Dr. Mostafa Gamal

Joined the Castano's Research Group as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar in January 2025 working in Innovative Cool Coatings: A Step Towards Heat-Responsive Building in a Warming World. He holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and Biochemistry, a M.Sc. in non-organic Chemistry, and a Ph.D. in non-organic Chemistry from Helwan University, Egypt. Dr. Gamal brings multiple years of experience working in coatings to learn about top-notch chemical and physical methods to prepare core-shell systems that would enable a solution for the project. In addition, Dr. Gamal has gained advanced training in multiple techniques, including but not limited to OES, XRD, SEM, XPS, Raman, TEM , and electrochemical techniques. Dr. Gamal is a Full-Time Researcher from the National Research Centre, Egypt. 

M.Sc. Clarissa De Paula Dias

Joined the Castano's Research Group as a Visiting Scholar in August 2025 to work on the advanced characterization of a composite prepared by Solution Blow-Spinning between PMMA microfibers and rGO supported by CAPES Foundation. She holds a B.Sc. in Physics from Universidade Federal Fluminense, an M.Sc. in Physics from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, and a Ph.D. Student in Engineering from the Military Institute of Engineering, Brazil. The primary objective of Clarissa's study is to characterize the physical and chemical properties of a composite derived from the production of methyl polymethacrylate microfibers reinforced with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) obtained through Solution Blow-Spinning (SBS) processing. These results will serve as the basis for Clarissa's doctoral dissertation and also as a guideline for future work in Nanotechnology and Surface Science. One potential application is in energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors. 

Camilo Bedoya Lopez

Joined the Castano's research group in Fall 2022.  He holds a B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from the National University of Colombia. Camilo has experience in additive manufacturing processes, laboratory equipment such as CNC mills, laser cutters, plotters as well as in materials sample preparation and testing. As part of the PhD in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Camilo will focus in advanced sintering processes for Al and Ti alloy powders.

M.Sc. Carlos E. Blank Moncada

Joined the Castano's research group in Spring 2024.  He holds a B.Sc in Chemical Engineering from the Simon Bolivar University, Venezuela. He also holds a M.Sc. in Engineering Management (MEEM) from the University of Louisville. Carlos has experience in several chemical processes with over 10 years of Industrial Experience in Oil Refining Plants and more recently in Biomedical Applications. As part of the PhD in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Carlos focuses in advanced sintering processes Ti-Cu alloy powders for Biomedical applications in implants as well as advanced surface characterization of metal heterogeneous catalysts.

Lilith Miller

Joined the Castano's research group in Summer 2024.  Lilith holds a B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Commonwealth University. During the undergraduate, Lilith worked with Castano's and Dr. Rojas' research groups in high temperature excursion test of Accident Tolerant Fuels. Currently, as part of the PhD in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Lilith focuses in understanding the mechanisms of failure at high temperatures (>1000 C) of FeCrAl and Cr-Coated Zircaloys.

The group is always actively looking for potential candidates for graduate students with knowledge in Mechanical, Materials, and Nuclear areas. Interested candidate please email the PI: cecastanolond@vcu.edu

Students will get hands-on experience in advanced Materials Characterization and deep knowledge in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. The research will involve synthesis of films, nanomaterials, and surface modifications in general. The candidate should have knowledge of at least a few of the following techniques: x-ray diffraction, scanning probe microscopy, electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, raman spectroscopy, electrodeposition, plasma-assisted physical vapor deposition, and photocatalysis.  

Elaina White

Joined the Castano research group in Spring 2015 and is an undergraduate student in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering expecting to graduate in Spring 2028. Elaina has technical skills in 3D printing, laser cutting, CAD, and lab skills. Complementing those with multiple characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy would work in developing new tools for materials processing, like metal laser fusing.

Dr. Lamia Nahar (Currently Process Engineer at Intel)

Joined the Castano research group in Fall 2017.  She holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and received a M.Sc. in Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry from University of Dhaka. Recently, she obtained her Ph.D in Inorganic and Materials Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University.  Her PhD work was focused on the production of macroscopic nanostructures of metal and semiconductor colloids. In Dr. Castano's Lab her research concentrated mostly in two areas: 

1) Development of high aspect ratio of nanowires for sensoric and alternative energy applications. 

2) Preliminary studies about the self-healing mechanisms in rare-earth thin film oxides on lightweight alloys when subjected to marine corrosion environments. 

Dr. Brent Williams (Currently at Intel)

Joined the Castano research group in Fall 2017.  He holds a B.S in Chemistry from University of West Georgia and received his Ph.D in the Nanoscience and Technology program at Virginia Commonwealth University during the summer of 2017.  His graduate work concentrated on the synthesis and characterization of permanent magnetic nanomaterials.  

In Dr. Castano's Lab his research concentrated mostly in two areas: 

1) Development of high aspect ratio of nanowires for photocatalytic applications. 

2) Preliminary studies about the self-healing mechanisms in rare-earth thin film oxides on lightweight alloys when subjected to marine corrosion environments. 

3) Characterization of the magnetic properties of sputter deposited Mn-doped ITO 

Dr. Mehran Abolghasemibizaki (Currently at Washington University in St. Louis Missouri )

Dr. Abolghasemibizaki joined the Castano research group in Summer 2018. He is an expert in superhydrophibic surfaces. He is working in a join project with Prof. Mohammadi.

Currently, he is focused on the studies of new physics related with liquids with various viscosity values impinging over superhydrophobic surfaces with complex geometries at the macro, micro, and nanolevel. In addition, he is working in the evaluation of superhydrophobic properties of coatings after exposure high temperatures.

Dr. Kyuin Shin 

Dr. Shin worked in the Castano's research group from Aug 2018 to Jan 2020. He got Ph.D. in Chungbuk National University, Korea. He has worked and done research in various field such as NPP (nuclear power Plant), ITER (international thermo-nuclear experimental reactor) project, thermal power plant; 2/3-D FE (finite element) analysis, mechanical testing,  and structure integrity assessment based on codes and standards. 

Dr. Shin focused on the evaluation of nanomaterials under the extreme environments combining multiple scenarios of high stress, temperature, and radiation at the computational level. 

Dr. Santiago Vargas Giraldo

Joined the Castano's research group in Spring 2018.  He holds a B.Sc in Engineering Physics and a M.Sc. in Engineering - Materials and Processing from the National University of Colombia. He is an expert in the design and implementation of surface modification and heat treatment techniques for steels by plasma-assisted methods. As part of the PhD in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Santiago will in the design and implementation of a one of a kind plasma-based reactor and testing their properties in sintering-based advance manufacturing techniques. Santiago focused on Cu powders and Cr coating on various substrates.

Currently, as a postdoc Santiago is designing a fluidized powder bed for industrial-scale surface modification of powders by sputtering with electrical and magnetic biasing.

Dr. Diana Shirley Galeano-Osorio

Prof. Galeano-Osorio has been a Research Collaborator since Spring 2018 and Joined Castano's Research group as Visiting Scholar in Spring 2019 and currently holds a Postdoctoral Fellow Position. Dr. Galeano-Osorio has expertise in surface modification of metals by PVD and ion nitriding techniques to improve their compatibility with biological fluids. Particularly, the enhancement of 316L stainless steel by ion nitriding and PVD techniques. She has advanced skills in physical and chemical characterization of materials as well as experience in processing and alteration of surfaces by plasma processes. 

Currently, investigations with the SCEL are focused in the area of corrosion, study of the optical and energetic characteristics of materials, the development of active graphene-based catalysts, and the electrocatalytic oxidation of Alkenes.

Dr. Sajjad Ghobadi (Currently Business Development Manager at Fuzionaire)

Received his B.S. in Polymer Engineering in 2013 from the Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran; and his M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering in 2015 from Sabanci University, Turkey. His research was focused on preparation of graphene-based heterogeneous catalysts for renewable energy applications. Sajjad joined VCU in 2017 as Ph.D. student in Chemical and Life Science Engineering under Dr. Gupton as Advisor and Dr. Castano as Co-Advisor. His research focused on the rational synthesis of new monolithic catalysts for flow chemistry in connection with CeRCaS. Dr. Ghobadi defended his Ph.D. Dissertation at VCU in July 2020. Congratulations!

M.Sc. Pavan Kumar Ravulaparthy 

Worked in the Castano's research group from Jan to May 2022. He holds M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing & Materials) and Graduate Certificate in High Temperature Materials both from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.

His research interests are investigating and mitigating the corrosion and oxidation degradation of high temperature alloys in the harsh working conditions.

M.Sc. Fabian Calderon Hurtado

Worked in the Castano's research group from Fall 2021 to Summer 2022. He holds an M.S. in Mine and Metallurgical Engineering from the National University of Colombia (UNAL) and an M.Sc. in Metallurgical Science from the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (IPN).  He has worked on modeling and simulation processes in steel-making developed in the IPN and producing metallurgical coke for exportation in C.I. Milpa S.A. in Colombia. 

Christian England

Joined Dr. Castano's research group in Spring of 2022, returning to school after service in the United States Army. He is currently pursuing a B.Sc in Mechanical Engineering with an aspiration to go into graduate level research upon completion. He is currently focusing on developing a phase field model to describe the microstructure evolution during solid-state sintering processes, as well as producing a software application to describe spectroscopic data acquired from sputtering experiments. I have concluded important tasks as part of summer internship in Dr. Castano lab by designing and building an induction heater for rapid thermal excursion followed by controlled quenching for nuclear materials applications.

Robert Croson

Joined the Castano research group in Spring 2018 and is an undergraduate student in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering and graduated in Fall 2018. Robert continued working for a semester as a Researcher in stress analysis for a frame for our new multi-plasma reactor bank for surface modification and thin films deposition using both gas phase and electrochemical techniques.

Eric Monroe

An undergraduate at VCU seeking a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, Eric joined the Castano Research Group in June 2018. Eric focused on experiments in the physical vapor deposition part of the laboratory, but he also aided in general laboratory tasks. Eric hopes to use the information he gained in future endeavors. He said,” My main goal was to learn as much as I could in Dr.Castano’s lab." 

Jeremiah Amos (Currently Eng. at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Philadelphia Division)

Worked in the Castano's research group from the Fall 2017 as an undergraduate  student  researcher until Spring 2018 when received the BS in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics. Jeremiah has been an active member of various organizations including the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). As an undergraduate researcher the work was focused in surface coatings by thermal evaporation and corrosion experiments. Also helped in the lab as CAD designer for the structural support of a High Vacuum Physical Reactor Bank. 

Luke Sweeney (Transferred to The College of William & Mary)

Joined the Castano research group in Fall 2017 as an undergraduate student in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. Luke worked in electrochemical methods to modify the surface of Al coatings and use them as template for producing rare earth NWs for solar energy harvesting. Luke's main research interest were around  materials engineering, nanotechnology, transportation, energy, and agriculture.   

Alessandro Flores-Saenz

Joined the Castano research group in Fall 2019 and is an undergraduate student in Mechanical Engineering with Nuclear Concentration. Alessandro is investigating on topics related with plasmas generated by High Impulse Power Supplies and their potential use for material modification.

Carol Victor

Joined the Castano research group in Spring 2020 and is an undergraduate student in Biomedical Engineering Class 2021. Carol is investigating on topics related with surface modification of carbon-based electrodes, biomaterials and drug delivery systems.