Mechanical Engineering | Fall 2026
• Highlights • New Faces • Seminars • Milestones • Achievements
WELCOMING NEW FACULTY & STAFF
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is excited to welcome three new members to our department community this fall: Dr. Amer Ahmad Amer, Dr. Mustafa Erguvan, and Puja Paudel.
Dr. Amer Ahmad Amer
Dr. Amer is a Teaching Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama. He was former Transport Chief Technologist at Aramco, with a career spanning advanced propulsion systems, low-carbon fuels, and CO₂ mitigation technologies. He built his engineering foundation at Chrysler, where he worked closely with development teams on engine design, combustion modeling, and systems integration.
During his tenure at Aramco, Dr. Amer led major global research and development centers in Detroit, Paris, and Shanghai, overseeing the advancement of transport technologies from concept through commercial deployment while building and mentoring multidisciplinary engineering teams. His work bridged research and real-world implementation, contributing to innovations in transportation and energy technologies.
At the University of Alabama, he brings this broad industry experience to the Mechanical Engineering program. Through design-focused instruction, experiential education, applied learning, and industry-engaged projects, he connects engineering theory with professional practice, preparing students to address complex engineering challenges and succeed in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Dr. Mustafa Erguvan
Dr. Erguvan is a Teaching Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Alabama, specializing in thermal-fluid sciences.
His research integrates experimental and computational approaches to develop low-carbon and advanced energy technologies. His interests include microwave-assisted heating for carbon capture and hydrogen production, geothermal and heat pump technologies, integrated energy systems, and AI-assisted modeling of data-center thermal systems. He has contributed to projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Alabama Transportation Institute, and industry partners.
He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Alabama. Before joining the faculty, he served at the university as an Engineering Researcher and Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Erguvan has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed journal articles, mentored graduate students, served on doctoral committees, and organized technical tracks and sessions at ASME conferences.
Puja Paudel
Puja serves as the Outreach and Communications Assistant for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She previously worked as Administrative Assistant II, where she supported executive communications, special events, and university-wide engagement initiatives. In her current role, she leads communication and outreach efforts that highlight the accomplishments, events, and opportunities within the department.
SEMINAR SERIES KICKS OFF THE FALL SEMESTER
The department welcomed three distinguished seminar speakers as we began the fall semester.
- August 28 – Andreas Muller presented “From Models to Data and Back.”
- September 2 – Edward White presented “On the Challenges for Science in Engineering Wind Tunnels.”
- September 16 – Ahmed Arabi Hassen presented “Convergent Manufacturing for Next-Generation High-Rate Composite Manufacturing.”
The Fall 2026 seminar series provide opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers to engage with experts and explore emerging topics across mechanical engineering.
CELEBRATING FACULTY MILESTONES
We are also celebrating several members of our Mechanical Engineering community who reached important service milestones this year.
Dr. Kalyan Kumar Srinivasan – 9 Years
Professor and Department Head, Dr. Srinivasan has played an important role in advancing research in combustion, computational fluid dynamics, energy storage, and carbon-neutral fuels.
Dr. Sundar Rajan Krishnan – 9 Years
Professor and Associate Department Head for Graduate Studies, Dr. Krishnan has contributed significantly to graduate education and research in thermodynamics and zero-emission technologies.
Dr. Bharat Balasubramanian – 4 Years
Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Vehicle Technologies and Chief Mobility Research & Development Officer for the Alabama Transportation Institute, Dr. Balasubramanian brings decades of global leadership and innovation in automotive engineering.
Congratulations to all three on these milestones!
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
ENABLE Lab is so excited and honored to be selected as one of the three 2026 Crimson Catalyst Pitch Competition winners, with an award of $25,000. In addition, they are honored to be selected as the 2026 Crimson Catalyst People’s Choice Award winner, with an additional $10,000.
We are excited that the Dr. Qiang (Jason) Zhang (ENABLE Lab) has received the first NSF award of $525,021 for our research project. This project is for three years and will start on 01/01/2027. View award details
Congratulations to Dr. Matthew Kasemer and Dr. Vishesh Vikas on being selected for the 2026–2027 Emerging Leaders Program: Foundations for Academic Leadership! We are proud to have these outstanding faculty members represent the University of Alabama Department of Mechanical Engineering and the University of Alabama Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering as they continue to develop their leadership skills and contribute to our academic community.
Congratulations to Dr. Kalyan Kumar Srinivasan, Head of the University of Alabama Department of Mechanical Engineering, on being selected for the 2026–27 Leadership U class! We are proud to see our department represented in this year’s cohort and celebrate this well-deserved recognition of his leadership.
The University of Alabama – Department of Mechanical Engineering