The Department of Mechanical Engineering is excited to welcome Dr. Darshan Bamney as an assistant professor this spring. Dr. Bamney’s research lies at the intersection of materials science, mechanical engineering, and advanced computing, with a focus on understanding how the internal microstructure of structural materials fundamentally influences their properties and performance. This research has broad applicability to the energy, aerospace, and automotive sectors, among others. Dr. Bamney uses cutting-edge multiscale modeling techniques, ranging from atomistic to the continuum scale, and techniques to closely connect simulations and experiments.
“We’re in a particularly interesting moment for materials research,” said Bamney. “There’s a flurry of activity around technologies like fusion energy, next-generation reactors, and other systems that push materials to their limits. To make these technologies viable, we need materials that can perform safely and predictably in extreme environments, which requires a deeper understanding of how they work at a fundamental level. Importantly, enabling such technologies will ensure energy security for the generations to come!”
Dr. Bamney received his B.E. in mechanical engineering from Ramaiah Institute of Technology (India), and both his M.S. and Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Florida. Prior to joining the University of Utah, Darshan was a staff scientist in the Materials Science and Technology Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where he also performed his postdoctoral research. Dr. Bamney also brings experience as a co-investigator and co–principal investigator on federally funded research efforts from his time at LANL.
Looking ahead, Dr. Bamney will lead the Advanced Multiscale Materials Modeling (AM3) lab at the University of Utah, where he will continue efforts to investigate how materials chemistry, microstructure, and processing collectively and synergistically influence the behavior of structural materials under extreme environments (high temperatures, high stress states, irradiation). The AM3 lab will also focus on the development of novel modeling techniques and frameworks that will allow us to understand the multiphysics, multiscale nature of materials behaviors in demanding conditions. Overall, these efforts will guide the design of more reliable, high-performance materials for next generation technologies.
“On a personal note, having grown up in a bustling city, I am excited to be back to the familiar landscape of a city, with lots of activities to do and culture to experience. The access to the mountains and outdoors for hiking, camping, and motorcycling is the cherry on top.”
On a typical weekend, Dr. Bamney is always on the lookout for interesting bookstores and antique stores, pastry/dessert shops, and arthouse films.
Driven by a fundamental desire to understand how the world around us functions, Dr. Bamney is excited to mentor students and collaborate with faculty leading complementary efforts in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the U to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in materials science and advanced computing today.