Meet The Team
Principal Investigator
Expertise
Structural health monitoring, diagnostics and prognostics, damage detection, structural dynamics, acoustics, signal processing, rotating machinery, mechanical design and nonlinear dynamics.
Educational Background
The Ohio State University, Mechanical Engineering - Ph.D. (2009)
Biosketch
Murat Inalpolat, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Dr.Inalpolat is currently serving as the Associate Department Chair and has led several research projects related to wind energy, aerospace and automotive technologies at UML. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for the ASME Letters in Dynamic Systems and Controls Journal and has been awarded the prestigious NASA Faculty Fellowship in 2022.Prior to his appointment with University of Massachusetts, he was with General Electric’s R&D Center in NY, leading and supporting research and development projects for wind energy, aviation, transportation and steam turbine businesses with focus on energy, efficiency, dynamics, diagnostics and power density improvement of machinery. He previously held positions at The Ohio State University, first as a research associate and then as a postdoctoral fellow. He was previously awarded by CTI (Car Training Institute of Germany) with the prestigious “Young Drive Experts” award based on his quality of the research undertaken and currently holds three patents on the turbomachinery design, clearances and their optimization.
Prof.Murat Inalpolat
Associate Professor
Associate Chair for Doctoral Studies
Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Contact Info:
Phone:978-934-2556
Fax:978-934-3048
Office: Dandeneau Hall 216
Email: Murat_Inalpolat@uml.edu
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Current Team
PhD Students
Enes Ozdemir
PhD Student
Education:
BS, Mechanical Engineering, METU (2020)
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2020-Present)
Research Projects:
Dynamic modelling & NVH analysis of Electromechanical Transmission Applications
Awards:
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Middle East Technical University (METU) High Honor List
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Summa cum laude - METU
Hobbies & Interests:
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CAD designing
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Development of RC road vehicle models
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Swimming
Hometown: Ankara, Turkiye
Email: Enes_Ozdemir@student.uml.edu
Stephanie Epstein
PhD Student
Education:
BS, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2022)
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2022-Present)
Research Projects:
Machine Learning Enhanced Control of Exoskeletons for Improved Transition Response
Awards:
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High Honor List
Hobbies & Interests:
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Hiking
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Skiing
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Running
Hometown: Peperell, MA
Connor Pozzi
PhD Student
Education:
BS, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2022)
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2022-Present)
Research Projects:
Structural health monitoring of wind turbine blades using passive acoustic damage detection
Awards:
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Dean’s List – All Undergrad Semesters
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Pi Tau Sigma – Mechanical Engineering Honors Society
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Tau Beta Pi – Engineering Honors Society
Hobbies & Interests:
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Sustainability and Renewable Energy
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Skiing, Tennis, Running
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Amusement Parks (roller coasters)
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Music/Musical Instruments (Tenor Sax & learning guitar)
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Card Games
Hometown: Seekonk, MA
Email: Connor_Pozzi@student.uml.edu
Aytan Hajiyeva
PhD Student
Education:
BS, Petroleum Engineering, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (2024)
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2024-Present)
Research Projects:
Structural health monitoring of Offshore Wind turbine blades
Awards:
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Theoretical and Mathematical Analysis of A Bladeless Wind Turbine
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Analysis of Horizontal Wind Turbines From Different Aspects
Hobbies & Interests:
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Sustainability and Renewable Energy
Hometown: Baku, Azerbaijan
Giovanni Fava
PhD Student
Education:
BS, Mechanical Engineering, Tufts (2020)
MS, Mechanical Engineering, Tufts (2021)
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2024-Present)
Research Projects:
Damage detection from wind turbine blades through the monitoring their bolt loads
Awards:
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Tufts University Dean’s list
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George H. and Marion E. Gowdy Prize
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James P. O’Leary Design Award
Hobbies & Interests:
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Sustainability and Renewable Energy
Hometown: Newton, MA
Email: Givanni_Fava@student.uml.edu
David Schmidt
PhD Student
Education:
BS, Mechatronics Engineering, Northern Illinois University (2023)
MS, Mechanical Engineering, Northern Illinois University (2024)
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2024-Present)
Research Projects:
Control Theory and Machine Learning to Dynamic Robotics with interests in Biomechanics, with a notable focus on Exoskeletons, and Aerospace
Awards:
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NASA Illinois Space Grant Consortium Scholarship
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Northern Illinois University (NIU) University Honors EYE Grant
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NIU University Honors Excellence Award and Huskie Spotlight
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NIU Dean’s List
Hobbies & Interests:
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Robotics, exoskeletons, aerospace
Hometown: South Elgin, IL
Christopher Lowell
MS Student
Education:
BS, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2024)
MS, Mechanical Engineering, UML (2024-Present)
Research Projects:
Structural health monitoring of Wind turbine blades using a sparse sensor array
Awards:
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UML Dean's List
Hobbies & Interests:
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Sustainability and Renewable Energy
Hometown: Essex, MA
Visiting Scholars
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Dr.Oguzhan Das, Department of Aeronautics Science, National Defense University, Izmir, Turkiye (2023)
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Dr.Duygu Bagci Das, Department of Computer Programming, Ege University, Izmir, Turkiye (2023)
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Mr.Yuta Miyazaki, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chuo University, (2017-2018)
Alumni of Our Research Group
​Past PhD Students
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Christopher H. Beale, PhD, “Development of an Acoustics-based structural health monitoring technique for the monitoring of wind turbine blades”, graduated May 2019, currently with Sandia National Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM (Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year – 2019).
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Jaclyn V. Solimine, PhD, “Development of robust, data-driven, damage identification techniques for the passive acoustics-based structural health monitoring of wind turbine blades”, graduated February 2022, currently with MITRE, Bedford, MA (Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year – 2022).
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Caleb Traylor, PhD, “Computational investigation into the aeroacoustics of wind turbine blades for structural health monitoring, graduated August 2022, currently with University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA (Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year – 2023).
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Bahadir Sarikaya, PhD, “The impact of manufacturing imperfections on the dynamic response characteristic of centrifugal pendulum vibration absorbers”, graduated February 2023, currently with Exponent, Natick, MA (Two times AGMA Scholar).
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Patrick Drane, PhD, “An experimental and computational investigation of energy absorption in helmet liner systems under low-velocity impact", August 2024, currently with University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA.
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​Past MS Students
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Dylan C. Fyler, MS, “A statistically enhanced system-level design and analysis framework for double-planet planetary gearsets”, graduated May 2016, currently with AirMar Technology Corporation, Milford, NH (Outstanding Masters Student of the Year – 2016).
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Taylor M. Regan, MS, “An experimental investigation of vibroacoustic damage detection using supervised machine learning”, graduated May 2016, currently with Uptime Solutions – Asset Monitoring Engineer, Lebanon, NH.
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Nicholas Deane, MS, “Pressure monitoring based identification of the EOD suit – human interface load distribution and ergonomics”, graduated August 2020, currently with David Clark Company-Project Engineer, Worcester, MA.
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Jay Atulbhai Pandya, MS “Artificial neural network assisted structural health monitoring of dynamic structures under impact type excitation”, graduated August 2021, currently with currently with Rocket Connections - Senior Data Scientist.
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Alina Berkowitz, MS, “A data-driven design optimization framework for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries with improved microstructural characteristics”, graduated February 2023, currently with Jacobs - Energy Specialist.
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John Yirrell, MS, “Analytical, computational, and experimental investigation on the effect of damage on wind turbine noise generation”, graduated May 2023, currently with MIT Lincoln Laboratories - Systems Engineer.
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German Reyes, MS, “An experimental and computational investigation into the NVH characteristics of in-wheel AC motors”, graduated May 2023, currently with Arc Engineering - Quality Engineer.
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​Current & Past Undergraduate Research Assistants
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Christopher Lowell (Spring 2024, Summer 2024)
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Adil Faisal (Spring 2024, Summer 2024)
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Jared Shepard (Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024)
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Milan Rosic (Fall 2023, Spring 2024)
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Stephanie Epstein (Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, Fall 2021).
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Connor Pozzi (Spring 2022).
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Aaron Bouchard (Spring 2021, Summer 2021).
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Kyle Koutonen (Spring 2021).
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German Reyes (Spring 2021).
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Noah Bellomo (Fall 2020, Spring 2021).
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Benjamin Burnley (Fall 2020, Spring 2020).
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Zachary G. Nelson (Fall 2019, Spring 2020).
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Pablo Ruiz (Fall 2019, Spring 2020).
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Brett Wadman (Spring 2020, Summer 2019, Fall 2019) – NSF REU (Summer 2019).
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Jairo Vanegas – NSF REU (Summer 2019)
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Samuel Hurvitz (Summer 2019).
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Jairo Vanegas (Summer 2019).
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Christina Heer (Summer 2019).
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Andrew Lucey (Spring 2019, Summer 2019, Fall 2020).
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William Medeiros (Fall 2018, Spring 2019).
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Shantoi Forbes (Spring 2019).
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Emmanuel Sekyi (Spring 2019).
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Iman Nandi (Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019).
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Natalya Gage (Summer 2018).
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Shanelle Samuels (Fall 2018).
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Elesvan Hunt (Spring 2018, Fall 2018).
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Joel A. Cora (Fall 2018).
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John Yirell (Summer 2017),
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Omar Hegazy (Spring 2017).
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Michael Porter (Summer 2017)
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Randy Camasso – NSF REU (Summer 2017)
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Nicholas Vienneau – NSF REU (Summer 2017)
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Elizabeth Slavkovsky (Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017 and Spring 2018).
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Peter Fickenwirth – NSF REU (Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017)
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Christopher Beale (Spring 2016).
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Kristofer Tite (Summer 2016).
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Marion Kiiru (Summer 2016).
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Priscilla Ndikwani (Summer 2016).
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Omar Abdelaal (Fall 2016).
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Caleb Deravil (Fall 2016).
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Scott Wojtovitz (Summer 2016)
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Catherine R. Pelton – NSF REU (Summer 2016)
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John Perampalam (Fall 2015).
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Lesa Duval (Fall 2015).
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Jaclyn Solimine (Summer 2014) - “Craig Douglas” awardee
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