Group Members
Abraham Yanes
Abraham joined the University of Alberta in September 2025 as a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on defect formation and control in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) of advanced alloys (e.g., IN718) through the integration of advanced sensing, image analysis, and hybrid machine-learning models for real-time process optimization. His work aims to advance the understanding and mitigation of defect mechanisms toward stable, defect-free additive manufacturing.
Alireza Alidoust Lomer
Alireza Alidoust is a prospective Ph.D. student with expertise in the mechanical properties of materials, numerical analysis and Finite Element Modeling (FEM), and machine learning techniques. His Ph.D. research at the University of Alberta will focus on developing AI-assisted models for laser-based additive manufacturing processes, specifically focusing on understanding and optimizing processing flow and solidification phenomena. This cutting-edge research aims to combine the predictive power of artificial intelligence with advanced numerical modeling to optimize manufacturing outcomes, enhance material performance, and contribute to advancing additive manufacturing technologies in academic and industrial applications.
Andrew Yusypchuk
Andrew Yusypchuk is currently an MSc student at the University of Alberta under the supervision of Dr. James Hogan. He previously received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Illinois University. His research focuses on optimizing the material extrusion-based additive manufacturing process for silicon carbide and its corresponding composites, as well as advanced experimental testing. Through his research, Andrew hopes to contribute to materials research for extreme environments, supporting advancements in Canada’s defense and aerospace industries.
Burak Yilmaz
Burak Yilmaz is currently an MSc student at the University of Alberta, co-supervised by Dr. Mostafa Yakout, focusing on the development and utilization of a tensile split-Hopkinson pressure bar facility. His research involves conducting high-strain-rate tests on additively manufactured materials such as aluminum-Sc, Inconel alloys, Ti-6Al-4V, and high-temperature materials. Through these experiments, Burak aims to enhance the understanding of the mechanical properties of advanced materials under dynamic loading conditions, contributing to advancements in the field of materials science.
Cass (Haoyang) Li, Research Project Manager
Haoyang (Cass) is currently the research project manager of CDAM. Haoyang graduated in Oct 2019 with an MSc degree under the supervision of Dr. Hogan. His expertise is in both material science, including material characterization, failure analysis, and fracture mechanisms of brittle materials; and experimental mechanics, including rate-dependent compression and ballistic testing. Haoyang is familiar with multiple camera systems, Digital Image Correlation, and other experimental design components.
Colby Gauthier
Colby Gauthier is currently an MSc student at the University of Alberta and is focusing on the multi-physics modelling of additively manufactured SiC-based ceramics and ceramic composites for aerospace applications. Colby previously completed his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Alberta and joined the CDAM group in September 2024. His work focuses on developing weight-optimized, high-performance ceramic structures using additive manufacturing, supporting advancements in key Canadian industries.
Dominik Ort
Dominik Ort is a prospective MSc student at the University of Alberta under the supervision of Dr. James Hogan. He recently received his bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, where he specialized in Aircraft Design and Lightweight Structures and completed his thesis in collaboration with Airbus. He will be joining the CDAM group in January 2026 to work on additive manufacturing of advanced ceramics for space applications.
Fahim Al-Rashid Chowdhury
Fahim Al Rashid Chowdhury is an MSc student at the University of Alberta specializing in fracture mechanics and materials engineering. His research focuses on integrating machine learning techniques into fracture mechanics to enhance predictive modeling of crack propagation and failure mechanisms. With a background in industrial production engineering, Fahim has experience implementing deep learning models for advanced manufacturing processes. His work aims to bridge the gap between computational intelligence and experimental mechanics to improve material performance and reliability in engineering applications.
Hanieh Ahmadi
Hanieh Ahmadi is currently an MSc student at the University of Alberta and specializes in studying high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Her thesis focuses on investigating the mechanical behavior of medium entropy alloys (MEAs) for hydrogen applications, focusing on the hydrogen embrittlement mechanical behavior through experimental methods. She also has expressed a keen interest in exploring the mechanical properties of various materials, with a particular fascination for metals. Hanieh will have the opportunity to work on additive manufacturing of HEA/MEAs alongside her research, under the guidance of Prof. Hogan and Prof. Yakout.
Hosein Geramizadeh
Hosein Geramizadeh is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta. His research at CDAM focuses on the dynamic and blast testing and modeling of Inconel 718 alloy via additive manufacturing methods for space applications. He is particularly interested in the dynamic behavior of advanced materials and in combining experimental methods with numerical simulations to enhance material performance under extreme conditions. He has an academic background in structural analysis, experimental testing, finite element modeling, and theoretical studies.
Sara Sheikhi
Sara is a PhD candidate at the University of Alberta with expertise in Computational Solid Mechanics, Theoretical Methods, and Advanced Materials. The focus of her PhD thesis is to develop new interatomic potential for Boron Carbide using Machine Learning and Molecular Dynamics approaches, and bridge it into higher-scale models developed by other group members through implementing homogenization schemes.
Songtao Wang
Songtao Wang is a prospective PhD student at the University of Alberta under the supervision of Dr. James Hogan. His research focuses on fracture mechanics and multiscale modeling of advanced ceramics. He plans to further investigate the dynamic mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of ceramic composites under various loading conditions, aiming to advance the understanding and application of these materials in structural and protective technologies.
Wanyu Li
Wanyu Li is a joint PhD candidate supervised by Dr. James Hogan at the University of Alberta. Her research at CDAM focuses on the mechanical characterization of advanced alloys (e.g., IN 718) for high-temperature high-stress applications, including strain-rate-dependent mechanical testing, thermodynamic testing, and corrosion testing. She plans to further investigate material performance under extreme conditions, aiming to enhance the durability and performance of advanced materials in critical engineering applications.
Dr. Weihao Guo (PhD, PDF)
Weihao graudated with a PhD degree at the University of Alberta in Nov 2025 and now has become a postdoctoral fellow at CDAM. His PhD thesis focused on the morphological characterization, mechanical testing, and physics-based finite element modelling of skull bone. The objective of his research was to inform on the fundamental material behavior of human skull bone and helmet design under various loading conditions using advanced computational mechanics and applied machine learning. His current reseach as a PDF is to develop generative machine and deep learning models for the optimization of advanced and additive manufacturing of advanced ceramics and alloys.
Ying-huang (Benson) Ho
Benson Ho is a master’s student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta, where he also completed his bachelor’s degree in the same field. His academic focus is on advanced ceramic materials, with current research centered on hydrogen embrittlement in ceramics and the prevention of carbon deposition in methane pyrolysis reactors. Through his studies and research, Ying-Huang aims to contribute to advancements in materials engineering and sustainable energy technologies.
Alumni
Abhinav Badoni (BSc, Research Assistant) - May 2022 to Oct 2022
Amirhossein Iranmehr (MSc) - Sept 2023 to Nov 2025
Amirhossein Mahdavi (PDF) - Sept 2018 to Aug 2019
Amir Hossein Saeedinia – 2020
Brendan Koch (PhD, w/ internship at DRDC) - Sept 2016 to Aug 2021
Calvin Lo (MSc, Research Assistant) – April 2017 to Sept 2020
Chenwei Shao (PDF) - 2019 to 2021
Guriqbal Munday (MSc) - Sept 2017 to Aug 2019
Hannaneh Manafi Farid (MSc) – Sept 2020 to April 2023
Harshil Pisavadia (MSc) - Sept 2020 to Aug 2022
Jie Zheng (PhD, PDF) - Sept 2019 to Dec 2024
Junhao Change (PhD) - Sept 2019 to Jan 2025
Kapil Bharadwaj Bhagavathula (PhD) - Sept 2016 to July 2021
Kyle (Luyue) Mao (MSc) - Sept 2021 to Jan 2024
Min Ji (PhD) - Sept 2021 to March 2022
Mohammad Parsazadeh (PDF) - Jan 2020 to July 2021
Piotr Nicewicz (MSc) - Sept 2017 to Aug 2019
Pouyan Motamedi (PDF) – Jan 2016 to Dec 2018
Sam Parcon (BSc, Research Assistant) – 2018 to 2019
Dr. Saman Sayahlatifi (PhD, PDF) – Sept 2020 to Oct 2025
Shuo (Alex) Yang (MSc) – Sept 2020 to Dec 2022
Víctor Juarros Cebrian (BSc, Research Assistant) – Sept 2020 to Dec 2020
Yogesh Kumar (MSc, Research Assistant) – Sept 2022 to Oct 2024
