Current Students
Croll Group Summer 2011
From the left: Michelle Davis (Summer Student - Mech. Eng.), Katrina Teskey (Governor's School Student), Margaret Rozario (Summer Student - Physics), Bekele Gurmessa (Ph.D. Student - Physics), Andrew B. Croll (Boss).
Background: Batcheller Technology Center.
Bekele Gurmessa
Degree Information:
Candidate for Ph.D., Physics.
M.Sc., Physics, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, 2007.
B.Ed., Physics, Haramaya University, Ethiopia, 2003.
Email: bekele.gurmessa@my.ndsu.edu
Research Interests:
- Mechanics of homo-polymer and block copolymer thin film instabilities: wrinkling, delamination, crumpling and folding
- Response of block copolymer thin films' internal structure to surface instabilities
- Buckling of colloidal particles: response of thin films made of non-continuum systems (particles) to mechanical deformation.
Current Research:
The goal of my research project is to investigate the residual stress of glassy and elastomeric polymer thin films using surface instabilities. In particular, we are able to characterize the onset of plasticity of thin polymer films. I am currently investigating how the domain structures formed when a block copolymer thin film is annealed above its glass transition temperature respond to similar thin film surface instabilities.
Damith Rozairo
Degree Information:
Candidate for Ph.D. Materials and Nanotechnology
B.Sc., Physics with a minor in mathematics, Minnesota State University Moorhead, 2009.
Email: damith.rozairo@my.ndsu.edu
Current Research:
Damith is currently working on his dissertation which examines the physics of block copolymers in emulsion droplets. His work includes imaging microscopic to macroscopic scale emulsion droplets using a confocal microscope and exploits geometry to determine mechanical response (interfacial energies). His future goals consist of work with micropipette tensiometry and block copolymer double-emulsions.
Jared Risan
Degree Information:
Candidate for M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering
B.Sc., Civil Engineering with a Minor in Mathematics, North Dakota State University, 2009.
Email: jared.risan@ndsu.edu
Current Research:
Jared is currently working on examining a novel platform for a switchable adhesive. His work includes synthesizing adhesive polymeric-metallic composites and mechanically characterizing them with lap-shear testing. Understanding composite reinforcement ratios, layering phenomena, exploits in geometry, and changes in modulus are all important factors in optimizing his work.
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