about

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, advised by Prof. Timothy P. Weihs. My research is rooted in experimental physical metallurgy with a strong drive to connect processing, structure, and property relationships across lightweight structural, biomedical, and reactive materials.

🔬 Research Philosophy

My research philosophy is rooted in engineering microstructures and defects (from grain boundaries to vacancy clusters) to create materials that are simultaneously mechanically robust, corrosion-resistant, and biocompatible. I combine thermomechanical processing and severe plastic deformation with advanced characterization to uncover fundamental mechanisms and translate them into scalable, cost-effective processing strategies.

While my dissertation focuses on biodegradable magnesium alloys for medical implants, my broader research portfolio spans:

  • Vacancy-induced solute clustering in Mg alloys, linking point defects to microstructural stability and performance.
  • Reactive Al-based materials designed for controlled ignition and energy release.
  • In vivo studies on aluminum release and toxicity, bridging in vitro testing with biological response.
  • Collaborations in ML-guided alloy and process design, where data-driven tools accelerate processing optimization.

Ultimately, my goal is to connect atomic-scale mechanisms with application-driven performance, advancing materials that perform reliably in biomedical, aerospace, and energy environments.

Learn more about my projects in Research →.

🌐 Collaborations & Impact

I thrive at the interface of academia, industry, and national labs:

  • National Labs: PNNL (APT, PAS), NIST (alloy development, microscopy)
  • Industry: Fort Wayne Metals (biomedical wire systems)
  • Academic Networks: Virginia Tech, University of Utah, Monash University, AI-X Foundry (JHU), Washington State University Pullman

This ecosystem accelerates my goal of turning bench-scale science into real-world solutions. Details on my team and mentorship efforts are in Mentorship → and Service →.

🔍 Quick Snapshot

  • 🎯 Lead Student Organizer, TMS 2026 Symposium on Vacancy Engineering in Metals and Alloys
  • 🎙️ Discussion Leader, GRS Physical Metallurgy 2025
  • ✍️ Co-Guest Editor, JOM Special Issue on Mg Alloys
  • 📰 Editorial Advisor-in-Training, TMS Magnesium Committee
  • 🏅 Rodbell Fellow, multiple TMS travel awards, JHU Graduate Research fellowship
  • 📚 8+ peer-reviewed publications, 14+ presentations
  • 🤝 Mentored 11+ undergrad & high-school researchers
  • 🔬 Co-authored interdisciplinary studies in combustion materials, bio-corrosion modeling, and vacancy–solute interactions

🎶 Beyond the Lab

  • 🎼 Trained in Indian classical music
  • 🏏 Play cricket & 🏓 table tennis
  • 📺 Avid fan of crime & investigative TV shows
  • 🎧 Podcasts on geopolitics, history, and sports highlights