder, and it talks like an arc welder, it might be a 3D printer.”
Specialty: Metal AM, UI, NDE.
Toolkits: Automation, Image Processing.
Project: Researching new strategies in low-cost metal additive manufacturing.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., Sp 2022
Iman Ghamarian
Post-doctoral Associate
Univ. of Michigan
“Learning materials science from different perspectives.”
Specialty: Orientation microscopy. Atom probe tomography. Deep learning.
Toolkits: ASTAR. LEAP 5000. PyTorch.
Ph.D. Thesis (2017, ISU): Application of Precession Electron Diffraction Technique to Quantitatively Study Defects in Nanocrystalline Metallic Materials
M.S. Thesis (2012, UNT): An Integrated Approach to Determine Phenomenological Equations in Metallic Systems.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Sharif Univ. of Technology
Matt Goode
—
—
“I am a MacGyver-like engineer that doesn’t know a whole lot about one thing, but a little about a lot of things.”
Specialty: System design and integration.
Toolkits: Networking. Motivation. CAD.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., 2018
Yue Liu
—
Thermo Fisher Scientific (FEI)
“Not an averaged, average person.”
Specialty: Characterization.
Toolkits: Microscopy.
Ph.D. Thesis (2015, UNT): Precession Electron Diffraction Assisted Characterization of Deformation in alpha and alpha + beta Titanium Alloys
Somashekara MA
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mech. Eng.
Indian Institute of Technology – Dharwad
“Researcher by chance, sustaining with endless energy and positive attitude.”
Specialty: Additive Manufacturing. Weld and laser deposition. Gradient objects.
Toolkits: Experimentalist. Teacher. Mentor. Leadership.
Postdoctoral Fellowship Subject (2017-2019): Development of a powder-blown directed energy deposition system for beam line experiments
Ph.D., IIT Hyderabad, India, 2016
M.Tech., IIT Hyderabad, India, 2011
Michael Mendoza
Assistant Professor
Instituto de Ciencias Navales y Marítímas, Universidad Austral de Chile
“A former oil & gas industry worker that discovered materials science is a lot more exciting.”
Specialty: Materials Characterization. Mechanical Properties. Physical Metallurgy. Finite element analysis.
Toolkits: Electron microscopy. Numerical simulations. New ideas. Mechanical tests.
Ph.D. Thesis (2019, ISU): On the influence of microstructural features of linear friction welding and electron beam additive manufacturing Ti-6Al-4V on tensile and fatigue mechanical properties.
M.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., 2016
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 2008
Peyman Samimi
Senior Additive Metallurgist
GE Transportation/Wabtec
“If you are not enjoying your graduate school experiences, chances are you are doing it wrong.”
Specialty: Additive Manufacturing. Metallurgy.
Toolkits: Materials Characterization. Design of Experiment. Materials Processing.
Ph.D. Thesis (2015, UNT): Combinatorial assessment of the influence of composition and exposure time on the oxidation behavior and concurrent oxygeninduced phase transformations of binary Ti-x systems
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Sharif Univ. of Technology
Brian Martin
Applications and Testing Engineer
Dynamic Systems Incorporated (Gleeble)
“TBD.”
Specialty: Physical Metallurgy. Additive Manufacturing. Process simulation.
Toolkits: Experimental Design. Microscopy. Gleeble.
M.S. Thesis (2018, ISU): Development of a novel, bicombinatorial approach to alloy development, and application to rapid screening of creep resistant titanium alloys.
M.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Iowa State Univ., 2018
B.S., Applied Physics, SUNY Geneseo, 2015
Adanma Akoma
Graduate Student
Dr. Lesley Frame, UConn
“Scientist by day, twinkle toes by night.”
Specialty: Metallurgy. Fractography. Microscopy. Root cause analysis.
Toolkits: Electron microscope. Electrolytic etching. Mechanical testing.
Current Project: Residual Stress Development in Aerospace Alloys.
B.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Univ. North Texas, 2016
Brian Hayes
Development Engineer
Howmet Aerospace
(from Dostoevsky) “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.”
Specialty: Metallurgy. Additive Manufacturing. Single crystal casting.
Toolkits: Microscopy. Additive Manufacturing.
M.S. Thesis (2018, ISU): Characterization of Ti-6-4 Produced Via Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing.
M.S., Materials Science & Engineering, Univ. of North Texas, 2015
B.S., Sociology, UNT, 2007
Yuan Ji
Postdoctoral Fellow
yuanji [at] iastate.edu
“Positive feedback makes you motivated, negative feedback makes you stabilized, and you need both in your life”
Specialty: Circuit Design. Embedded System. Eddy Current. Computer Vision
Toolkits: Altium Designer, FEM Simulation, OpenCV
Project: Advanced materials characterization of defects and damage using nondestructive techniques.
Ph.D, Electrical Engineering, Iowa State University,2016
B.S, Information Engineering, Southeast University(Nanjing, China), 2008