Micro/nano engineering at the interface of thermal-fluid, material and energy sciences
Energy e x ploration Laboratory
Principal Investigator
Sajjad Bigham
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering (minor in Material Science and Engineering), 2016, University of Florida
Group leader, Energy eXploration Laboratory (Energy-X)
Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, North Carolina State University
Editor, Heat Transfer (Wiley)
Editorial Advisory Board, International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer (Elsevier)
Board Member, NC Code Officials Qualification Board
Chapter Advisor, Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity at NC State University
Email: sbigham at ncsu dot edu
Post Doctoral Researcher
Dr. Durga Ghosh
Post doctorial researcher
Topic: Phase Change Heat Transfer
Energy-X: April 2024 - present
Graduate Students
To be updated ...
Alan Swavely
Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering
M.Sc. student at Energy-X: Aug. 2024-July 2025
Topic: Space life support systems
Energy-X: Aug. 2024 - present
Jebin Joshua Isaac Raj
Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering
M.Sc. thesis at Energy-X: Aug. 2023 - July 2025
Topic: Next-gen. condenser technologies
Energy-X: Aug. 2023 - present
Behzad Ahmadi
Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Compact 3D-printed HTHP HXs
Energy-X: August 2019 - present
Noah Agata
Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: 3D-printed adsorbent systems for space
Energy-X: August 2022 - present
Vivek Mohan
Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Desiccant-based dehumidification systems
Energy-X: Feb. 2023 - present
Behnam Ahmadi
Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: High-performance HVAC systems
Energy-X: July 2019 - present
Mohammad Andayesh
Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Next-generation low-GWP AC systems
Energy-X: Jan. 2025 - present
Hanry Issavi
Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Flow boiling process
Energy-X: Sept. 2020 - present
John Creegan
Ph.D. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Desiccant-based AC systems
Energy-X: Jan. 2022 - present
Undergraduate Students
Carrie Horrell
B.Sc. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Desalination
Energy-X: Jan 2024 - present
Alumni
Tania Demonte Gonzalez
B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Energy efficiency in buildings
Energy-X: March 2017 - March 2018
Current: Ph.D. student, Michigan Tech
Masoud Ahmadi
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: Sorption-based Dehydration Systems: Theory-to-demonstration
Energy-X: August 2018 - December 2022
Current position: Amgen, Cambridge, MA
Leroy Kincannon
B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Next-gen. energy efficient systems
Energy-X: March 2017 - March 2018
Current position: GM, Detroit, MI
Rasoul (Amir) Bayani
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: 3D-Printed Ceramic Volumetric Receivers: From Hierarchically-ordered To Nature-inspired High-flux Solar Thermal Collectors
Energy-X: Jan. 2020 - December 2022
Current position: Astrobotic, Mojave, CA
Ikechukwu (Emmanuel) Okoh
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: Advanced Thin-Film Sorption Thermal Energy Storage Systems for Thermal Load Shedding/Shifting
Energy-X: August 2018 - December 2022
Douglas Pedersen
B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Thermal battery
Energy-X: August 2018 - July 2020
Current position: Blackrock Neurotech, Salt Lake City, UT
Gnana Vishnu Durgam
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: Capillary-assis. Enhan. Condensation Heat Transfer for Low Surface Tension Liquids
Energy-X: Jan. 2017 - Sept. 2018
Current position: RGD consulting, Palm Beach, FL
Venkatesh Narsingrao Mantalwad
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, 2017
Topic: HFO-based cooling systems
Energy-X: Jan. 2017 - May 2018
Current position: R&D engineer at Rheem Manufacturing, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Shivam Gupta
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: Membrane-based Heat Sinks for Enhanced Flow Boiling Performance and Reliability
Energy-X: Dec. 2019 - May 2021
Current position: Thermal Engineer at ZT Systems, NY
Chetan Agarwal
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: Multi-Scale, Capillary Assisted Copper Surfaces for Enhan. Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Processes
Energy-X: Sept. 2017 - June 2019
Current position: Thermal engineer at Amazon, WA
Chaitanya Patil
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Topic: 3D-printed adsorbent systems for space
Energy-X: May 2022 - Dec. 2022
Sunil Pinnu
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: High-performance ZLD treatment using a multiple-effect absorption distillation concept
Energy-X: Sept. 2018 - Oct. 2020
Current position: Thermal Engineer at ZT Systems, NY
Mahesh Puttur
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: Development and Experimental Investigation of a Lung-inspired 3D-printed DCHX
Energy-X: May 2019 - Feb. 2021
Current position: Thermal Engineer Romeo Power, LA
Shiying Cai
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: A Liquid-Sorption-based Zero Liquid Discharge Desalination System
Energy-X: March 2020 - May 2023
Gracie Brownlow
B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Building energy efficiency
Energy-X: Nov. 2020 - Dec. 2022
Rajasimha Reddy
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Topic: 3D-printed adsorbent systems for space
Energy-X: May 2022 - Dec. 2022
Current position: Our Next Energy (ONE), Novi, MI
Sampath Boyapally
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, 2017
Topic: HVAC systems
Energy-X: Feb. 2017 - July 2017
Current position: Application engineer at Hanon Systems, Novi, Michigan
Eddy Ferreira
B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Next-gen. HVAC systems
Energy-X: Aug. 2023 - August 2024
Jay Saple
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: Enhanced condensation of Low Surface Tension Fluids by 3D printed Copper Wick Structures
Topic: 3D-printed condenser technology
Energy-X: Jan. 2023 - April 2024
Priom Agrawal
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: A Numerical Study on the Adsorption Physics of 3D Zeolite Lattices for CO2 Removal and Compression in Space Systems
Energy-X: Jan. 2023 - April 2024
Deep Patel
M.Sc. student, Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: 3D-Printed Multi-Layer Gradient Wick Structures for Enhanced Flow Condensation of Low Surface Tension Fluids
Energy-X: Aug. 2023 - May 2025
Schuyler Green
B.Sc. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Passive thermal management systems
Energy-X: May 2024 - July 2024
Jebin Joshua Isaac Raj
M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
Thesis title: Numerical Optim. and Exp. Investigation of 3D-printed Trifurcated Polymeric Evaporators
Energy-X: Aug. 2023 - July 2025
Current position: Ph.D. student at NC State Uni.
Anne Morrell
B.Sc. student, Mechanical Engineering
Topic: Desalination
Energy-X: May 2023 - April 2024
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Elizabeth Garmon
High School student at NC School of Science and Math
Topic: Battery Thermal Management
Energy-X: May 2023 - May 2024