Hello, I'm

Avinash Nayal

Ph.D. Candidate · Mechanical Engineering

University of Oklahoma

Researcher in thermal management, advanced materials, and energy systems. Experienced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with 9+ peer-reviewed publications. Passionate about solving complex engineering challenges at the intersection of heat transfer and materials science.

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About Me

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, advised by Prof. Jivtesh Garg in the Micro/Nano Heat Transfer Lab. My research spans thermal management systems, advanced composite materials, and first-principles computational modeling.

Most recently, I completed a prestigious internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) where I investigated phonon thermal transport in energy-relevant materials using DFT simulations, developing Python-based post-processing frameworks that reduced analysis cycle time by 40%.

I hold an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University and a B.Tech. from Nirma University, India. My work has been published in leading journals including RSC Nanoscale, Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology, and Materials Chemistry and Physics.

nayal1@ou.edu +1 480-765-8044 LinkedIn Profile

Education

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

University of Oklahoma

Aug 2020 - Present

M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering

Arizona State University

Aug 2018 - Jul 2020

B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering

Nirma University, India

Aug 2013 - May 2017

Experience

GRO Intern - Materials Science & Technology

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Jan 2025 - May 2025

Investigated phonon thermal transport in energy-relevant materials using DFT (Quantum ESPRESSO, Phonopy)
Analyzed mechanical strain effects on thermal conductivity in GaN under mentorship of Dr. Lucas Lindsay
Developed Python post-processing framework that reduced analysis cycle time by 40%

DFTQuantum ESPRESSOPythonPhonopy

Graduate Research Assistant (Phase 2)

Micro/Nano Heat Transfer Lab, University of Oklahoma

Jan 2023 - Present

Designed Couette-shear extrusion tool with full GD&T drawings and BOM
Achieved uniform temperature control (ΔT < 2°C) across battery thermal modules
Led comparative testing of air, liquid, CPCM, and hybrid cooling systems for BTMS

BTMSSolidWorksCPCMGD&T

Graduate Teaching Assistant - Capstone Course

University of Oklahoma

Aug 2021 - Present

Managed 6 senior design teams on USPS Automated Delivery Unit Sorter improvements
Instructed students in SolidWorks, ANSYS Fluent, and engineering design principles

SolidWorksANSYS FluentMentoring

Graduate Research Assistant (Phase 1)

Micro/Nano Heat Transfer Lab, University of Oklahoma

Aug 2020 - Dec 2022

Synthesized expandable graphite composites achieving 3070% increase in thermal conductivity
Conducted first-principles study on hexagonal BCₓP reporting 162 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹ thermal conductivity
Mentored 2 junior researchers on thermal testing and data analysis

Materials SynthesisFirst-PrinciplesMATLAB

Master's Thesis Researcher

Nano-Engineered Thermal Radiation Group, Arizona State University

May 2019 - Jul 2020

Developed theoretical heat transfer model for Solar Thermophotovoltaics (STPV) in MATLAB
Built experimental STPV setup achieving <5% deviation from theoretical predictions

STPVMATLABOptics

Research Intern

IIT Gandhinagar - Mechanical Engineering Department

Aug 2017 - Jul 2018

Led testing and overhaul of 5 kWe diesel-powered fuel cell auto-reformer system (DRDO-sponsored)
Created scale-up plans from 5 kWe to 30 kWe using ASPEN modeling

Fuel CellsASPENP&ID

Research Intern

Institute for Plasma Research - Dept. of Atomic Energy, India

Jan 2017 - Jul 2017

Simulated thermo-hydraulic behavior of ITER divertor component using FEM in ANSYS APDL
Achieved 30% better thermal uniformity in divertor cooling system design

ANSYS APDLFEMITER

Research & Projects

Key research areas spanning thermal management, materials science, and computational modeling

Battery Thermal Management

Comparative evaluation of air-cooled, liquid, CPCM-enhanced, and hybrid cooling configurations achieving ΔT < 2°C uniformity across battery modules.

BTMSCPCMHeat Transfer

Advanced Composite Materials

Synthesis of expanded graphite/paraffin composites achieving 3070% thermal conductivity improvement; graphene/epoxy composites with 44% enhancement.

GrapheneEG/PCMNanomaterials

Solar Thermophotovoltaics (STPV)

MATLAB-based theoretical model and novel experimental setup using silica microspheres for precise 100 μm gap maintenance, validated to <5% deviation.

STPVMATLABRadiation

First-Principles Phonon Transport

DFT simulations using Quantum ESPRESSO and Phonopy to investigate phonon thermal transport in GaN and BCₓP, computing thermal conductivity of 162 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹.

DFTPhonopyQuantum ESPRESSO

Fuel Cell System Upscaling

Testing and overhaul of 5 kWe diesel-powered fuel cell auto-reformer (DRDO-sponsored), with ASPEN-based scale-up plans to 30 kWe capacity.

Fuel CellsASPENEnergy

ITER Divertor Thermal Analysis

FEM modeling of high heat flux (>10 MW/m²) divertor behavior in ANSYS APDL, achieving 30% better thermal uniformity through design optimization.

ANSYS APDLFEMNuclear Fusion

Publications

9 peer-reviewed publications in materials science and thermal engineering journals

Hydrogen-peroxide intercalated expanded graphite facilitates large enhancement in thermal conductivity

Tarannum F., Danayat S., Nayal A., et al.

Journal of Materials Research and Technology · 2024

↗ Scholar

Thickness dependent thermal conductivity of strontium titanate thin films

Annam R.S., Danayat S., Nayal A., et al.

Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A · 2024

↗ Scholar

Role of four-phonon processes in thermal conductivity

Danayat S., Tasnim Z., Nayal A., Annam R., Garg J.

RSC Nanoscale · 2024

↗ Scholar

Superior enhancement in thermal conductivity of epoxy/graphene nanocomposites through use of dimethylformamide

Danayat S., Nayal A., Tarannum F., Annam R., Muthaiah R., Garg J.

MethodsX, Vol. 11 · 2023

↗ Scholar

Thermally expanded graphite polyetherimide composite with superior electrical and thermal conductivity

Tarannum F., Danayat S., Nayal A., et al.

Materials Chemistry and Physics · 2023

↗ Scholar

Large Enhancement in Thermal Conductivity of Solvent-Cast Expanded Graphite/Polyetherimide Composites

Tarannum F., Danayat S., Nayal A., Muthaiah R., Annam R., Garg J.

Nanomaterials · 2022

↗ Scholar

The superior effect of edge functionalization relative to basal plane functionalization on thermal properties of graphene composites

Muthaiah R., Tarannum F., Danayat S., Annam R., Nayal A., Garg J.

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · 2022

↗ Scholar

Expanded Graphite/Paraffin composite phase change materials: Effect of solvent and ultrasonication on thermal properties

Nayal A., Garg J.

APS March Meeting (Presentation) · 2022

↗ Scholar

Thermal Conductivity of Hexagonal BC₂P - a First Principle Study

Muthaiah R., Tarannum F., Annam R., Nayal A., Danayat S., Garg J.

RSC Advances · 2020

↗ Scholar

Skills

Simulation & Modeling

ANSYS Fluent ANSYS APDL ANSYS Icepak COMSOL Quantum ESPRESSO Phonopy First-Principles DFT FEA / CFD EES

Programming

Python MATLAB C++ Fortran HPC Workflows

CAD & Design

SolidWorks Fusion 360 Tinkercad GD&T DFM / DFA / DFC

Materials Characterization

Raman Spectroscopy DSC TGA XRD SEM Laser Flash (LFA467) Four Point Probe 3D Scanning

Awards & Scholarships

2024Exxon Mobile Milam Scholarship, University of Oklahoma

2023Milton J. Gordon Memorial Scholarship, University of Oklahoma

2023Exxon Mobile Milam Scholarship, University of Oklahoma

2023Gallogly College of Engineering Scholarship, University of Oklahoma

2022Nettie Vincent Boggs Graduate Fellowship, University of Oklahoma

2022Jim & Bee Close Engineering Scholarship, University of Oklahoma

2021John E. Francis Scholarship, University of Oklahoma

2021Jim & Bee Close Engineering Scholarship, University of Oklahoma