Dr. Lokesh Narayanan Promoted to Associate Professor
We’re excited to share that Dr. Lokesh Karthik Narayanan has been promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering (IMSE) at North Dakota State University. Since joining the department in 2019, Dr. Narayanan has made a significant impact through his research, teaching, and mentorship. He also holds the Vettel Family IME Faculty Fellowship and serves as an adjunct professor in Biomedical Engineering.
Dr. Narayanan’s research spans several areas, including additive manufacturing, ultrasonic welding, regenerative medicine, and sustainable materials engineering. One of his most high-profile projects—recently featured in the Fargo Forum—focuses on developing biodegradable e-commerce packaging using agricultural byproducts like hemp and flax. Inspired by seeing piles of discarded plastic and cardboard from online orders, Dr. Narayanan envisioned a compostable, garden-safe packaging alternative. With support from a $300,000 USDA grant, his team is working to create a solution that reduces landfill waste and supports rural and tribal communities across North Dakota.
In addition to research, Dr. Narayanan has established several specialized labs on campus to support student learning and hands-on experimentation. These include a regenerative medicine manufacturing lab featuring a 6-axis 3D bioprinter, an additive manufacturing lab with multiple 3D printing platforms, and an advanced automation lab where students learn PLC programming and robotics. These labs are integral to both undergraduate and graduate education, and also serve as a foundation for externally funded research projects.
Dr. Narayanan is known throughout the department for his commitment to student mentorship. He has graduated two master’s students under his advisement and is expected to graduate three Ph.D. students, two in IME and one in Biomedical Engineering, in Summer 2025. He also serves on the committees of five Ph.D. students and twelve M.S. students across various engineering programs. Students often comment on how accessible and supportive he is, whether they need help grasping complex material, navigating career decisions, or building confidence in their abilities. One student shared how she entered his automation course feeling overwhelmed, but thanks to his encouragement, clear explanations, and even a loaned textbook, she not only succeeded in the class but also began to see herself as a capable engineer.
Dr. Narayanan brings that same energy and innovation into the classroom. He teaches several core IMSE courses, including IME 111 (Introduction to IME), IME 380 (CAD/CAM), and IME 482/682 (Manufacturing Automation), as well as two technical electives: IME 433/633 (Additive Manufacturing) and BME 220 (Introduction to Biomedical Engineering). He also leads the department’s senior Capstone course, IME 489, where he coordinates student teams working on real-world projects with companies across the Upper Midwest. His courses are known for being hands-on and industry-relevant—he’s redesigned the CAD/CAM course to use Fusion 360 with cloud-based tutorials and transformed the automation course into a project-based class centered on PLCs.
Outside of teaching and advising, Dr. Narayanan collaborates with researchers at Mayo Clinic Rochester on regenerative medicine projects and has contributed to several successful interdisciplinary grant proposals. His technical work includes in-vitro brain aneurysm modeling, developing non-destructive quality assessment tools for 3D biofabrication using dielectric impedance spectroscopy, modeling and pre-clinical testing tissue scaffolds , and designing injection molds for biomedical devices. He has also mentored undergraduate and graduate students in these research areas and continues to manage equipment and lab operations that support this work.
Whether it’s developing sustainable packaging, mentoring students through tough challenges, or building lab infrastructure to advance education and research, Dr. Narayanan brings an inspiring blend of technical expertise, creativity, and care to everything he does. His promotion to Associate Professor is a well-earned recognition of his wide-ranging contributions to the IMSE department and the broader community.
Congratulations, Dr. Narayanan!