Missouri S&T welcomed over 30 faculty members this year. They bring a wide range of expertise that includes applications for artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, biomedical engineering, concrete sustainability, nuclear reactor safety and semiconductor design.  

The new appointments began at the start of the fall semester unless otherwise noted. The new faculty are: 

Peter Bachle, associate teaching professor of earth sciences and engineering, who joined Missouri S&T in January. He previously taught as a lecturer at S&T and was a senior research associate in mechanical and aerospace engineering. His experience also includes working for the Missouri Geological Survey as a geologist and environmental specialist for over 20 years. A registered geologist, Bachle earned a master’s degree in environmental management from Webster University and a bachelor’s degree in geology and geophysics from Missouri S&T. 

Dr. Chad Berner, assistant teaching professor of mathematics and statistics. He joins S&T from Iowa State University, where he earned a Ph.D. in mathematics in May and has taught as a lead teaching assistant. He also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mathematics from Iowa State.

Renee Brumett, discovery librarian, who joined Missouri S&T in January. She previously served as executive director of the Christian County Library District in Nixa, Missouri. Her career also includes the roles of electronic resources librarian and city branch reference manager for Springfield-Greene County Library District in Springfield. She earned a master’s degree in information science and learning technology, with a focus on library science, from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a bachelor’s degree in church music from Mission University in Springfield, Missouri.

Dr. Baek-Young Choi, professor of computer science. She joins S&T from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she has been a professor of computer science since 2021. Her research interests are in communications networks and distributed systems. She holds five patents. Choi earned a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, a master’s degree in computer science and engineering from Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Pusan National University in South Korea.

Dr. SeogJae Choi, assistant teaching professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering. He was most recently a lecturer at the University of Arkansas and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin. His industry experience includes working as an engineering consultant for FTC Architects in Austin, Texas, and a project engineer for Samsung C&T Corp. in Korea. Choi earned a Ph.D. and a master’s degree, both in civil engineering from UT Austin, and a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from Korea University.

Dr. Jakob DeLong, assistant teaching professor of electrical and computer engineering. He comes to S&T from the University of Jamestown in North Dakota, where he has been an assistant professor of engineering since 2022. DeLong earned a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from West Virginia University.

Dr. Fateme Fayyazbaskhsh, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. She has conducted biomedical research at S&T as a postdoctoral research fellow since 2019. She holds four patents and has experience as a biomedical engineering consultant and a research-and-development manager. Fayyazbaskhsh earned a Ph.D. in biomaterials, a master’s degree in tissue engineering and a bachelor’s degree in biomaterials, all from Amirkabir University of Technology in Iran. 

Dr. Ryan Gilbert, Doshi Endowed Chair of the Linda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. He comes to S&T from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, where he has been a member of the biomedical engineering faculty since 2010. He has also served as a research scientist for the Albany Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Prior to joining RPI, he was on the faculty of Michigan Technological University. He has secured more than $6 million in research funding. His research focuses on biomaterials for spinal cord and nerve regeneration, as well as brain electrode biocompatibility. Gilbert earned a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. 

Dr. Seongho Han, assistant research professor of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, who joined the faculty in January after serving as a postdoctoral fellow at S&T. His research interests include the durability, performance and sustainability of concrete. He holds eight patents. Han earned a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and a master’s degree in urban infrastructure engineering and a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, both from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in Korea. 

Dr. Jeffrey Humpherys, Kummer Endowed Professor of Data Science in mathematics and statistics. His research focuses on the mathematical foundations of AI and machine learning, with applications in health care. He previously served as chief data scientist at Harbor Health and held academic and research roles with the University of Utah School of Medicine, Owlet Baby Care, UnitedHealth Group and Brigham Young University. He has secured nearly $4 million in external funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Department of Defense (DOD). Humpherys earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Utah State. 

Dr. Nilay Kant, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. He joins S&T from Michigan State University, where he was an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. During his doctoral studies, Kant was a visiting student researcher at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. He has worked in industry roles and holds a patent. His research interests include robotics, dynamics and aerospace control applications. Kant earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Michigan State and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

Dr. Sumin Kim, assistant professor of business and information technology. She joins S&T from Mississippi State University, where she earned a Ph.D. in management and information systems. Her research interests include information security, computer-mediated communication, and cross-cultural research. Kim earned an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, both from Kyungpook National University in Korea.

Dr. Grant Kolar, research professor in biological sciences. He comes from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, where he was an associate research professor for three departments: pathology, ophthalmology, and physiology and pharmacology. He conducts research on Prader Willi Syndrome led by Dr. Gina Yosten, also a new faculty member at S&T. Kolar earned a medical degree and Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in pathology and immunology at Washington University in St. Louis. At Barnes Jewish Hospital, he completed a medical residency in anatomical pathology and fellowships in neuropathology and ocular pathology. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Oklahoma Baptist University.

Dr. Peggy Lindner, associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering. She joins S&T from the University of Houston, where she was an assistant professor of information science technology. Her research interests include data science and computational social science. Lindner holds three degrees from the University of Stuttgart in Germany: a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in geotechnology and mining.

Dr. En-Chih Liu, assistant professor of chemistry. He joins S&T from Texas A&M University, where he completed a postdoctoral fellowship. He also held a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan. Liu earned a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Minnesota and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in chemistry, both from National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan.

Dr. Mauricio Mercado, assistant professor of business and information technology. He comes from Syracuse University in New York, where he was a postdoctoral research fellow. His research interests include entrepreneurship, resource acquisition and scholarly impact. Mercado earned a Ph.D. in business administration and entrepreneurship from Iowa State University in Ames, an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Texas at El Paso. 

Dr. Shruti Pandey, assistant teaching professor of electrical and computer engineering on the Missouri State University campus in Springfield. She was previously an instructor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, where she completed a postdoctoral fellowship. She earned a Ph.D. in power electronics from the Institute of Engineering and Technology in India, a master’s degree in power electronics and drives from Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology in India, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Integral University in India. 

Dr. Louis Pape, assistant teaching professor of engineering management and systems engineering. Pape joins S&T after a 30-year career with Boeing, where he most recently served as senior chief engineer of sensor systems and special programs. He has previously taught as an adjunct professor at S&T. He holds a Ph.D. in systems engineering from S&T, an MBA from California State University, a master’s degree in optical sciences from the University of Arizona and a bachelor’s degree in physics from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Dr. Sasha Petrenko, assistant research professor of electrical and computer engineering, who started in that role at Missouri S&T in January. His research interests include lifelong machine learning, optimal estimation, orbital dynamics and orbit determination. Petrenko earned a Ph.D. in computer engineering, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in aerospace engineering, all from S&T.

Dr. Jeremiah Rittenhouse, assistant teaching professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. He earned a Ph.D. and a bachelor’s degree, both in aerospace engineering from Missouri S&T. Rittenhouse conducted graduate research in S&T’s Electromechanical Systems Research Lab and was the team leader for S&T’s 2021 NASA BIG Idea Challenge team.

Dr. Ozgur Satici, associate teaching professor of earth sciences and engineering, who joined Missouri S&T in January. He brings over 25 years of academic and practical experience in geological, geotechnical, rock mechanics and engineering geology practices and was previously the department head for highways in Turkey. Satici earned a Ph.D. in geological engineering from Middle East Technical University, a master’s degree in mining engineering from Hacettepe University, an MBA from Ankara University and a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Hacettepe University, all in Turkey. 

Dr. Subash Sharma, associate professor of nuclear engineering and radiation science. He joins S&T from the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, where he was an assistant professor of nuclear engineering. He is an expert in nuclear reactor safety and thermal hydraulics and his research interests include fluid mechanics and computational fluid dynamics. He has worked as a scientific officer for the Nuclear Power Corp. of India. Sharma earned a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Purdue University, a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Mumbai in India.

Dr. Sejun Song, Cynthia Tang Endowed Professor of computer science. He joins S&T from Augusta University in Georgia, where he was a professor of computer and cyber sciences. He previously taught at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for 10 years. An expert in cybersecurity and machine learning, Song conducts research in transportation, smart agriculture, smart cities and health care. Since earning tenure in 2017, 18 of his projects have been funded, totaling over $4 million. He holds nine patents. Before joining academia, he worked at Cisco Systems and Honeywell Research Lab. Song earned a Ph.D. and a master’s degree, both in computer science and engineering, from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Pusan National University in Korea.

Dr. Joshua Stafford, assistant research professor in biological sciences. He joins S&T from Saint Louis University, where he was an assistant research professor in pharmacology and physiology. He earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Harding University in Arkansas.

Dr. Jami Swindell, assistant teaching professor of education. She joins S&T from Fontbonne University, where she was an assistant professor. Swindell earned an Ed.D. in special education and teaching from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a master’s degree in early childhood and family development and a bachelor’s degree in human environmental sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Dr. Keith Tomazi, associate teaching professor in the Linda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, who joined Missouri S&T in January. He retired from Mallinckrodt in St. Louis after a 24-year career that included roles in process engineering and research and development leadership. Tomazi has previously taught at S&T and at Washington University in St. Louis as an adjunct professor. He holds nine patents and was inducted into the Missouri S&T Academy of Chemical Engineering in 2008. Tomazi earned a Ph.D. and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T.

Dr. Subhas “Karan” Venayagamoorthy, Kummer Endowed Chair of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering. He also holds a joint appointment as a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. He comes to S&T from Colorado State University, where he served on the faculty since 2008 and was most recently the Borland Professor of Fluid Mechanics and founding director of the Environmental Fluid Mechanics Laboratory. An expert in environmental fluid mechanics and water resources engineering, his research has been funded by the NSF, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Venayagamoorthy earned a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University, where he later served as a visiting professor. He is also an honorary professor for the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, where he earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees, both in civil engineering.  

Dr. Xiaojie Wang, assistant professor of physics. She joins S&T from Michigan Technological University, where she was a postdoctoral researcher. Wang earned a Ph.D. in particle physics and nuclear physics from the University of Chinese Academy of Science, where she was also a postdoctoral researcher in the university’s Institute of High Energy Physics, and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physics from Yunnan University in China.

Dr. Junjie Xiong, assistant professor of computer science. He comes to S&T from the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he earned a Ph.D. in cyber security. He previously worked in technology in China. Xiong holds three patents. His research interests include network, web and large language model security. Xiong earned a master’s degree in computer science from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications in China and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications in China.

Dr. Mostafa Yazdi, assistant professor in the Linda and Bipin Doshi Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering. He joins S&T from the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he was an associate research fellow. His research interests include immunotherapy, drug delivery and cancer nanotechnology. Yazdi earned a Ph.D. in pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Utah, a master’s degree in polymer engineering from the University of Tehran in Iran and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Isfahan University of Technology in Iran.

Dr. Gina Yosten, professor and Kummer Endowed Department Chair of biological sciences. She joins S&T from Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine, where she was a professor of pharmacology and physiology. Her research, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), focuses on metabolic diseases such as Type 1 diabetes and Prader Willi Syndrome. Yosten earned a Ph.D. in pharmacology and physiology from SLU and a bachelor’s degree in zoology and biomedical science from the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Brett Young, assistant teaching professor of English and technical communication. She comes from Valdosta State University in Georgia, where she taught as a lecturer and coordinated the university’s first-year writing program. She earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a master’s degree in English from Missouri State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Truman State University. 

Dr. Xiaowei Yu, assistant professor of computer science. He joins S&T from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he was a research assistant. His research interests include brain-inspired AI, medical AI, machine learning and large language models. Yu earned a Ph.D. in computer science from UT Arlington, a master’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern Polytechnical University in China. 

Dr. Arief Yudhanto, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. He comes from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Indonesia, where he was an adjunct professor. He has over 20 years of experience in advanced composite materials. Yudhanto earned a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from Tokyo Metropolitan University in Japan, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the National University of Singapore and a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from ITB.

Dr. Feng Zhao, professor of electrical and computer engineering. He joins S&T from Washington State University in Vancouver, where he served on the faculty since 2011. His first faculty appointment was as assistant professor of electrical engineering at the University of South Carolina. Prior to this, Zhao was a device scientist for Microchip Technology in Colorado and Oregon. His research, which has been sponsored by NSF, NIH, DOD and industry, focuses on semiconductor device design, fabrication, characterization and modeling. Zhao holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder, a master’s degree in materials engineering from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and a bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University in China.

Dr. Ce Zhou, assistant professor of computer science. She joins S&T from Michigan State University, where she earned a Ph.D. in computer science. Zhou also holds a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea and a bachelor’s degree in electrical, electronics and communications engineering from Yangtze University in China.