Team

Dr. Mohammad J. Abdollahzadeh is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering at Illinois Tech. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo, where his research focused on computational modeling of melt-pool dynamics in additive manufacturing of NiTi alloys. He also gained industry experience as a Reliability and Development Engineer Intern at First Solar, working in the semiconductor field.

His research interests include additive manufacturing, materials science, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and semiconductor technologies. At Illinois Tech, he is contributing to NSF and DOE projects: the NSF project explores non-spherical powders in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) and Binder Jetting, while the DOE project focuses on developing High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) for fusion energy applications in collaboration with UTRGV and York University. Outside of research, he enjoys playing chess and tennis, reading, and traveling.

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Oluwaseyi Omodara is a PhD student in the Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering Department at Illinois Tech, specializing in Materials Science and Engineering. He holds an M.Sc. in Materials Engineering and Industrial Heritage Conservation from Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola-University of Applied Sciences in Bochum, Germany, and an M.Eng. in Advanced Materials Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria. 

With a robust academic foundation and diverse professional experience, Oluwaseyi has excelled in roles such as Materials Engineer, Engineering Assistant, and Student Assistant across various industries, including steel plants, gas turbine power plants, and EV battery part manufacturing company. His experience in metal matrix composites, quality assurance, corrosion control, lithium-ion battery materials, and characterization of engineering materials underscores his capability to manage research projects effectively.

Oluwaseyi’s research interests span advanced materials characterization, materials failure analysis, and experimental materials science. Currently, he is deepening his knowledge and skills in additive manufacturing and structural materials, actively contributing to research and development efforts aimed at advancing material performance and innovation.

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Rudra Patel is a graduate researcher in the Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering Department at Illinois Tech, specializing in additive manufacturing and design for manufacturing. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Technology, India, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science with a focus on Design and Manufacturing.

His current research involves projects focused on metal additive manufacturing, primarily utilizing binder jet printing technology. He works on experimental studies related to material processing, post-processing, and mechanical testing to improve the performance and industrial applicability of binder jet printed components.

Beyond research, Rudra brings a diverse engineering background spanning manufacturing and project management. He has experience as a manufacturing engineer and R&D intern at Vartix Aerospace, where he designed and tested rocket engine test pads and launch pads, developed rocket subsystems using SolidWorks, and analyzed material and manufacturing economics. Additionally, he served as an engineer trainee managing production and quality processes at Press Stamping Industries.

Rudra has demonstrated leadership and project management capabilities through leading a team in the design and construction of an 8-seater battery electric vehicle. His technical toolkit includes CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360), CAM (MasterCAM), FEA (Ansys Workbench), and multiple additive manufacturing techniques including FDM, laser-based powder fusion, and binder jet printing.

Committed to advancing additive manufacturing technologies, Rudra integrates experimental research with practical engineering experience to drive innovation and optimize manufacturing processes. His multidisciplinary skills and leadership experience position him to contribute significantly to the development of next-generation manufacturing solutions.

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Tahiat Nawal is a Master's student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at IIT. She is currently conducting thesis research on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of binder jet printed 17-4PH stainless steel subjected to various heat treatment conditions. Her work integrates additive manufacturing, surface characterization (XPS, SEM/EDS, XRD), and materials performance analysis for structural applications in corrosive applications. She has worked as a teaching assistant in the Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering (MMAE) and has led STEM outreach programs focused on robotics and drone technology, delivering hands-on learning experiences to K–12 students.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in Bangladesh. For her undergraduate capstone project, she investigated the aerodynamic performance of a NACA0015 airfoil equipped with a Static Extended Trailing Edge (SETE), combining wind tunnel experimentation and CFD simulation using SolidWorks and ANSYS. She also gained hands-on experience in aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul operations (MRO) while working with the Bangladesh Air Force. This experience deepened her interest in aerospace systems, inspection protocols, and materials performance in real-world environments. She is driven by a strong interest in materials innovation and additive manufacturing, and aims to contribute to the advancement of sustainable, reliable manufacturing technologies in the industry.

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August Thriffiley is a co-terminal student in the Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering department at Illinois Tech. He is currently pursuing both a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering as well as a Master of Science in Advanced Manufacturing.

August serves as a research assistant and collaborator within the team. His roles include materials testing, data acquisition and analysis, experimental setup, CAD modeling, and component fabrication. 

In the future, he hopes to build a career in the aerospace industry concerning the development of novel components via Additive Manufacturing.

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