MEET THE TEAM
Director
Brian L. Wardle
office: 33-408
Professor Brian L. Wardle is Full Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT, with a joint appointment in Mechanical Engineering, where his work focuses on materials and structures. He is the founder and director of MIT’s Nano-Engineered Composite aerospace STructures (NECST) Consortium, and necstlab. He is active in the Materials Processing Center (MPC) ISN, CMSE, and MEMS@MIT (part of the Microsystems Technology Laboratory) communities. His profile can be found here.
Post Doctoral degrees Associates
Shweta Sharma
bio
Dr. Shweta Sharma is a Postdoctoral Associate in necstlab since February 2024. She earned her PhD in Physics from the University of Delhi in 2022, focusing on lead-free ferroelectric thin films and MEMS devices. Following her PhD, she joined as a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State University where she contributed to the advancement of thermoelectric thin film energy harvesters and plasmonic-perovskite interactions. Her current research interests remain rooted in material science, particularly in the development and application of carbon nanotubes based micro-devices for structural health monitoring. Outside the lab, she enjoys travelling and hiking.
Carina Xiaochen Li
bio
Dr. Carina Xiaochen Li joined necstlab in 2022 as a postdoctoral researcher. She received her Ph.D. in M. C. Gill Composite Center at University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California, where she worked on the manufacturing of high performance aerospace composites. During her Ph.D., she was a visiting research scientist at the IMDEA Materials Institute in Madrid, Spain, and worked on the nano-mechanical testing of high-temperature CFRP composites. Her research interests include nanoengineering of aligned-CNT reinforced aerospace composite structures, multifunctionality nanocomposites, advanced Out-of-Oven composites manufacturing techniques, thermoplastic composites manufacturing, and composite material and structural design.
Jae-moon Jeong
bio
Jae-Moon Jeong joined necstlab in 2024 as a postdoctoral researcher. He received his Ph.D. in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KAIST. His research work revolves around composite materials for energy storage system and composite manufacturing process. He is outgoing and sociable with friends. Outside of the school, Jae-Moon enjoys practicing the piano, boarding, playing soccer, table tennis, and traveling around the world.
Graduate Students
Palak Patel
bio
Palak Patel is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. She has the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities fellowship and researches novel space radiation shielding materials for astronauts and electronics, and extreme environment materials for deep space exploration. Palak got her S.M. in Mechanical Engineering at MIT, where she researched multifunctional nanoengineered aerospace composites, and her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering in India at Pandit Deendayal Energy University, where she worked on metal manufacturing research for space technology with the Indian Space Research Organisation. She also works on other space-related topics including mission analysis and design, in situ resource utilization on the Moon and Mars, and humans in space in NASA student competitions. Her hobbies include playing soccer, running (regrettably), hiking, and painting.
Shaan Jagani
bio
Shaan Jagani is a graduate student in the AeroAstro department, who received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Material Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He served as a research assistant in Berkeley’s material science department and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Material Science Division, working to improve the mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites. His current research involves manufacturing and testing carbon nanotube reinforced ceramic matrix composites. Outside of research, he enjoys fencing, baking, music, and engineering passion projects.
Alisa Webb
bio
Alisa Webb is a graduate student in the AeroAstro department. She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University, while researching for the Nanoscale Heat Transfer Laboratory. Her current research includes the investigation of nanoporous materials in composites manufacturing. In her free time, Alisa enjoys playing team sports, exploring new music, and sightseeing.
Yuying Lin
bio
Yuying is a graduate student in AeroAstro, joining necstlab in Fall 2022. She completed a BSc in chemical engineering at Caltech, where they conducted research in developing ultralight luminescent solar concentrators for the Space Solar Power Project. In necstlab, they will study the bulk nanocomposite laminating process. In her free time she likes to run, do calisthenics workouts, make GarageBand beats, and design jewelry.
Christopher Kwon
bio
Christopher Kwon is a graduate student in Aerospace Engineering. He received his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia. He served as a research assistant in UVA’s MAE department and Rolls Royce, studying the environmental ablation of ceramic matrix composites for turbine engines. He was also a member of UVA’s Design-Build-Fly team. His research interests include the nanoengineering and manufacturing of advanced composite structures with applications towards the research and development of advanced aerostructures. Outside of academics, he enjoys exploring fashion and photography, playing sports, and watching anime.
Armando Neto
bio
Armando Rodrigues Carneiro Neto is a graduate student in the Mechanical Engineering Department at MIT. He received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before joining Prof. Yang Shao-Horn’s group during the Fall of 2022, he worked as a Product Development Engineer I for Embraer. His research focuses on energy resilience, namely, he is researching on how to expand the electrochemical stability window of aqueous electrolytes to build safer, better-performing, aqueous batteries at EEL. Through a collaboration between necstlab and EEL, he is working on structural super capacitors to turn the structural parts of vehicles into a multifunctional element that can also store energy. Outside the academic environment, he enjoys going for long drives and playing soccer..
Marianna Rogers
bio
Marianna Rogers is a graduate student in the Mechanical Engineering department at MIT. She received undergraduate degrees in both Physics and Mathematics at the University of Chicago, and is excited to apply her academic background to the research of multifunctional nanomaterials at necstlab. She previously worked with our group as a 2022 MSRP Summer Research Intern. Outside of the lab, Marianna enjoys outdoor activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking/backpacking, and sightseeing, and also loves to dance!
Ruth Davis
bio
Ruth Davis is a graduate student within the Aeronautics & Astronautics department at MIT. She previously attended Howard University, where she was a Karsh STEM Scholar and received her B.S. in mechanical engineering. She conducted undergraduate research on the use of cryogenics for thermal cycling materials for space applications and on fundamental electrospray propulsion principles. She has experience working at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory where her work involved the use of flow devices to cool lithium-ion batteries and thermal modeling of electric propulsion devices. Ruth has also interned at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, NASA Headquarters, and the Aerospace Corporation. Her current work involves studying materials and investigating novel additive manufacturing methods for electrospray propulsion applications. She is passionate about space exploration and propulsion and endeavors to make space more accessible and affordable. In her free time, Ruth loves reading novels, running, film photography, and traveling abroad.
Erick Gonzalez
bio
Erick Gonzalez is a graduate student within the Aeronautics & Astronautics department at MIT. He also received his S.B. in Aeronautics & Astronautics at MIT. He conducted undergraduate research in necstlab on bulk nanocomposite laminates. He is also a member of MIT’s Design-Build-Fly team. Outside of school, he enjoys baking, playing sports, and playing video games.
Christopher Carter
bio
Christopher Carter is a graduate student in the Mechanical Engineering department. He received his SM in Mechanical Engineering at MIT, co-advised by Prof. Zachary Cordero and Prof. John Hart, conducting research into additively manufactured aerospace materials. Hailing from North Carolina, he received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Carolina. His research interests include machine design, manufacturing, and high-temperature materials. Following a period of research in metal additive manufacturing, Chris now conducts research on composite manufacturing. Outside of research, Chris is an avid baker, cook, and kombucha brewer.
Undergraduate Students
Brady Cruse
bio
Brady is an undergraduate at MIT studying Course 6-2, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He has devoted considerable time to programming and designing electronic circuits. Brady’s primary passion is nanotechnology, which he intends to research at MIT. He is also interested in computer architecture and wireless technology. After completing his degree, Brady plans to pursue a Ph.D.
Derek Chan
bio
Derek is a second year undergraduate at MIT studying Course 16, Aerospace Engineering. He has a passion for aircraft and rocket design. He is also a member of the MIT motorsports and rocket team. Outside of academics, he enjoys going to new places and trying new things
Caitlin Lian
bio
Caitlin is a third-year undergraduate at MIT studying Course 16, Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Course 8, Physics. She has a passion for aircraft design and materials research. Outside of the lab, she captains the MIT Women’s Ultimate Frisbee team and enjoys hiking, making music, and more ultimate frisbee.
Visiting Scientists and Students
Giulia Fredi
bio
Giulia is a junior assistant professor at the University of Trento (Italy). She joined necstlab in January 2025 as a Fulbright visiting scholar.
Her research interests include the study of multifunctional composites containing phase change materials (PCMs) for simultaneous structural and thermal energy storage/management functions and the development of composites based on reactive thermoplastic matrices, such as anionic polyamide 6 (PA6), filled with thermally sensitive reinforcements like plant or polymeric fibers.
At necstlab she is studying the impact of nanoconfinement played by aligned carbon on the crystallization of PCMs and PA6.
In her spare time, she enjoys singing, playing the ukulele, hiking, and baking pizza.
Affiliated Faculty and Researchers
Prof. Hulya Cebeci, Istanbul Technical University
geyikh@itu.edu.tr
John Kane, MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics
Research Specialist
kane@mit.edu
Dr. Antonio Miravete
Research Affiliate
Professor Antonio Miravete was a full time professor at the University of Zaragoza, Spain 1981 – 1997. Since that year he focused his professional activity in the US and kept teaching in Spain until 2020. With over four decades of experience, he has dedicated his career to both teaching and conducting extensive research on composite materials. Professor Miravete’s prolific contributions to the academic world include authoring or co-authoring over 300 publications, including books, book chapters, journal articles, conference papers, and technical reports. Currently, he is a research affiliate at MIT in necstlab.
Prof. Desiree Plata
Visiting Professor
dplat@mit.edu
Prof. Seunghyun Kim, Brown University
Associate Professor
Seunghyun_Kim@brown.edu
Administrative Staff
