Dr. Christopher Marvel is an Assistant Professor in the MIE Department at LSU. His main research interests are focused on Materials Science and Engineering topics, namely: (i) processing-structure-property relationships of atomic-scale defects (e.g., grain boundaries), (ii) metastable processing methods to design novel materials (e.g., high-energy mechanical alloying and atmospheric plasma spray), (iii) application of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to evaluate atomic-structure and chemistry, (iv) Monte Carlo grain growth simulations, and (v) employing mixed reality applications to accelerate data acquisition, analysis, and training of novice users on characterization instruments. Dr. Marvel is active in ASM International and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Metallographic Society. He was a recipient of the 2023 ASM Bronze Medal Award. 

Expertise: High energy ball milling • sintering & grain growth • grain boundaries • atmospheric plasma spray • aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy • microanalysis • grain growth. simulations.

Vipul Jain is an Indian national. He joined Dr. Marvel's research group in July 2024 after earning his PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology Indore, India. He is a metallurgist and materials scientist with expertise and a goal of advancing the development of microstructure and crystallographic texture, grain boundaries, and the mechanical behavior of metals. He is also interested in understanding grain growth phenomena in ceramics.

He is skilled in various electron microscopy and diffraction techniques, including SEM, EBSD, EDS, and XRD. In addition to experimental characterization, he has experience in computational work such as thermodynamic predictions, finite element methods, and crystal plasticity-based simulations. He aims to further expand his research capabilities in high-temperature metals, powder metallurgy, and atomic-scale resolving electron microscopy. Outside of academics and his research career, he enjoys philosophy in general. He is a bookworm, a guitarist in private, and a basketball player in his dreams.

Fahima Shoan is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Mechanical Engineering at LSU with a Ph.D. in Chemistry (Polymer Science) from Louisiana State University. She previously earned her M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Applied Chemistry & Chemical Engineering from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her expertise spans polymerization kinetics, cure-on-demand adhesives, nonlinear polymer dynamics, and sustainable materials development, supported by experience with advanced characterization techniques (FIB-SEM, DSC, SAXS, XRD) and industrial collaboration with BASF.

As a postdoctoral researcher, she is investigating ultrasonic welding of glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, crystallization pathways using SAXS, DSC, and XRD, and microstructural evolution via FIB-SEM and thin-film deposition. During her doctoral research, she developed novel thiol-acrylate adhesives and explored frontal polymerization mechanisms with conductive fillers. Alongside research, she is committed to mentoring students and advancing interdisciplinary collaborations that translate polymer science into practical applications.

Rashed Mia is originally from Bangladesh. He completed his BS in Applied Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the University of Dhaka (DU) and an MS in Materials Chemistry from the University of South Dakota (USD), where his thesis focused on binary-phase NiO-TiO2 heterojunction nanocrystals for photocatalytic H2O2 formation. He joined LSU in the fall of 2023, and his current research focuses on investigating grain boundary complexion transitions and their impact on interfacial diffusivity in next-generation materials.

What fascinates him most about materials science and engineering is the opportunity to design and innovate materials at the atomic scale, addressing global challenges in energy, sustainability, and technology. His long-term goal is to pursue a career in academia, contributing to advancements in materials science and inspiring future generations of engineers.

Outside of research, he is a big soccer fan and a die-hard supporter of Real Madrid, the best club in the world. Cheers to all materials scientists and fellow Madridistas! 

Angelina Jorgenson is a graduate student in the Accelerated Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering program at Louisiana State University, concentrating in Materials Science in Engineering. Her research focuses on mechanochemical reduction of metal oxides through high-energy ball milling, with an emphasis on phase transformations, microstructural evolution, and reaction kinetics. While completing her undergraduate studies, Angelina contributed to the Complex Concentrated Alloy (CCA) powder project, where she investigated alloy microstructures and phase stability to support development of advanced feedstock materials.

Her academic research is complemented by industry experience in product development, capital projects, and applied research. Looking forward, Angelina aims to leverage her background in both laboratory science and engineering practice to pursue a career in aerospace and defense, bridging research with real-world applications.

Emma McCarthy is a first-year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana State University. Her research focuses on reactive materials, with an emphasis on grain boundary and interface engineering to better understand how material structure influences performance. She has extensive experience with materials characterization and advanced microscopy techniques, as well as mentoring and teaching.

In addition to her research, Emma serves as President of the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Student Association (MEGSA), where she works to build community and support professional development among graduate students. She was awarded supplemental funding through the LaSPACE Graduate Student Research Assistance (GSRA) program to support her work related to NASA's space exploration initiatives. Her long-term goal is to continue advancing high-impact research while fostering inclusive, mentorship-driven environments in engineering.

Aranya Aumit Paul is originally from Bangladesh. He earned his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He joined LSU in 2023 and completed his M.Sc. in Construction Management, where his research focused on robotic construction and developed a computational material design approach for designing sustainable, eco-friendly construction materials for large-scale concrete additive manufacturing. Currently, he is working on Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS), studying coating parameters and hydrogen permeability in coatings deposited with plasma spraying.

His research interests lie in materials science and engineering, with a focus on leveraging advanced material design strategies for next-generation manufacturing aimed at creating sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for the built environment. Beyond his research, Aranya is a passionate music lover who enjoys singing and playing multiple musical instruments. Alongside music, he enjoys photography and traveling — especially to the mountains. Here’s to all the music lovers and material scientists out there — building, creating, and inspiring in their own ways.

Samantha (Sam) Murrillo is majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in materials science. Sam works in the thermal spray group, where she has designed and built custom testing rigs, refined testing parameters, and shared her work with industry professionals at the CISIA conference.

Austin Knight is a mechanical engineering student graduating in May 2026. Originally from Slidell, Louisiana, he joined the thermal spray group in Fall 2024. His work emphasizes the industrial relevance of thermal spray methods, particularly their potential impact on Oil & Gas applications.

Tremayne Sweat is a junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering, with a passion for materials science, manufacturing processes, and engineering innovation. He works in the powder metallurgy lab, where he has contributed to collaborative efforts with University of Louisiana Lafayette.

William (Reece) Burgess is a mechanical engineering student with a May 2027 graduation date. In the powder metallurgy lab, he is developing new methods to use a rolling mill for creating sheets from ball-milled powders, while also contributing to mechanochemistry research.