Meet our Faculty

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has 14 full-time dedicated faculty members. Faculty members are highly active in sponsored research.

Tushar Borkar

Turshar Borkar

Professor
Ph.D. (2014), University of North Texas
t.borkar@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Additive Manufacturing, Forging, Biomaterials,
Advanced metallic and functionally graded (hybrid) Materials for Defense Applications
Research Labs: Director of Advanced Manufacturing & Materials Processing 
(AM2P), Director of 3D Printing Laboratory

Brian Davis

Brian L. Davis

Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Affairs and Professor
Ph.D. (1991), Penn State University
b.l.davis@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Orthopedic biomechanics, medical device design, 
rehabilitation engineering, gait analysis, pediatric biomedical engineering

Michael T. Gallagher

Michael T. Gallagher

Associate Professor of Practice
M.S.M.E. (1989), Case Western Reserve University
m.t.gallagher19@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Mechanical analysis and design, Dynamics

 Navid Goudarzi

Navid Goudarzi

Assistant Professor
Ph.D. (2014), University of Maryland-Baltimore County
n.goudarzi@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Multi-fidelity surrogate modeling (MFSM) integrating CFD  and physics-informed machine learning for thermo-fluid transport across applications in wind engineering, hazard mitigation, integrated energy systems, advanced air mobility (AAM), and air quality and dispersion, supported by VVUQ and enabling digital twin frameworks for system-of-systems analysis in built and natural environments.
Research Labs: Director of M3TFluiD Lab (Multiscale Multiphysics Modeling and Data-Driven  Thermofluids),
Co-Director of Center for Integrated Modeling for Energy, Resiliency, and Sustainability (IERS)

Headshot of Bogdan Kozul

Bogdan Kozul

Associate Professor of Practice
MBA (2011), Case Western University
b.kozul@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Business Development, IoT, Manufacturing,
Controls, Motion Control Systems
Research Lab: Director of the Parker Hannifin Motion & Control Lab

Headshot of Tamas Molnar.

Tamas Molnar

Assistant Professor
Ph.D. (2018), Budapest University of Technology and Economics
t.g.molnar@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Nonlinear Dynamics and Control, Safety-Critical Systems,
Robotics, Connected and Automated Vehicles
Research Lab: Director of Safe Autonomy and Nonlinear Dynamics (SANDy) Lab

Headshot of Ehsan Nabiyouni.

Ehsan Nabiyouni

Assistant College Lecturer
Ph.D. (2017), University of Toledo
e.nabiyouni@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Composites, Sandwich Structures

Liqun Ning

Liqun Ning

Assistant Professor
Ph.D. (2018), University of Saskatchewan
l.ning@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Bioprinting/biomanufacturing, Biomaterials,
Tissue Engineering, Disease Modeling, Biomechanics
Research Lab: Director of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine and
Disease Modeling

Headshot of Hanz Richter.

Hanz Richter

Professor
Ph.D. (2001), Oklahoma State University
h.richter@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Dynamic Systems, Modeling, Simulation, Control
Theory, Applied Nonlinear Control, Industrial and Biomedical Robotics, Mechatronic
Systems, Aerospace Systems
Research Lab: Director of the Control, Robotics, and Mechatronics Lab (CRML)

Jerzy T. Sawicki

Jerzy T. Sawicki

Department Chair, Bently and Muszynska Endowed Chair, and Professor
Ph.D. (1992), Case Western Reserve University
j.sawicki@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Rotordynamics, Magnetic Bearings,
Advanced Control, Rehabilitation Robotics
Research Labs: Director of the Center for Rotating Machinery Dynamics and Control (RoMaDyC),
Executive Director of the CSU-TransDigm Advanced Manufacturing Center

Headshot of Prabaha Sikder.

Prabaha Sikder

Associate Professor
Ph.D. (2019), University of Toledo
p.sikder@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Multi-functional Composites, 
Biomaterials for Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal defects, Regenerative 
Medicine, Live Scaffolds, Medical Implant Coatings
Research Lab: Director of the Sikder Lab

 Maryam Younessi Sinaki

Maryam Younessi Sinaki

Associate Professor of Practice
Ph.D. (2014), University of Waterloo
m.younessisinaki@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Energy Conversion Systems, Numerical
modeling, Combustion, Thermo-fluid Systems, Hydrogen Production

Mustafa Usta

Mustafa Usta

Assistant Professor
Ph.D. (2018), Lehigh University
m.usta@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Computational fluid dynamics, large-eddy
simulation, particle-resolved simulation, scientific machine learning, high-performance
computing, multiphysics and multiscale modeling, transport phenomena, turbulent
mixing, compressible flows, membrane separation, biological flows, hemodynamics
Research Lab: Director of Complex Flows and advanced Transport Lab (CFTLAB)

Headshot of Visal Veng.

Visal Veng

Assistant College Lecturer
Ph.D. (2024), University of Massachusetts Lowell
v.veng@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Engineering Design, Plasma Technology, Renewable Energy Applications

Part-Time Faculty

Elie J. Barbari

Elie J. Barbari

P/T Instructor
MSEE (1979), Cleveland State University, MBA (1988), Youngstown State University
e.barbari@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Business statistics, finance, operations analysis

Ebraam Kamel

Ebraam Kamel

P/T Instructor
M.S. Project Management and Operations (2025), Southern New Hampshire University, MBA (2024), University of Phoenix
ryanjfarris@gmail.com

Expertise: Aerospace Product Design, Engineering Systems, and CAD Methodologies

 Yongxin (Yong) Tao

Yongxin (Yong) Tao

Research Professor and Betty Gordon Endowed Distinguished Professor
Ph.D. (1989), University of Michigan
y.tao19@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Heat and Mass Transfer with Multiphase Flow, Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystems
Research Lab: Director of the Predictive Modeling Network for Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystems (SHBE)

Adjunct Faculty

 Ryan J. Ferris

Ryan J. Farris

Adjunct Faculty
Ph.D. (2012), Vanderbilt University
ryanjfarris@gmail.com

Expertise: Medical Technology, Biomechanics, and Rehabilitation Robotics

Eric M. Schearer

Eric M. Schearer

Adjunct Faculty
Ph.D. (2014), Northwestern University
e.schearer@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Robotics, Human Motion Control

David Schwam

David Schwam

Adjunct Faculty
Ph.D. (1982), Technion
d.schwam@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Materials Engineering

Wei Zhang

Wei Zhang

Adjunct Faculty
Ph.D. (2003), Xi'an Jiaotong University
w.zhang13@csuohio.edu

Expertise: Fluid Mechanics, Flow Control and Wind Engineering

Staff

Lydia Demjanczuk

Lydia Demjanczuk

Administrative Coordinator
l.demjanczuk@csuohio.edu
Jenna Marzougui

Jenna Pinsoneault

Assistant Academic Coach
j.marzougui@csuohio.edu

Contact

Mailing Address
Mechanical Engineering Department, Washkewicz College of Engineering
Cleveland State University
1960 E. 24th St. FH232
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2214

Campus Location
Fenn Hall Room 232
1960 East 24th Street
Phone: 216-687-2567
Fax: 216-687-5375
mce@csuohio.edu