Group

Students and postdocs

Ongoing:

Alireza Nazarahari (Postdoctoral researcher): Alireza started his postdoc fellowship as of Mar. 2024. He has been devoting most of his time to thermophysical characterization of Ni-based superalloys and small scale mechanical testing of Ti-6Al-4V alloys. His specialties are small scale mechanical testing of various alloys, advanced microscopy, high-throughput computational screening for alloy design, and application of AI and Machine learning in alloy development.
Guilherme A. Martiniano (Postdoctoral researcher): Guilherme started his postdoc fellowship as of Dec. 2024. He has been working on developing metallic materials (steels) that are resistant to hydrogen embrittlement. This includes modeling and simulation for alloy development, casting, heat treatment, characterization, and testing for hydrogen embrittlement (SSRT, TDMS, etc)
Sujith K. Subhash (PhD student): Sujith started his PhD study on Jan. 2025. His research will be devoted to development of small-scale tensile/cyclic testing for understanding the cracking mechanims and mechanical compatability of Ti repairs (Ti-6242 alloy). In-situ study of material deformation and cracking is the core of his study. The research is in close collaboration with GKN Aerospace Sweden and Dalarna University, as a part of FAME project funded by Vinnova, NNFP programme. Co-supervisors: Alireza Nazarahari, Jayaraj Jayamani
Namrata Sarania (PhD student): Namrata started her PhD study on Aug. 2025. Her research will be devoted to development of tolerant Al-Si cast alloys, including casting and mechanical/corrosion behavior assessments. The effect of impurities (coming from recycling material and process) on the alloy performance and processability, (castability) will be studied. The research is within the REACT synergy project in collaboration with Volvo Cars, Scania CV, Stena Aluminium, Lundbergs Pressgjuteri, Fagerhult, Ljunghäll, and Cotech Labs. The project is funded by Knowledge Foundation in Sweden. Co-supervisors: Lucia Lattanzi, Donya Ahmadkhaniha, Caterina Zanella

Graduated / Previous:

Patrick Conway (Postdoc & later Assist. Prof.): Patrick joined us on Nov. 2018. His research focus wasphysical/mechanical metallurgy of HESAs (Ni-based at the moment - ALigHT II project). We try to modify conventional superalloys based on the HEA concept. Understanding the relationship between the microstructure and thermo-mechanical properties of the modified alloys at various temperatures is of our great interest. The end goal wasto establish a universal methodology for development of various types of metallic alloys for specific applications. Patrick also had an eye on development of lightweight medium-to-high entropy alloys.
Keivan Amiri Kasvayee (PhD student): Keivan studied high performance nodular cast iron and its mechanical behavior at micro-scale. We tried to understand the crack initiation and propagation mechanisms in multi-phase structures such as cast iron, in various working conditions. FIB-assisted digital image correlation and high resolution strain measurements around graphite particles was developed for this purpose. As a part of his PhD studies, Keivan developed the FIB-assisted DIC method for in-situ cracking investigation of materials. Main supervisor: Prof. Anders Jarfors
Toni Bogdanoff (PhD student): Toni started his PhD study in 2018 and was focused on static and dynamic mechanical properties of Al-Si cast alloys. The effect of melt quality, microstructure and the casting process on mechanical properties (tensile and fatigue at various temperatures) as well as in-situ mechanical testing were of interest. The effect of oxide films on cracking and mechanical performance of Al-Si alloys were in focus.
Salil Sainis (PhD student): Salil has started his PhD study in 2018 and focused on localized coating of Al-Si cast alloys. The effect of conversion coatings on the corrosion behavior of Al-Si cast alloys were studied. Localized deposition of protective coatings on Fe-rich intermetallics in Al-Si cast alloys were in focus. Main supervisor: Prof. Caterina Zanella
Bilal Ousiabou (PhD student): Bilal started his PhD study in Feb. 2022 and focused on developing high-throughput screening methods for accelerated alloy design and development. His research included alloy production and characterization with possible high-throughput experimental work. The primary focus was generic on alloys and later he validated developed methodologies on hydrogen embrittlement behavior of high-Mn steels. He eventually left for working in the industry. Co-supervisor: Steve Ooi (Ovako), Patrick Conway
Martin Riestra (PhD student): Martin focused on optimization of high pressure die casting of Al-Si alloys. Through the HINT project, we tried to integrate all the process parameters required for obtaining high integrity Al-Si casting components, including (i) melt treatment, (ii) optimization of high pressure die casting, (iii) alloy design and prototyping. Main supervisor: Prof. Salem Seifeddine
Akash A. Gondhalekar (Master Student): Akash is doing research on design and development of Al-based compositionally complex alloys, based on the high entropy concept, using conventional casting methods. The aim is to understand the casting process limits for production of supersturated solid-solutions without introducing too many intermetallics.
Abhijith Muraleedharan (Master student): Abhijith was conducting his thesis on gathering data related to empirical models calculation that are used for high entropy alloys design. He was specifically focusing on models to calculate enthalpy of formation for metallic alloys. His work has highlighted discrepancies in calculation of enthalpy in the literature.
Emil Pasovic (Master student): Emil was conducting his thesis on studying the hydrogen embrittlement behavior of Fe- and Al-based alloys. The effect of heat treatment and microstructure on the hydrogen embrittlement behavior was studied in collaboration with industrial partners.
Raul E. Llie (Master student): Raul was conducting his thesis on studying the effect of heat treatment and processing on coefficient of thermal expansion in Ni-based superalloys. He studied the effect of precipitation hardening particles and phase fraction on the CTE values of Ni-based superalloys. In close collaboration wtih GKN Aerospace Sweden.
Anton Engström (Master student): Anton was conducting his thesis on studying the hydrogen embrittlement behavior of Fe- and Al-based alloys. The effect of heat treatment and microstructure on the hydrogen embrittlement behavior was studied in collaboration with industrial partners.

Exchange students:

Lucia Lattanzi (PhD student): Lucia was a PhD student at Ferrara University, Italy. She joined us for around 9 months focused on the effect of Cu solid solution on the cyclic behavior of Al-Si alloys. She conducted in-situ CT test in order to understand the effect of reinforced matrix as well as secondary phases on dynamic crack initiation and propagation in Al-Si alloys.
Gianluca Di Egidio (PhD student): Gianluca (from Bologna Uni, Italy) conducted his exchange research on advanced characterization of Al alloys that were processed by AM techniques. The effect of AM process parameters on the microstructure and wear performance was studied for various Al alloys.
Robert Fabian (Master student): Robert was conducting his master thesis with us at JU, focusing on fatigue performance of Magsimal-59 cast alloy and the effect of microstructural features on fatigue behavior. Both conventional fatigue (pull-push) and in-situ cyclic testing was conducted during his thesis. He is now working as a functional safety engineer at Porsche Engineering.
Ricardo Castiglieri (Master student): Ricardo was conducting his master thesis with us at JU, focusing T6 heat treatment on Cu-added AlSi7Mg alloys. Using In-situ cyclic testing, Ricardo was studying the influence of heat treatment on crack propagation during of cast Al alloys.
Thomas Chiavazza (Master student): Thomas was a master student from ENSICAEN, France focusing on the size effect in Mg alloys. He produced Mg alloys with various ratios of thickness over grain size and studied the mechanical responses. We conduct in-situ tensile testing in order to justify the material behavior.