Staff
Brian Lee
![](http://strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/IMG_0376-768x1024.jpg)
Postdoctoral Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Coarse-grained modeling of energetic materials
Force field development via machine learning
Education:
Ph.D., Duke University, 2021
Daniel J. Klinger
![](http://strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/0626201503a-1-1024x1024.jpg)
Research Engineer
Research Topics:
Predicting burning rate behavior and mechanical properties of solid rocket propellants
Education:
M.S. Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Purdue University, 2022
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2020
Juan C. Verduzco
![](http://strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/JC_profile-2.jpg)
Senior Data Science Engineer
Research Topics:
Active learning algorithms for materials informatics
Synthesis and characterization of solid-state battery materials
Molecular dynamics simulations of ceramic oxides
Education:
Ph.D. Materials Engineering, Purdue University, 2023
B.S. Mechatronics Engineering, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, 2017
Graduate Students
Saswat Mishra
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SaswatWebsite-1024x1024.jpeg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Microelectronics reliability
Strength and oxidation resistance of high entropy alloys
Education:
B.S. Materials Science, Indian Institute of Science, 2018
Robert J. Appleton
![](http://strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/robert_appleton-e1617674782610.jpg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Materials properties from first principles calculations and MD simulation
Machine Learning techniques for Physics and Materials Science
Education:
M.S. Physics, California State University – Los Angeles, 2020
B.A. Physics, Ripon College, 2017
Ching-Chien Chen
![](http://strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Ching-Chien-Chen-300x291.jpg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Coherent precipitates in shape memory alloys
Education:
B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, 2019
Kat Nykiel
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/kat-1024x1024.jpg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Predicting stability of MXenes using density functional theory and machine learning
Education:
B.S. Materials Science & Applied Physics, Ohio State University, 2021
Ethan W. Holbrook
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ethan_holbrook-965x1024.jpg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Molecular Dynamics for Shock Physics (Aluminum, HEs, Polymers)
Machine Learning
Education:
B.S. Materials Science & Engineering, Wright State University, 2021
Jason Wilkening
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/JasonWilkening-1024x957.jpg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
MD for Shock and Detonation Chemistry
Education:
B.A. Chemistry and Physics – Illinois Wesleyan University, 2022
Chukwuma Ezenwata
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/EzeWebsite.jpg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
AI-enhanced physics-based modeling for materials @ extreme conditions
Education:
B.S. Production Engineering – University of Benin, Nigeria, 2019
Jalen Macatangay
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/JMacatangay_Sp2023-825x1024.jpg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Molecular Dynamics simulations of energetic materials and polymers under shock conditions
Education:
B.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Purdue University, 2023
Baptiste Martin
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/C328768B-76DB-4A12-B6FA-971ADE6354AF.png)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
MD simulation, Polymers
Education:
M.S. Physical-Chemistry, University of Bordeaux, 2022
B.S. Chemistry/Material Science, University of Bordeaux, 2018
William Zummo
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/William_Zummo-771x1024.jpg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Spallation of materials at extreme conditions
Education:
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 2022
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Central Michigan University, 2020
Rushik Desai
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/rushik_desai_close-811x1024.jpg)
Graduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Developing frameworks for making scientific data FAIR.
Education:
B.Tech in Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar, 2023
Visiting Scholars
Upcoming!
![](http://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/PU-V-Full-RGB.png)
Research Topics:
Education:
Undergraduate Students
Ava Hallberg
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AvaWebsite.jpeg)
2023 – 2024 Machine Learning Intern
Research Topics:
Metropolis-Hastings Ising models
General Adversarial Networks
Education:
B.S. Engineering, Purdue University, 2027
Brice Rider
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/BriceWebsite.jpg)
SCALE – Undergraduate Research Assistant
Research Topics:
Predicting lead-free solders with machine learning
Education:
B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering (Sophomore), Purdue University
Mohnish Harwani
![](https://www.strachanlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/mohnish_harwani-768x1024.jpg)
Undergraduate Researcher
Research Topics:
Physics Applications of Machine Learning
Education:
B.S. Computer Science, Purdue University, 2027