Group Members
Current Group Members
Principal Investigator
Prof. Robert W. Carpick (carpick@seas.upenn.edu), John Henry Towne Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania
Researcher Staff Scientists
Dr. J. Brandon McClimon (mcclimon@seas.upenn.edu), Manager of Research Projects, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2018-present.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Cangyu Qu, Postdoctoral Associate, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2021-present.
Dr. Shuai Zhang, Postdoctoral Researcher, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2024-present
Doctoral Students
- Mr. Parker LaMascus (lamascus@seas.upenn.edu), PhD Student, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2019-present.
- Mr. Li Yuan (yuanl20@seas.upenn.edu), PhD Student, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2020-present.
- Mr. Pezhman Palahang (palahang@seas.upenn.edu), PhD Student, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2023-present
- Mr. William Oprisu (woprisu@sas.upenn.edu), PhD Student, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 2022-present
- Mr. Mateus da Silva Cardoso (mateusc@seas.upenn.edu), PhD Student, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2024-present
- Mr. Sumit Kumar (sumitsk@seas.upenn.edu), PhD Student, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2024-present.
Master’s Students
- Ms. Marina Penna (mapenn@seas.upenn.edu), Master’s Student, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2023-present
Undergraduate Researchers
- Ms. Haley Morgenstern, Undergraduate Researcher, Mechanical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2022 – present.
- Mr. Jacob Goell, Undergraduate Researcher, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2023-present.
Group Alumni
PhD Graduates
- Dr. Matthew J. Brukman, PhD, Engineering Mechanics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2000-2005 (now a Central Facilities Manager, University of Pennsylvania, Singh Center for Nanotechnology).
Thesis: Atomic Force Microscopy and the Investigation of Atomic Scale Friction - Dr. Erin E. Flater, PhD, Engineering Mechanics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2001-2006 (now an Associate Professor, Physics Deptartment, Luther College, Iowa).
Thesis: Toward Prediction of MEMS Performance: A Multiscale Approach to Understanding Friction - Dr. Rachel J. Cannara, PhD, Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2001-2006 (now a Lead Scientist, Invention Science Funds, Intellectual Ventures).
Thesis: The Atomic-Scale Origins of Friction: A Nanotribological Study of Diamond Surfaces - Dr. Hsao Wei Yap, PhD, Physics, U. Pennsylvania, 2004-2007 (now a Commodities Risk Analyst, Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore).
Thesis: Mechanical Instabilities of Carbon Nanotubes - Dr. David S. Grierson, PhD, Engineering Mechanics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2002-2008 (now President, CTO, and co-founder, systeMECH LLC).
Thesis: Nanotribological Properties of Nanostructured Hard Carbon Thin Films - Dr. Patrick J. Heaney, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005-2009 (now founder and CEO of NCD Technologies, LLC, Wisconsin, Madison). Co-advised with Prof. F. Pfefferkorn.
Thesis: Improving Nanocrystalline Diamond Coatings for Micro End Mills - Dr. Vivekananda P. Adiga, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2007-2010 (now a Research Engineer at IBM T J Watson Research Center).
Thesis: Mechanical Stiffness and Dissipation in Ultrananocrystalline Diamond Films - Dr. Andrew R. Konicek, PhD, Physics & Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, 2008-2010 (now a Senior Researcher, ExxonMobil).
Thesis: Tribochemical Studies of Hard Carbon Films as a Function of Load and Environment - Dr. Jingjing Liu, PhD, Materials Science Program, University Wisconsin-Madison, 2007-2011 (now a Process Engineer, Applied Materials). Co-advised with K. T. Turner, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Thesis: Characterizing and Understanding Nanoscale Wear of Carbon-Based Atomic Force Microscope Tips. - Dr. Christopher Torres, PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Univeristy of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006-2011 (now a Process Engineer, Intel). Co-advised with F. Pfefferkorn, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Thesis: Optimization and Analysis of Nanocrystalline Diamond Coated Micro End Mills - Dr. Vahid Vahdat, PhD, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2008-2013 (now a Scientist and Principal Investigator, Atharva).
Thesis: Mechanics of Interactions and Atomic-Scale Wear of Tips in Amplitude Modulation Atomic Force Microscopy Probes - Dr. Graham E. Wabiszewski, PhD, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2007-2013 (now a Senior Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania).
Thesis: Interrogation of Single Asperity Electrical Contacts using Atomic Force Microscopy with Application to NEMS Logic Switches - Dr. Tevis D.B. Jacobs, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2008-2013 (now an Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh).
Thesis: Imaging and Understanding Atomic-Scale Adhesion and Wear: Quantitative Investigations Using In Situ TEM - Dr. Xin-Zhou Liu, PhD, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Univeristy of Pennsylvania, 2009-2015 (now a Product Engineer, Lam Research).
Thesis: Mechanisms Controlling Friction and Adhesion at the Atomic Length-Scale - Dr. Daniel Magagnosc, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2011-2016 (now at the Army Research Lab, Aberdeen, MD).
Thesis: Elucidating the Mechanical Response of Metallic Glasses Prepared in Different Structural States at Sub-micron Length Scales. Co-advised with D. Gianola, U. Pennsylvania - Dr. Frank Streller, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2011-2016 (now a Research Scientist at Agilent Technologies).
Thesis: Development and Characterization of Next-Generation Contact Materials for Nanoelectromechanical Switches - Dr. Kaiwen (Kevin) Tian, PhD, Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, 2012-2017 (now a Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Physics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.).
Thesis: Rate and state friction laws for interfacial chemical bond-induced friction at the nanoscale - Dr. Joel Lefever, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2012-2018 (now a Visiting Assistant Professor, Union College).
Thesis: Atomic Force Microscopy-Based Investigation of Plastic Deformation Mechanisms in Disordered Nanoparticle Packings - Dr. J. Brandon McClimon (mcclimon@seas.upenn.edu), PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2013-2018 (now a Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania).
Thesis: Tribological Response of Silicon Oxide-Containing Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbon, Probed Across Lengthscales - Dr. James Hilbert, PhD Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2011-2018.
Thesis: Understanding and Improving the Environmental Dependent Tribology and Thermal Stability of Hydrogenated Amorphous Carbon by Using Silicon and Oxygen as Dopants - Dr. Zachary Milne, PhD, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Unviersity of Pennsylvania, 2013-2018 (now a Senior Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratory).
Thesis: The Role of Sliding Contact in Nanoscale Tribochemistry - Dr. Kathryn Hasz, PhD, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2014-2020 (now a Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Colorado at Boulder).
Thesis: An Experimental Study of Atomic Scale Friction and Adhesion for 2D and Layered Materials: The Effects of Interfacial Contact, Compliance, and Commensurability - Dr. Lu Fang (lufanglu@seas.upenn.edu), PhD Candidate, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2017-2022 (now a Senior Lubrication Engineer at Tesla).
Master’s Degree Graduates
- Mr. Ryan R. O’Keefe, MSc, Materials Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2000-2002 (now a Manufacture and Design Engineer at Ace Precision, Oconomowoc, WI).
Thesis: The Synthesis and Design of Al2O3-ZnAl2O4 Nanocomposites - Ms. Shuang Zhao, MSc, Materials Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2000-2002 (now a Researcher at Gentel BioSurfaces, Madison, WI).
Thesis: Nano- to Micro-Scale Topographic Control of Polymer Surfaces via Wrinkling - Mr. Patrick Griffin, MSc, Materials Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2002-2004 (now a Process Engineer, Heraeus Inc., Chandler, AZ).
Thesis: Confinement Effects in Pore Growth for Nanoscale Anodized Alumina on Silicon - Mr. Guoqing Ning, MSc, Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2004-2006 (now a Process Engineer at Intel Corp., Santa Clara, CA).
- Mr. Sean D. O’Connor, MSc, Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005-2008 (now a Research Chemist, Sherwin Williams, Cleveland, OH).
- Mr. Christopher Torres, MSc, Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006-2008 (now a Process Engineer, Intel).
Thesis: Analysis of the Cutting Force Improvement Produced by Nanocrystalline Diamond Coatings - Mr. Sina Ghassemi, MSc, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2010 (now a Senior Associate, Credit Risk Advisory at KPMG).
- Charles Stovall, MSc, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2015-2017.
- Mr. Han Ye, MSc, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2015-2019.
- Mr. Zekun Li, MSE Student, Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2021- 2022.
- Mr. Romulo Martins, MSc, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania. 2021-2023.
- Mr. Sumit Kumar (sumitsk@seas.upenn.edu), MSc, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2022-2024.
- Mr. Nwachukwu Ibekwe, MSc, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2022-2024
Postdoctoral Advisees
- Dr. Michael Eglin, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2003-2005 (now a Research Scientist at Blaser Swisslube, Hasle-Rüegsau, Switzerland).
- Dr. In-Ha Sung, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2004-2006 (now an Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Dept., Hannam University, Korea).
- Dr. Nicklaus A. Smith, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2005-2006 (now a Scientist, Los Alamos National Laboratory).
- Dr. Papot Jaroenapibal, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, 2007-2008 (now an Assistant Professor, Khon Kaen University, Thailand).
- Dr. Matthew A. Hamilton, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, 2007-2008 (now Director of Engineering at Exactech, Gainesville, Florida).
- Dr. Christian Greiner, Humboldt Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, 2009-2010 (now a Group Leader, Materials Tribology Group, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology).
- Dr. Qunyang Li, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, 2008-2012 (now an Assistant Professor, Dept. of Engineering Mechanics, School of Aerospace, Tsinghua University, China).
- Dr. Jason Bares, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, 2009-2012 (now a Staff Engineer, Borg Warner, MI).
- Dr. Philip Egberts, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, 2011-2013 (now an Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada).
- Dr. Filippo Mangolini, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, 2011-2014 (now an Assistant Professor, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin).
- Dr. Tevis D.B. Jacobs, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, 2013-2014 (now an Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Pittsburgh).
- Dr. Prathima Nalam, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, 2012-2015 (now an Assistant Professor, Department of Materials Design and Innovation, University of Buffalo).
- Dr. Imène Lahouij, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, Postdoctoral Associate 2014-2016 (now an Associate Research Professor, Ecole des mines de Paris, France).
- Dr. Rodrigo Bernal, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pennsylvania, Postdoctoral Associate, 2014-2016 (now an Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Dallas).
- Dr. Meagan Elinski, Penn Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, 2018-2020 (now an Assistant Professor, Hope College).
- Dr. Timothy Murdoch, Postdoctoral Associate, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2018-2020.
- Dr. Alex Bennett, Penn Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2017-2020 (now a Senior Engineer at Illumina).
- Dr. Takaaki Sato (takaakis@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp), Postdoctoral Associate, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2018-2021.
- Dr. Alejandro Boscoboinik, Postdoctoral Associate, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2020-2021.
- Dr. Mehmet G. Sensoy, Postdoctoral Associate, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2020-2022.
- Dr. Pranjal Nautiyal, Postdoctoral Associate, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2020-2023.
- Dr. Danny Sánchez, ASEE eFellow & Penn Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania, 2021-2023.
Visitors and Interns
- Gerard Oncins Marco (visiting PhD student, 2004) – University of Barcelona.
- Xin-Zhou Liu, (2009) – Physics Deptartment, Leiden University (Master’s thesis research performed at U. Penn).
- Mr. Baolei Zhang, Visiting Student, 2009-2011.
- Jie Li (visiting masters student 2011) – Materials Science and Engineering, U. Penn. (part time).
- Wen Yue (Visiting Associate Professor, 2013-2014). Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Mechanical Engineering Department, Surface Engineering Institute, School of Engineering and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China.
- Judith Harrison, (Visiting Professor, 2014-2015). Professor, Chemistry Dept., U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. Co-hosted with Prof. Kevin Turner.
- Prof. David L. Burris (dlburris@udel.edu). Visiting Associate Professor (Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, U. Delaware), 2016.
- Prof. Brandon Krick (bakrick@lehigh.edu). Visiting Assistant Professor (Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Lehigh U.), 2016
- Matthieu Dalstein (visiting masters student, 2016) – Ecole Centrale de Lyon.
- Mr. Cangyu Qu (visiting Ph.D. student, 2018) – Tsinghua University.
- Mr. Rohan Sanghvi (masters project intern, 2019-2020), Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania.
Staff Members
- Dr. Hongquan Jiang, Project Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Materials Science and Engineering, 2005 (now a Research Associate, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington).
- Dr. Shuang Li, Project Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Engineering Physics, 2006 (now a Process Development Engineer, nLight, Vancouver, WA).
- Dr. Anirudha V. Sumant, Assistant Scientist, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2003-2006; Postdoctoral Associate, 2002-2003 (now a Materials Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory).
- Dr. Nitya Nand Gosvami, Research Project Manager, University of Pennsylvania, 2012-2016 (now an Assistant Professor, IIT Delhi, India).
- Dr. Harman Khare, Research Project Manager (University of Pennsylvania, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics), 2014-2018 (now an Assistant Professor, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA).
Undergraduate Researchers
Over 70 undergraduate research students previously advised.
- Mr. Christian Pohlmann (pohlmann@sas.upenn.edu) Undergraduate Researcher (U. Pennsylvania, Vagelos Scholars Program MLS, Physics), 2019-2020.
- Mr. Kueyoung Kim, CMCC NSF REU researcher, Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, 2022
- Mr. Bruce Xu, Undergraduate Researcher, Physics, University of Pennsylvania, 2022
- Mr. Daniel Delghandi, Undergraduate Researcher, Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, University of Pennsylvania.
- Mr. Michael Moriarty, Undergraduate Researcher, Physics & Astronomy and Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2021-present.
- Ms. Anna Leventhal, Undergraduate Researcher, Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 2022 – present.
- Adriana Chapa, Undergraduate Researcher, Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2022-present.
- Mr. Ben Alexander, NNCI NSF REU Researcher, Physics, Haverford College, 2023-present.