Group members

Prof. Taylor D. Sparks

Professor
Materials Science & Engineering Department
office: CME 314, phone: 801.581.8632
email: sparks@eng.utah.edu
CV, publications

Postdocs and visiting researchers

Dr. Philip Lampkin
One-U Responsible AI Initiative (RAI) Postdoctoral Fellow
co-advisted by Matt Sigman, Taylor Sparks, and Jacob Lessard
research area: data-driven upcycled/recycled polystyrenes

A. R. Ramachandran (PhD), Researcher
Generative models for crystal structure generation

PhD Students
Hasan Sayeed
office: Layton 215
research area: large language models for materials. Sponsored by Steel Founders Society of America
Ramsey Issa
office: Layton 215
research area: dental materials informatics. Sponsored by Ultradent Products LLC
Trupti Mohanty
office: Layton 215
research area: generative materials informatics. Sponsored by Army Research Office.
Kinston Ackölf Wong
office: Layton 215
research area: self-driving labs.
Andrew Falkowski
office: Layton 215
research area: materials informatics. Sponsored by ES3
Byron Millet
office: Layton 215
research area: materials informatics. Sponsored by HiFunda LLC
Casey Clark
office: Layton 215
research area: materials informatics. Generative models and language models. Sponsored by Army Research Office.
Alex Royzman
office: Layton 215
research area: ceramic materials informatics. Sponsored by Remote and Austere Grand Challenge

Ms Students

Stanley Wessman
research topic: materials informatics. Sponsored by Naval Surface Warfare Center.

Ziyang Jiang
research topic: ceramic phosphors for phosphorescent paint

undergraduate Interns and visitors

Ian Beauregard
research topic: autonomous labs

Ashwin Mhadeshwar
research topic: materials informatics MAX phases

Lavanya Mohnani
research topic: materials informatics

Joshua Jordan
research topic: reflective paint. Sponsored by Pirta Ltd.

Lucas Bolster
research topic: antifouling coatings. Sponsored by Fisher Company.

Layla Purdy
research topic: materials informatics. ReUSE REU student.

Arin Soneji
research topic: materials informatics. Materials classification

Leng Ze Tang
research topic: materials informatics. Visiting from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, under the CN Yang Scholars Programme (CNYSP).

Kaelin Mittel
research topic: quantum materials

Alexander Harris
research topic: quantum materials

Alex Bracken
research topic: quantum materials

Theodore Stowell
research topic: quantum materials

Khushi Shah
research topic: quantum materials

Ivan Turan
research topic: computer vision

Former group members and alumni

Postdocs
Dr. Jeff Bates University of Utah, Materials Science and Engineering Department
Dr. Kyu Bum Han Senior Scientist, Hifunda LLC
Dr. Wu Wenjuan Chengdu University of Information Technology, Assistant Professor of Physics
Dr. Maged Bekheet Technical University of Berlin, Group Leader
Dr. Shadi Al Khateeb Al Balqa University of Technology, Assistant Professor
Dr. Amit Vashist Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, Junior Faculty Fellowship
Dr. Victor Villapun University of Birmingham
Dr. Sam Kocaman Istanbul Technical University
Dr. Burhan SaifAddin King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Graduate students
Garrett Meeks MS 2017, Williams International
Nasikul Islam Haliburton
Christian Robert MS 2018, TA Instruments Inc
Colton Fox MS 2018, ChampionX
Leila Ghadbeigi PhD 2018, Intel
Ashley Kennedy MS 2019, Foley & Lardner
Logan Kiefer MS 2019, Edwards Lifesciences
Alex Szendrei PhD 2019, TA Instruments Inc
Danielle Beatty MS 2020, PhD student at UC Boulder, Minus Materials
Amber Barron MS 2020, Procter & Gamble
Jason Nance MS 2020, Utah Department of Transportation
Conrad Clemente MS 2020, Micron
Jake Graser PhD 2020, Northrop Grumman
Steven Ka'ai Kauwe PhD 2021, Citrine Informatics
Clark Nielson MS 2021, PhD student at University of Utah
Konrad Serbinowski MS 2021, Aptive Environmental
Marcus Parry PhD 2022, Zap Energy
Isaac Krieger MS 2022, L3Harris Technologies
Mitch Child MS 2022, Specialized Bicycles
Andrew Falkowski MS 2022, Ultrasafe Nuclear Corporation
Pooya Elahi PhD 2022, postdoc in Surgery Dept University of Utah
Husain Alnaser PhD 2022
Faris Kahn MS 2023, Texas Instruments
Sterling Baird PhD 2023, Faculty at Brigham Young University
Travis Allen MS 2023, PhD student at University of Utah
Mark Halling MS 2023, Auria Space
Jackson Hendry MS 2023, SINTX
Hayden Johnson MS 2023, L3Harris Technologies
Carter Salbego MS 2024, Northrop Grumman
Jason Hall PhD 2024, Northrop Grumman
Elizabeth Winterholler MS 2024, Radical AI
Wade Smallwood MS 2024, Dandy

interns & Visitors (and their home institutions)
Marianne Liu West High School
Jude Horsley University of Utah
Ashley Henderson University of Utah
Lee Larson UT Dallas
Colton Seegmiller Utah Valley University
Michael Alverson University of Utah
B.D. Hauth University of Utah
Tran Diep Brigham Young University
Rachel Pereira Wellesley University
Pramit Chalise University of Utah
Caleb Bost University of Utah
Ryan Murdock University of Utah
Kayla Mumford University of Utah
Anthony Y.T. Wang Technische Universitat Berlin
Brennan Theler University of Utah
Elise Buki University of Utah
Shane Tory University of Utah
Suzanne Petryk Cornell University
Ali Dibble University of Utah
Rishabh Sahani Jaypee University, India
Benjamin Gilmore University of Utah
Katie Sautter Pennsylvania State University
Zixiao Liu University of Utah
Patrick Nichols University of Utah
Carl Luft University of Utah
Max Gallant University of Utah
Kyle Roberts University of Utah
Nic Flinner University of Utah
Alexandre Stella Sao Paulo University,Brazil
Pablo Moreno San Jose State University
Debora Costa Martins Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Thiago Trindade Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Brazil
Laercio Martins Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Brandon Day University of Utah
Kristina Lundgren University of Utah
Matthew Judge University of Utah
Mikal Hanna University of Utah
Ian Robinson University of Utah
Emily Timmins University of Utah