Postdoctoral Scholar, California Institute of Technology, 10/2018 - 07/2022, (advisor: Professor Sergio Pellegrino)

Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan,
05/2018, (advisor: Professor Anthony Waas)

M.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, 05/2014

B.Eng., Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, 05/2013

Research interest: Multiscale modeling, fracture mechanics, structural stability, fusion bonding, space manufacturing.

Miguel Mireles is a second-year Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where he also earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on the fracture mechanics of high strain composite (HSC) materials used in deployable aerospace structures. He investigates the effects of stress concentrations introduced by clamping in the Column Bending Test (CBT), as well as the influence of geometric parameters and manufacturing defects on bending stiffness and failure behavior. Miguel is also developing computational and empirical models to predict failure in HSCs, aiming to improve test reliability and support the design of more robust composite structures under large curvature deformation.

In addition to his modeling and experimental work, Miguel has participated in several high-impact research internships at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Northrop Grumman. At AFRL, he worked on the influence geometric parameters have on the material properties; at PNNL, he contributed to the recycling of thermoset resins and carbon fiber tows in pressure vessels; and at Northrop Grumman, he focused on automating production verification of the Triton drone. These experiences have expanded his technical breadth and shaped his multidisciplinary approach to solving challenges in aerospace and defense materials engineering. He was also awarded the James H & Minnie M Edmonds Academic Scholarship (2020-2023).

Research interest: Bistable composite shells, steered fiber paths, structural stability, fusion bonding, space manufacturing.

Cesar Moriel is a third-year Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). He earned both his B.S. (Spring 2023) and M.S. (Fall 2024) in Mechanical Engineering from UTEP. His research focuses on the mechanics and manufacturing of bistable composite shell structures for space applications, aiming to develop deployable structures that overcome the mass and volume constraints of rocket fairings. By leveraging thin-ply, high-strain composites and implementing steered fiber paths, he investigates how structural stability and shape control can be tuned to enable compact packaging and reliable deployment in orbit. His work draws inspiration from nature-inspired folding mechanisms and seeks to enhance durability, stiffness control, and multifunctionality in next-generation aerospace structures.

In addition to his structural modeling efforts, Cesar is involved in a project on fusion bonding of thermoplastic composites, exploring amorphous bonding techniques that could enable in-space welding and on-orbit manufacturing of large-scale structures. He has completed internships at NASA Langley Research Center, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Sandia National Laboratories (NNSA), and the University of Minnesota through an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. He was also awarded the NSF Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship (2023–2025).

Research interest: Molecular dynamics, carbon fibers, multiscale modeling, composite materials 

Md Fazlay Alam is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). He completed his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at UTEP and earned his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET), Bangladesh. 

His research focuses on multiscale modeling of carbon fiber-reinforced composites, particularly on the evolution of PAN-based carbon fiber nanostructures during carbonization and graphitization. Using molecular dynamics simulations, he investigates the relationship between processing conditions, nanoscale morphology, and mechanical performance under various loading scenarios. His work aims to bridge atomistic-scale behavior with macroscale performance to support the development of next-generation aerospace materials.

He received the TACCSTER Student Travel & Participation Award in 2023 and delivered a platform talk on his TACC-based computational research. In 2024, he was awarded the NSF Student Travel Grant to present his work at the American Society for Composites (ASC) conference.

Research interest: Composite materials, micromechanics, micropolar theory, cryogenic failure analysis 

Azar Banafshi is a Second-year Ph.D. candidate. Previously, she completed her master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Bu-Ali Sina university, Iran.  Currently, she is working on micromechanics and failure analysis of fiber-reinforced polymer composites under cryogenic temperatures using finite element representative volume elements (FE-RVE) and extended finite element (XFEM) method. Her research focuses on thermal mismatch-induced microcracking and stiffness degradation to enhance the reliability of composites in extreme cryogenic environments.

Research interest: Cellular solids, finite element analysis (FEA), energy absorption, composite manufacturing, experimental mechanics 

Kevin Chavez Loera is a junior pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso, expecting to graduate in May 2027. He is currently working on the design, modeling, and experimental validation of cellular solids, which are lightweight periodic structures optimized for high stiffness-to-weight ratios and improved energy absorption capabilities. His research involves finite element analysis (FEA) to study buckling modes, optimize geometry, and predict mechanical performance, complemented by experimental testing for validation using an Instron Universal Testing machine and a digital image correlation (DIC) system.