Dr. Aditya Kumar
Associate Professor
Department of Material Science and Engineering
Email: kumarad@mst.edu
Office: +1-(573)-341-6994
Dr. Aditya Kumar is an Associate Professor in the department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is also the Interim Director of the Materials Research Center (MRC). He joined the Missouri S&T faculty in September 2015 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor of MSE and granted tenure in September 2021. Dr. Kumar received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).
Dr. Kumar’s research is focused on the convergence of experiments, multiscale simulations, and artificial intelligence to design, discover, and implement sustainable materials for construction of infrastructure. This includes the development of original, theory-guided artificial intelligence platforms to inform and guide the design and performance-optimization of energy- and carbon-efficient construction materials, formulated by replacing more than half of the cement with industrial wastes such as fly ash and slag and geologically-sourced materials such as limestone and quartz. Recent research is focused on the development of original experiments and thermodynamically-guided machine learning models to enable pilot-scale production of Portland cement and other alternative cements at low temperatures, with substantially lower carbon intensities compared to state-of-the-art production methods. Dr. Kumar’s research is supported by several state and federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Army Research Labs, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration. Dr. Kumar has published over 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals. He serves on the editorial board of several journals, including Cement and Concrete Composites, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, and Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering.
Research Scientist
Dr. Taihao Han
Assistant Research Professor
Department of Material Science and Engineering
Email: thy3b@mst.edu
Dr. Taihao Han is a senior scientist in the department of Materials Science and Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. He joined Dr. Kumar’s group as a Ph.D. student in 2019 and received his Ph.D. degree in 2022.
Dr. Han’s research is focused on multiscale modeling and artificial intelligence, all aiming to develop sustainable construction materials. This involves the creation of innovative AI platforms, rooted in theoretical guidance, to steer and enhance the design and performance of construction materials that are both energy and carbon efficient. His investigations are directed towards developing thermodynamic/kinetic-based machine learning models to optimize the use of supplementary cementitious materials in traditional cement. Dr. Han has published more than 20 papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Graduate Students
Sai Akshay Ponduru
Ph.D. Student
Department of Material Science and Engineering
Email: saiakshayponduru@mst.edu
Sai Akshay Ponduru is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. He embarked on his academic journey at Missouri S&T in August 2017 as a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Recognizing his passion for research and a desire to delve deeper into materials science, Sai Akshay transitioned to the Materials Science and Engineering department in 2020 to pursue a Ph.D. program.
Sai Akshay Ponduru’s research primarily focuses on the development of carbon-energy-efficient construction materials, specifically high alumina cement. By formulating innovative mixtures, he aims to reduce the carbon footprint associated with traditional construction practices. A key aspect of his approach involves replacing more than half of the cement used in construction with supplementary cementitious materials like fly ash and slag. Sai Akshay also incorporates geologically-sourced materials such as limestone and quartz into his formulations to further enhance the sustainability of the materials. Through these sustainable practices, he strives to create environmentally friendly alternatives that contribute to a more sustainable construction industry.
Rohan Bhat is a Doctoral Candidate in the department of Materials Science and Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. He joined Missouri S&T in August 2020 and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Aditya Kumar. Prior to starting his Ph.D., Rohan got his M.S. from Missouri S&T in Petroleum Engineering in May 2019. Rohan completed his B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2016 from Pune, India.
Rohan’s research primarily focuses on the formulation of sustainable infrastructural materials from industrial wastes such as fly ash and slag. During the initial years of his Ph.D., Rohan worked on the Federal Highway Administration project focusing on the replacement of Portland cement with fly ashes and understanding and quantifying the influence of fly ashes on compliance-relevant properties of Portland cement + Fly ash binders. Rohan also works on the formulation of Portland cement-free binders synthesized from fly ash and slag. Another aspect of his research is to develop structure-property correlations via experiments and thermodynamic simulations. Rohan has published 2 papers in peer-reviewed journals such as Construction and Building Materials and Cement and Concrete Research. Currently, Rohan is working towards publishing additional papers in other peer-reviewed journals.
Bryan Aylas Paredes
Ph.D. Student
Department of Material Science and Engineering
Email: b.aylasparedes@mst.edu
Bryan Aylas is a graduate research assistant in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T). He joined the S&T team in August 2022. Bryan received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the National University of Engineering in Lima-Peru. He holds +7 years of industry experience in glass and oil & gas processing.
His research focuses on the experimental and thermodynamically simulated characterization of cement binders for the construction of infrastructure and early-age properties development. Bryan also studies the thermodynamic effect on iron alloys for steel matrix cermets.
Joya Rani Das is a graduate research assistant in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T), having joined the S&T team in August 2023. He earned his B.Sc. in Industrial and Production Engineering from Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh.
Joya’s research primarily centers on data mining, simulation, and machine learning modeling applied to concrete durability and the prediction of compressive strength. Through these methodologies, he aims to enhance the understanding of concrete performance and durability characteristics, thereby contributing to the development of more resilient and long-lasting infrastructure materials. Joya’s work holds promise for advancing the field of materials science and engineering, particularly in the realm of concrete technology and construction materials.