The Espinosa research group
A long-standing tradition of bringing together experts in different subject areas to create a rich, multidisciplinary environment where fruitful research thrives.
Principal Investigator
Prof. Horacio D. Espinosa
Horacio Dante Espinosa is the James and Nancy Farley Professor of Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering, and the Director of the Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Program at the McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University (NU).
Espinosa is a mechanician and nanotechnologist known for his contributions in the areas of deformation and failure of materials, design of micro- and nano-systems, and microfluidics for single cell manipulation and analysis. He has published over 300 technical papers in these topics. In recognition to his many contributions, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2020. Throughout the years, his work has received broad attention in the specialized media.
Current Members
Sevketcan Sarikaya
Postdoctoral Scholar
Sevketcan was born in Denizli, Turkey. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Karadeniz Technical University, he completed his master’s and PhD degrees in Materials Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University. His master’s thesis focused on graphene-reinforced polymer nanocomposites, and his PhD work involved polymer artificial muscles for soft robotics. Sevketcan joined Prof. Espinosa’s group in July 2023, and his current research involves developing microfluidic platforms for sensing cell secretions. Besides his research, he is interested in web3 and DeFi applications.
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Hongshun Chen
Postdoctoral Scholar
Hongshun was born in Foshan, China. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Beihang University, he completed a master’s degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering at University of Florida and a PhD degree in mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech. His PhD work focused on the structure and mechanics of biological porous minerals and bioinspired lattices. Hongshun joined Prof. Espinosa’s group in February 2024, and his current research involves investigating the fracture mechanics of Spinodal metamaterials and developing optimization and computational methods to extract creep properties of superalloys. Besides his research, he is interested in rock climbing.
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Yue Zhang
Postdoctoral Scholar
Yue was born in Shandong province, China. Yue received his PhD degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia, where his dissertation focused on the mechanics of thin films and 2D materials and its-driven design and manufacturing of multifunctional materials and structures—for applications in flexible/stretchable electronics, wearable biomedical devices, and soft robotics. Yue’s current research involves computational modeling of the nanomechanics of 2D materials. Besides research, Yue enjoys watching basketball and football, listening to music, and hiking.
Boyu Zhang
Postdoctoral Scholar
Boyu Zhang is a Postdoc researcher at Mechanical Engineering Department of Northwestern University. He obtained his B.S. degree in Composites Science and Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology, and his Ph.D degree from the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering at Rice University. Dr. Zhang is interested in materials manufacture and mechanical properties at nanoscale. The focus of his research is two-fold: 1) Additive manufacturing inorganic materials and nano-composites with nanoscale resolution. He developed a two-photon-polymerization 3D printing technique to create high 3D quality silica and h-BN/silica composites structures with sub-wavelength resolution. 2) In-situ nano-mechanical characterization of low-dimensional materials, meta-materials and energy-related materials. Utilizing indentation system MEMS technique and related testing technique, he study the mechanical properties of Lithium cobalt oxide, cathode materials of solid-state batteries, Li, etc. He designed and micro-fabricated MEMS devices for in-situ SEM/TEM mechanical study of low-dimensional materials, such as graphene, h-BN, 2D covalent organic frameworks, etc.
Diptiman Kundu
Graduate student
Diptiman is from Kolkata, known as the city of joy in India. He completed his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, in 2021. He received his master’s degree in aerospace engineering with a specialization in structures from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, in 2023. His master’s thesis involved studying multimodal elasticity and damage resilience in mechanical metamaterials. Diptiman joined Prof. Espinosa’s group in the fall of 2023 to pursue his PhD in the Theoretical and Applied Mechanics program. His current research involves developing MEMS devices to mechanically test nanomaterials. Diptiman is also an aviation enthusiast and is interested in aircraft design and systems that lead to the development of the aviation industry. Besides research, Diptiman enjoys watching movies and traveling, exploring the beauty of nature.
Dhruv Banerjee
Graduate student
Dhruv was born in Ahmedabad, India. He received his Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degree in Chemical Engineering from National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal in 2023. His undergraduate projects involved the fabrication of microfluidic platforms for SERS and L-SPR. Dhruv joined Prof. Espinosa’s group in fall 2023 to pursue his PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. His current research involves developing microfluidic platforms for Live cell analysis and detection. Besides research, Dhruv enjoys working out, listening to music and travelling.
Pu You
Graduate student
Pu is from Jiangxi Province, China. Pu received his master’s degree in mechanics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where his research interests were computational mechanics of multibody dynamics and Lie group modeling of co-rotating beam and shell elements. Prior to that, he received his bachelor’s degree in engineering mechanics from Ningbo University, where he was a member of Yangming honors program. Pu joined Prof. Espinosa’s group in 2024 to pursue his PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. His current research involves Kirigami metamaterial. In addition to research, Pu enjoys e-sports, swimming, and traveling. He was a men’s 100-meter athlete during college and reached the national second-level athlete standard.
This Could be You
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Former Graduate Students
Alumni
Thesis / Project
Current Position
Alderete, Nicolas A.
Ph.D. 2024
Mechanics of Programmable Shape-Morphing Metamaterials and Natural Phononic Materials
Postdoctoral Associate
NIST
Lin, Zhaowen
Ph.D. 2022
Mechanical Behavior of Micro and Nano Materials at High Strain Rate and High Temperature
Application Engineer
Knowles Corporation
Dong, Siyan
Ph.D. 2020
Experimental Approaches and Device Fabrication Methods Toward Investigation of Properties of Two-dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDCs)
Packaging R&D Engineer
Intel Corporation
Bernal Montoya, Rodrigo
Ph.D. 2014
Mechanical and Electromechanical Properties of Semiconducting and Metallic Nanowires
Assistant Professor
University of Texas at Dallas
Agrawal, Ravi
Ph.D. 2010
Atomistic Modeling of ZnO and GaN Nanowire Elasticity, Fracture and Piezoelectric Size Effects
Project Lead
Shell, India
Ke, Changhong
Ph.D. 2006
Development of a Feedback-Controlled Carbon Nanotube-Based Nanoelectromechanical Device
Professor
Binghamton University SUNY
Francois Barthelat
Ph.D. 2005
The Mechanical Performance of Nacre from Seashells: Superior Toughness Through Microstructural Design
Professor
University of Colorado Boulder
Arrieta, Hernan V.
M.Sc. 1999
Dynamic Testing of Advanced Materials at High and Low Temperatures
Digitization Advisor
Knorr-Bremse GmbH, Germany
Fischer, Maximiliano
M.Sc. 1999
MEMS Materials Testing
Consultant
–
Emore, Gordon
M.Sc. 1996
Computational Modeling of Geometric and Material Nonlinearities with Applications to Impact Dynamics
Adjunct Faculty
Ivy Tech Community College
Keun-Ho, Kim
Ph.D. 2006
Design and Fabrication of a Multi-Probe Device with Microfluidics for Massively Parallel Nanolithography
Principal Research Engineer
LG Corporation
Lee, Sungsoo
Ph.D. 2005
Dynamic Failure of Blast-Resistant Structures Subjected to Impulsive Loading
Research Engineer
Phillips Corporation
Locascio, Mark
M.Sc. 2009
Carbon Nanotube Strengthening Through Irradiation-Induced Crosslinking Defects
Project Engineer
DMC Corporation
Loh, Owen
Ph.D. 2011
Manufacturing and Reliability of Nanoscale Devices
Group Leader
Intel Corporation
Lu, Hung-Cheng
Ph.D. 1998
Ballistic Penetration of Fiber Reinforced Composites
Research Engineer
Borg Warner Automotive Company
McFarland, Gavin
M.Sc. 2011
Mechanical Properties of Stacked Cup Carbon Nanofibers
Mechanical Engineer
US Army ARDEC
Mori, Lapo
Ph.D. 2008
Lightweight Structures and Novel Steel Alloys Resistant to Impulsive Loading
Partner
McKinsey & Company
Mukherjee, Prithvijit
Ph.D. 2022
Microfluidic Platforms for Localized Electroporation mediated Cell Manipulation and Analysis
Research Engineer
Illumina
Nathamgari Prasad, Samba Shiva
Ph.D. 2019
Nanoscale Experimental Methods Applied to Atomically-Thin Resonators
and Single-Cell Analysis
Research Engineer
Intel Corporation
Nguyen, Hoang
Ph.D. 2022
The Effect of Crack-Parallel Stresses on Fracture Properties of Quasibrittle and Ductile Materials
Postdoctoral Researcher
Northwestern University
Panico, Michele
M.Sc. 2005
Multiscale Modeling of Plasticity Size Scale Effects in Freestanding Submicron Thin Films
Lead Pipeline Engineer
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Pantano, Maria
Ph.D. 2012
Design and Application of a Novel Microelectromechanical System for In Situ SEM/TEM Displacement Controlled Tensile Testing of Nanostructures
Professor
University of Trento, Italy
Pathak, Nibir
Ph.D. 2023
Localized Electroporation Based Intracellular Delivery and Machine Learning Assisted Design of Kirigami Meta Materials
Engineer
Abbvie
Patino, Cesar
Ph.D. 2023
Integrating Microfluidics, Nanophotonics, and Deep Learning for Live-Cell Analysis and Engineering
Biomedical Engineer
Procter and Gamble
Peng, Bei
Ph.D. 2008
Mechanical Characterization of One-Dimensional Nanomaterials
Professor and Associate Dean
University of Electronics Science and Technology of China
Ramachandramoorthy, Rajaprakash
Ph.D. 2017
Deformation and Failure in Metallic Nanowires Under Stress-relaxation, Cyclic and High Strain Rate Loading Conditions
Group Leader
Max Planck Forschung Institut, Germany
Ramaswamy, Ravi
Ph.D. 2005
Numerical Simulation of Fluid-Structure Interactions
Professor
Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology, India
Soler-Crespo, Rafael
Ph.D. 2017
An Experimental-Theoretical Investigation of the Mechanical and Interfacial Properties of Functionalized Graphene-Based Nanomaterials
Senior Analyst
Enova International
Roenbeck, Michael
Ph.D. 2016
Probing the Mechanics of Carbon Nanomaterial Interfaces through Nanoscale Experiments
Assistant Professor
US Merchant Marine Academy
Safi, Asmahan
Ph.D. 2012
From Lab to Fab: Developing a Nanoscale Delivery Tool for Scalable Nanomanufacturing
Quality Engineer
Medtronic
Ramaswamy, Ravi
Ph.D. 2005
Nanoindentation Testing of Nanomaterials
XXX
University of California Irvine
Yueping, Xu
M.Sc. 1997
Failure Mechanisms in Glasses and Glass Ceramics
President and Chief Technical Officer
Intelligent MEMS Design Inc.
Zaheri, Alireza
Ph.D. 2019
Convergent Evolution in Biological Lamellar Systems: Multiscale Structures and Mechanics
Sr. Manager AI Labs
American Express
Zavattieri, Pablo D.
Ph.D. 2000
Computational Modeling for Bridging Size Scales in the Failure of Solids
Professor
Purdue University
Zhang, Xu
Ph.D. 2021
Combined In Situ Experimental and Computational Study on the Intrinsic Fracture Properties and Toughening of Two-dimensional Materials
Research Engineer
Zhu, Yong
Ph.D. 2005
Development of a Nanoscale Material Testing System and in situ SEM/TEM Study of the Mechanical Behavior of Nanostructures
Professor
North Carolina State University
Former Postdoctoral Fellows
and Visiting Scholars
Alumni
Project
Current Position
Ammu, Srikanth
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014
Inkjet-based Fabrication of Graphene-based Materials
Quad Graphics
Asgari, Meisam
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2019
Material, structural and mechanical strategies for size adaptation in the elytra of Cetoniinae beetles
Beese, Alison
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2010
Structure-Property Relationships of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials and Macroscopic Materials
Associate Professor
Penn State
Benedetti, Ivano
Visiting Scholar, 2016
Mechanical Properties of Graphene Oxide Monolayers using FEA
Professor
University of Palermo, Italy
Berbenni, Stephane
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2003
Discrete Dislocation Dynamics Modeling of Size Scale Effects in Thin Films
Researcher
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France
Chang, Lingqian
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2016
Single-Cell Analysis
Assistant Professor
University of North Texas
Chon, Michael
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2016
Bio-Inspired Design of Materials
Staff Scientist
Form Energy, Inc.
Comi, Claudia
Visiting Scholar, 2006
Mechanical Properties of Nacre Constituents
Professor
Politecnico Di Milano, Italy
Corigliano, Alberto
Visiting Scholar, 2006
Thermal Actuators for MEMS Based Tensile Testing Devices
Professor
Politecnico Di Milano, Italy
Daly, Matthew
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2017
Bio-Inspired Design of Materials
Assistant Professor
University of Illinois at Chicago
Dwivedi, Sunil Kumar
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2009
Dynamic Crack Propagation in Bi-materials and Fiber Composites
Modeling of Finite Deformation Plasticity and Fragmentation
Research Professor
Georgia Tech
Filleter, Tobin
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2009
Load Transfer Mechanisms in Carbon Based Materials
Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Size Effects in Graphene and Semiconducting Nanowires
Associate Professor
University of Toronto
Gailly, Benjamin
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2000
Modeling of Fragmentation in Brittle Materials
Engineer
Atelier Industriel de l’Aeronautique de Cuers-Pierrefeu, France
Gao, Wei
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2015
Mechanical and Interfacial Properties of Graphene-Based Materials
Mechanical Properties and Size Effects in Nanowires
Assistant Professor
University of Texas, San Antonio
Gregoire, David
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2009
Mechanical Properties of Nacre Constituents
Fluid-Structure Interaction Experiments
Professor
Pau University, France
Huang, Changjin
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014
Mechanics of Single Cells
Professor
Nanyang Technological University
Hyde, Brian
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2004
Uniaxial Stress Testing Utilizing a Novel Micromechanical Test Stage
Engineering Scientist
CACI International
Kang, Wonmo
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014
Single Cell Analysis Using NFP-E and Microfluidics Devices
Professor
Arizona State University
Kuljanishvili, Irma
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2011
Carbon Nanotube Growth for NEMS Devices
Electromechanical Characterization of Nanowires
Department Chair
St. Louis University
Latourte, Felix
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2008
Experiments and Simulations of Fluid-Structure Interaction
Research Engineer
EDF R&D, France
McNaughton, Rebecca
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2010
Mechanics of Single Cells
Assistant Director
Office of Research Development, Northwestern University
Medina, Lior
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2019
Kirigami Metamaterials
Assistant Professor
Tel-Aviv University
Minary, Majid
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2010
Single Cell Nanoinjection Using Nanofountain Probes
Investigation of Electromechanical Coupling in Semiconductor Nanowires
Professor
University of Texas at Dallas
Naghari, Mohammad
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2010
Nanomechanics and Mechanical Characterization of Soft Nanostructures
Associate Professor
Texas A&M University
Oh, Chung-Seog
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2018
Deformation of Metallic Micropillars
Professor
Kumoh National Institute of Technology
Prorok, Barton
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2001
Small Scale Plasticity in MEMS and Nanodevices
Professor
Auburn University
Pucha, Raghuram V.
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2000
Pressure-Shear Recovery of Ceramics Simulations
Senior Lecturer
Georgia Tech.
Pugno, Nicola
Visiting Scholar, 2005
Carbon Nanotube Based Nanoelectromechanical Systems
Professor
Universita di Trento, Italy
Rim, Jee
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2007
Mechanical Properties of Biomimetic Materials
Data Scientist
Data Scientist
Restrepo, David
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2017
Bio-inspired Design of Materials
Assistant Professor
University of Texas at San Antonio
Russel, Benjamin
Visiting Scholar, 2014
Mechanical Properties of Biological Materials
Professor
Cambridge University
Tang, Huang
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2006
Discrete Dislocation Dynamics of Size Scale Plasticity in Thin Films and Pillars
Engineer
Exxon Mobil
Tran, Phuong
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2010
Dynamic Behavior of Materials and Structures
Assistant Professor
University of Melbourne, Australia
Yang, Ruiguo
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2014
Mechanics of Single Cells
Assistant Professor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Yavari, Fazel
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2012
Nanofountain Probe Electroporation, Materials Testing
Senior Engineer
Stryker
Yuan, Gang
Postdoctoral Fellow, 1997
Enhanced Ballistic Performance of Confined Multi-Layered Ceramic Targets Against Long Rod Penetrators Through Interface Defeat
Engineer
Intel Corporation
Wei, Xiaoding
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2011
Mechanical and Interfacial Properties of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials
Assistant Professor
Peking University
Wu, Zhu
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2002
Nano and Multilayered Materials
Packaging & Reliability Engineer
Schott Optovance
Wu, Bin
Postdoctoral Fellow, 2006
Patterning Nanoparticles with AFM-Nanofountain Probes
