Six new faculty members have joined the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering starting in the fall 2025 semester, bringing with them a range of expertise in various areas.
Pingen Chen
ME Associate Professor
Chen received his PhD in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University. He joins the University of Tennessee after serving nine years at Tennessee Technological University and two years at Cummins Inc. Chen’s research focuses on design, control, and optimization of broad automotive and transportation systems, including automotive engines, hybrid and electric vehicles, automated and connected vehicles, battery recycling and reuse, energy-efficient mobility and building systems, and alternative and renewable fuels. Chen has received several prestigious research awards, such as SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award in 2021
“I am very excited to join the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UT as one of the cluster hires for the Institute for Future Mobility. With this strategic initiative, the university has positioned itself as one of the leading research institutions in the nation for research and education in automotive and transportation areas. I look forward to working closely with the faculty and students at UT to realize its potential.”
Sagar Kanhere
ME Assistant Professor
Kanhere joins UT after completing his postdoctoral research at the Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films at Clemson University. His research focuses on processing low-cost and high-performance carbon fibers. His lab at UT will focus on investigating the sustainable alternative to carbon fiber precursors and developing high compressive strength carbon fibers. Kanhere received his PhD in chemical engineering from Clemson and his bachelor’s degree from the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. As the first in his family to attend college and graduate school, Kanhere has always aspired to become a professor—driven by a desire to give back and honor the guidance and support he received from his teachers.
“I am excited to join the team at UT. Given there is already a significant composite material research ecosystem in place, I look forward to collaborating and taking advantage of personal and professional growth opportunities. Go Vols!”
Di Zhou
ME Assistant Professor
Zhou joins at UT from California Institute of Technology, where he was a postdoctoral research associate at the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories. He earned his PhD in aerospace and mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Zhou’s research focuses on computational fluid dynamics, aeroacoustics, high-performance computing, and scientific machine learning.
“I am excited to join the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UT. I look forward to advancing research in fluid mechanics and scientific machine learning while contributing to the education and success of our students.”
Yang Wang
AE Assistant Professor
Wang joins UT from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he spent four years as a PhD student and three years as a visiting professor. His research focuses on satellite navigation and remote sensing, with particular interest in observing the Earth from space, from the ionosphere to rivers and polar ice. Before coming to the United States, Wang earned his bachelor’s degree from Beihang University in Beijing, China, and his master’s degree from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, both in electrical engineering.
“Space technologies have always inspired me. I am thrilled to join UT and eager to work with faculty and students to help strengthen and grow the university’s aerospace programs.”
Esteban Cisneros-Garibay
ME assistant Professor (UTSI)
Cisneros-Garibay conducts research on compressible flows and combustion in high-speed propulsion. His methods are computational, integrating large scale simulation, reduced modeling, and uncertainty quantification. Cisneros-Garibay earned his PhD from the University of Illinois and was later awarded a Presidential postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University.
“I am proud to come to an institution that prioritizes growth in a holistic sense. It is also exciting to see students full of potential. I am looking forward to working with them.”
Stian Romberg
ME Teaching Assistant Professor
Romberg, who earned his PhD in mechanical engineering at UT, returns to Rocky Top after several years contributing to domestic research initiatives at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he focused on thermoset composites used in additive manufacturing and semiconductor packaging. In his new role at UT, Romberg will be leading the development of a fully online, asynchronous Master of Science program in advanced manufacturing. Designed to accommodate working professionals and traditional students alike, the program emphasizes accessibility, flexibility, and industry-relevant skills.
“It’s an honor to return to UT in a role that lets me expand access to high-quality, flexible engineering education. I’m excited to help prepare students for the rapidly evolving world of advanced manufacturing.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey ([email protected])