Dr. Zak Fang, Professor

See more information about him here.

Dr. Pei Sun, Research Associate Professor

Prof. Pei Sun’s current research focuses on extractive metallurgy and physical metallurgy of titanium, green iron and steel making, rare earth metal production and metal additive manufacturing. As a powder metallurgist, he has a keen interest in metal powder fabrication and applications. His work is at the forefront of developing sustainable and efficient metallurgical processes.

Prof. Pei Sun received his Ph.D. from the University of Utah in 2015, focusing on powder metallurgy titanium through hydrogen sintering and phase transformation. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Central South University in China in 2008. After a year of graduate study at the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, he joined the University of Utah in 2009. Dr. Sun has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles and holds six US patents. He is a co-inventor of HAMR, GSD, HSPT, and HRMLES processes.

Outside of his research, Dr. Sun enjoys hiking, skiing, camping, and traveling with his family.

Amirhossein Meysami

Dr. Amirhossein Meysami, Ph.D., P.Eng., is a metallurgical engineer with a  educational and professional background. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from Sharif University of Technology in 2003, followed by a Master of Science in Extractive Metallurgy from the University of Tehran in 2005. In 2011, after completing his Ph.D., Dr. Meysami joined the faculty at Isfahan University of Technology. From 2022 to July 2024, he served as a research scholar and visiting professor at Clarkson University, New York. He has now joined the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Science Engineering at the University of Utah. 

Dr. Meysami’s research focuses on various areas of Metallurgical Engineering, with a particular emphasis on optimizing extractive metallurgical processes (Pyro and Hydrometallurgy) and heat treatment to reduce energy consumption and emissions, minimize waste disposal, and efficiently utilize limited resources in metal production. Some of his research includes: 

• Separation of Hf from Zr through solvent extraction methods. 

• Production of pure titanium pigments from poor ilmenite solutions using the electrodialysis method. 

• Production of ferrosilicon using non-fossil materials and biomass from quartz. 

• Optimization of the thermo-mechanical process of steel bars using direct quenching to reduce energy consumption. 

• Optimization of welding and joining processes for steels to reduce weight. 

In summary, Dr. Meysami leverages his expertise in metallurgy to enhance the sustainability and energy efficiency of industrial materials. Over the years, he has also taught courses related to his field, including: 

• Thermodynamics of Materials 

• Kinetics of Metallurgical Processes 

• Fundamentals of Metals and Materials Production 

• High-Temperature Alloys 

• Metals Welding and Forming 

Since joining the University of Utah, his primary research focus has been on clean ironmaking, steelmaking, from iron ore concentrate, with the goal of eliminating the carbon dioxide footprint from the entire process. 

Zehua Lin (Lam)

MD Emran Hossain

Emran is a Bangladeshi native born and raised in Dhaka. He holds a B.S. in Material Science and Metallurgical Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, which he completed in 2018. After graduation, he worked for two and a half years as a quality control engineer in two steel industries. Since the Fall of 2021, he has been pursuing his Ph.D. as a member of the Powder Metallurgy research group at the University of Utah. His current research focuses on the powder metallurgy of titanium and titanium alloys. Emran's interests extend beyond his academic pursuits; he also enjoys hiking, fishing, and camping in his free time.

Tristan Armstrong

Tristan has lived in Utah his whole life and was originally from Helper. He began work in the Powder Metallurgy Research Lab as an undergraduate in the fall of 2022 and graduated with a B.S in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Utah the following spring. Tristan’s research largely focuses on additive manufacturing for titanium alloys, specifically laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). He is currently pursuing his M.S. in Metallurgical Engineering, continuing the work he started as an undergraduate.

His interests include skiing, hiking, fishing, boxing, and riding his motorcycle.

Nathan Jump

Nathan Jump is a current PhD Candidate at the University of Utah with a B.S. in Material Science and Engineering from the University of California, Irvine where he graduated with honors. His current research is focused on the production of 3D printed titanium and titanium alloys on the Binder Jet Printer (BJP) system. In his professional career, Nathan has served in the United States Marine Corps and worked at the Aerospace Corporation within their Propulsion Sciences Department, where he focused on the catalytic decomposition of natural gas fuels within the regenerative cooling lines of rocket engines.

                                                              Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-jump-289438193

Barnali Sutradhar

Barnali got her B.S. degree in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2017. She got her M.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of California, Riverside in 2022. She started her PhD at the University of Utah in the Fall of 2022. She has been working as a member of the Powder Metallurgy research group at the University of Utah since Fall 2023. Her current research focuses on the binder jet printing of Titanium alloys. She enjoys hiking, dancing, bowling, badminton, and drinking cappuccino.

Runlin Pu

Runlin Pu is a PhD student in Prof. Fang's research group, focusing on Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) of titanium alloys and titanium hydride powder metallurgy. He graduated with a B.E. from Chengdu University of Technology in 2023. Outside the lab, Runlin enjoys hiking and cycling. He also has a passion for exploring different kinds of food.

Johannes Helle

Samantha Sorensen

Samantha, originally from Boise, Idaho, earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Utah in 2023. In May 2024, she began working in the Powder Metallurgy Research Lab, focusing on the deoxygenation of titanium. She will begin her Ph.D. under Professor Fang fall 2024.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, all racket sports, sweet treats, and traveling.

Cole Walker

Cole began working in the Powder Metallurgy Research Lab in September 2021. He is doing an undergraduate degree in Material Science and Engineering. He is specialized in Binder Jet Printing and artificial intelligence. He has many academic passions and doesn't know what he is going to do next.

Outside the lab he likes video games, off-roading, anime, hiking, computer hardware, kayaking, and spending time with family.

Noah Garcia

Noah Garcia is originally from Wichita, Kansas; though, he enjoys the mountains in Utah. He is currently a Sophomore set to receive a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2026 from the University of Utah. He assists in Ti6A4V additive manufacturing research, operations, and design under Dr. Fang, Dr. Chengshang Zhou, and Dr. Pei Sun. Ad Astrum per Aspera.

Jonathan Moriel Ortiz

Jonathan Moriel Ortiz was born and raised in Utah and is currently doing an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Archaeology with the hopes of being either Indiana Jones or Tony Stark. And while he doesn't know what he is doing he is very excited to be part of an incredible research project. Outside the lab his interests are to travel, archery, video games, basketball, and working on his 1967 Pontiac Tempest. 

Alex Hyatt