Prof. Ryan Berke
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Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Director, Mechanics at Extreme Temperatures Laboratory, 2015-Present Director, Thermal Hydraulics and Material Properties Center, 2017-Present Postdoc Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois, 2013-2014 Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2013 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 2008 Curriculum Vitae (Last Updated Aug 2025) |
About Us
We are a large and diverse group in which undergraduate research plays a strong role in recruiting and training top graduate students.
For more info, read our Lab at a Glance (Last Updated Feb 2019) |
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YEAR ELEVEN: May 2025 - Present
Owing to some funding successes from last year, the lab grew to 8 PhD students and 16 undergrads, only to have 3 grants totaling $1 Million clawed back by the Trump Administration. We are extremely grateful to the university, college, and department for providing teaching assistantships and matching funds to continue to support these students. |
(Back Row, Left to Right): Raushan Singh, Elijah Olsen, Heidi Cook, Seitaro Mineoka, Prasenjit Dewanjee, Luke Berrigan, Lyss Butler, Luke Olsen, Steven Koski, Dr. Berke, Nate Flake, Tate Adams
(Front Row, Left to Right): Jacob Heninger, Mehedi Hasan Mahfuz, Indi Bangerter, Addi Thresher, Hunter Williams, Sam Mulhall, Senorita Sarker, Nusrat Ramesha Not Pictured: Sarah Ellis, Sydney Furnell, Quinn Konnick, Savannah Spencer, Jeff Wagner |
Graduate Students
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Prasenjit Dewanjee
Ph.D. Student, Aug 2021 - Present B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Bangladesh, 2018 Microstructural Strain Mapping at Extreme Temperatures with Shortwave Ultraviolet (UV-C) Lighting USU Presidential Doctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) |
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Jacob Heninger
Ph.D. Student, Aug 2024 - Present B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2024 Weighted Fasteners to Excite Higher Strains during Vibration-based Fatigue Testing |
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Mehedi Mahfuz
Ph.D. Student, Jan 2024 - Present M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2025 B.S. Aeronautical Engineering, Military Institute of Science & Technology, Bangladesh, 2022 High-Throughput Measurements of Fatigue at Room and Elevated Temperatures (NEUP) |
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Seitaro Mineoka
Ph.D. Student, Aug 2025 - Present MS. Mechanical Engineering, Hiroshima University, Japan, 2023 B.A. Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Kure College, Japan, 2021 Frequency Effects in High-Cycle Fatigue at High Temperatures |
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Nusrat Ramesha
Ph.D. Student, Aug 2025 - Present B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Military Institute of Science & Technology, Bangladesh, 2023 High-Throughput Fatigue Measurements of Strain-Controlled Fatigue Specimens |
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Senorita Sarker
Ph.D. Student, Jan 2023 - Present B.S. Nuclear Science & Engineering, Military Institute of Science & Technology, Bangladesh, 2021 Microstructural Strain Mapping using Directional Reflectance Microscopy (DRM) (NEUP) |
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Raushan Singh
Ph.D. Student, Aug 2021 - Present M.Tech Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, 2018 B.E. Mechanical Engineering, East West Institute of Technology, Bangalore, India, 2015 High-Throughput Methods for Simultaneous Creep Measurements (NEUP) |
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Jeff Wagner
Ph.D. Student, May 2023 - Present B.S. California Polytechnic State University, 2019 Combined Thermographic Phosphors + Digital Image Correlation (TP+DIC) (Sandia) US Dept of Energy (DOE) University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP) Fellowship |
Undergraduate Students (Alphabetical by Last Name)
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Alumni (Reverse Chronological)
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Savannah Spencer, Mechanical Engineering Student, 2024-2025
Combined Thermographic Phosphor + Digital Image Correlation (TP+DIC) at Sub-Millimeter Scale |
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Katherine Odell, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2025
Scaling Relationships to Drive Up Frequency in Vibration-based Fatigue Testing |
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Caylor Willis, Mechanical Engineering Student, 2023-2025
Introducing a Tapered Creep Specimen into our High-throughput Assembly |
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No Picture Available
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Sadie Alldredge, Mechanical Engineering Student, 2024-2025
An anti-buckling device to suppress buckling in High-throughput Fatigue Measurements |
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Cambria Cannon, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2025
Countering Parasitic Black Body Radiation in Thermographic Phosphors at Extreme Temperature |
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Brayden Monson, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2025
Long-Range DIC through Leaded Glass Hot Cell Windows (EURP) |
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Tyler Melby, Mechanical Engineering Student, 2024-2025
Stereo Digital Image Correlation with Severe Thick-Glass Distortion |
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Preston Hunter, Mechanical Engineering Student, 2024-2025
Digital Gradient Sensing to Monitor Out-of-Plane Vibrations |
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Jonah Harwood, Mechanical Engineering Student, 2024-2025
Transmission-mode Digital Gradient Sensing (t-DGS) for Hypersonic Windows at Extreme Temperatures |
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Canon Breckenridge, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2025
Effect of Hysteretic Heating on Vibration-based Fatigue Testing of Composites (EURP) |
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Victoria Kemeny, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2025
Digital Gradient Sensing to Monitor Out-of-Plane Vibrations (EURP) |
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Jaden Mecham, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2024
Multiscale Digital Image Correlation with Color Cameras (EURP) |
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Jacob Rigby
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2024 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2021 Tradeoffs in Lighting Conditions in DIC Measurements in Vibration-based Testing |
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Emily Johnson, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2024
Self-Healing of Mo-Si-B Coatings during Fatigue at Extreme Temperature |
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Rachel Norris, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2024
High-Throughput Characterization of Tertiary Creep Failure (EURP) |
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Larson Rupp, B.S. Student, 2023-2024
High-throughput Ductility Measurements at Elevated Temperatures (URF) |
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Natalie Kay, B.S. Student 2023-2024
Benchmark characterization of Thermographic Phosphors for simultaneous temperature and strain measurement |
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Brandon Furman
PhD. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2024 B.S. Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics, Utah State University, 2019 Development of a High-Throughput Method for Vibration-based Fatigue Tests 2020 MAE Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher of the Year! |
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Heidi Moulton, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2024
Effect of Aspect Ratio in High-Throughput Tapered Creep Specimens (EURP) |
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Miles Butterfield, B.S. Student 2022-2023
Vibration-based Fatigue Testing at Multiple Simultaneous Frequencies (EURP) |
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Kayla Bucio, B.S. Student 2022-2023
Role of Defects in Deformation of Knitted Fabrics |
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Spencer Adams, B.S. Student 2022-2023
A Novel Assembly to Offset Compressive Mean Stresses in Vibration-based Fatigue Testing |
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Hannah Maxwell, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2023
A Variable Extensometer Technique to Measure Ductility at High Temperature (EURP) 2022 MAE Undergraduate Researcher of the Year! |
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Micah Estrada, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2022
Adapting Directional Reflectance Microscopy (DRM) to Map Grain Orientations in Large Specimens (EURP) |
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Alexandra Loftin, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2022
Identifying Failed Specimens in High-Throughput Measurements of High-Cycle Fatigue (EURP) |
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Carson Ashby, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2022
Design of High-Throughput Test Specimens for Machining |
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Emily Santana, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2022
Vibration-based Fatigue Testing at High Temperature |
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Tanner Flitton, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2022
High-Throughput Creep Characterization using a Novel Tapered Specimen (EURP) |
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Lindsey Rowley
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2021 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018 Improved Digital Image Correlation at High Speed and Extreme Temperature (EURP, NEUP) |
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Ben Hill
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2021 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2020. Eliminating Strain Gauges in Vibration-based Fatigue Testing (EURP, AFOSR) |
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Jocelyn Huntress, B.S. Student, 2021
Implementing a Freeware Alternative to Vic-3D in MAE 5040 Labs |
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Ian Jones, B.S. Student, 2021
High Speed Imaging with a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar in MAE 5040 Labs |
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Steven Jarrett
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2021 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2019 The Effect of Bit Depth on High Temperature Digital Image Correlation Measurements |
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Robert Hansen
PhD. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2021 M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2016 Hydrogen Embrittlement of Nuclear Fuel Cladding under Accident Conditions (NEUP IRP) 2021 MAE Outstanding Doctoral Scholar of the Year! FY17 NEUP Graduate Fellowship |
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Adam Smith
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2020 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018 A Variable Extensometer Method for Measuring Ductility Scaling Parameters FY19 NEUP Graduate Fellowship 2020 MAE MS Researcher of the Year! |
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Harley Cragun, B.S. Student in Biological Engineering, 2019-2020
Broadening Participation of LGBTQ+ Students in Engineering (URF) |
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Elizabeth Chamberlain, B.S. Student, 2019-2020
Validating Scaling Relationships in Vibration-based Fatigue Testing (EURP) |
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Emma Ashby, B.S. Student, 2019-2020
Tchebichef Decomposition of Microstructural Strain Maps |
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Shelby Ames, B.S. Student, Expected Graduation Spring 2021
Micro-scale Strain Mapping of Aluminum Oligocrystals (EURP) |
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Thinh Thai
PhD Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2020 M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018 B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, 2015 Materials Characterization at Extreme Temperatures for Advanced Aerospace Applications (USU RGS) 2019 MAE MS Researcher of the Year! 2020 MAE Doctoral Graduate Scholar of the Year! |
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Cynthia Rigby, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2020
DIC at High Magnification and Long Working Distances |
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Kenna Craig, B.S. Student in Statistics, 2019
Broadening Participation of LGBTQ+ Students in Engineering |
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Nate Rowley, B.S. Student 2019
High Intensity UV Light Source |
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Katharine Burn, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2019
Effects of Diffraction Limits on Full-Field Measurements at Long Working Distances (EURP) 2019 MAE and College of Engineering Undergraduate Researcher of the Year! |
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Matt Calvin, B.S. Student, 2018-2019
High-Resolution Imaging during Vibration-based Fatigue Testing (EURP) |
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Christopher Stolinski
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, 2016 Dynamic Fracture of 3D-Printed Materials 2019 MAE Graduate Student of the Year! |
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Samantha Burton, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2018
Improved High-Throughput Measurement for High Cycle Fatigue at Extreme Temperatures (EURP) |
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Daniel Waldram, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 2018
Super-resolution Imaging for DIC at High Magnification and Long Working Distances (EURP) |
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Cedale Armstrong, B.S. Student, 2017-2018
Retrofitting a Vacuum Chamber with Induction Heating |
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Matt Nelson
PhD. Student, May 2017 - Aug 2018 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2017 High Temperature Vibration Fatigue of Gas Turbines (AFRL) |
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Alisa Dabb, B.S. Student, 2017-2018
Heterogeneous Strain Measurements during Tensile Testing under a Thermal Gradient (URF) |
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Ethan Nickerson
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2018 B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2016 Ultraviolet Diffraction-assisted Image Correlation (UV-DAIC) (NRC) 2018 MAE MS Researcher of the Year! |
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Connor Bell, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University, 2017
Effects of Phase Lag in Thermo-Mechanical Fatigue near Crossover Strain |
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J. Jackson Matsen, B.S. Student, Expected Graduation December 2018
Damage Accumulation in Multi-modal Vibration Fatigue (EURP) |
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Jesse Long, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
Restoring a 3D Metal Printer for Advanced Structural Characterization |
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Trevor Bird, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
Modal Identification in Flat Plates during Vibrational Resonance at High Temperatures (EURP) 2017 MAE Undergraduate Researcher of the Year! |
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Colin Schlicher, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
UV Imaging of C-C Composites during Hot-Fire Testing |
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Celina Fisher Dodge, B.S. Student 2017
Control Strategies for Gleeble 1500D Thermo-mechanical Loading System |
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Braden Beckstrom, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
Benchmark Experiments for Thermo-Mechanical Fatigue |
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Jonas Rogers, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
Modal Analysis of Reinforced Vibrating Plates |
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Awilma Ventura, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2017
Lab safety and operating procedures for induction heating |
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Wm. Jesse Miller, B.S. Student 2015-2016
Restoring a Split Hopkinson Bar for High-Speed Impact Measurements |
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Matt Schumann, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2016
UV and IR optical window for High Temperature Environmental Testing Chamber |
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Jaren Devey, B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2016
UV Digital Image Correlation to characterize Graphite at Extreme Temperatures (EURP) |