Directory
Dr. Jianzhi Li - Director
Dr. Jianzhi (James) is the inaugural director of the UTRGV Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM). He also holds the President’s Endowed Professorship. Dr. Li received his Bachelor of Science degree in Automotive Engineering and Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering, both from Tsinghua University, China. He received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from Texas Tech University. Dr. Li has more than 20 years of leadership and research experience in the areas of materials for extreme conditions, additive manufacturing, renewable energy, AI in manufacturing, and recycling and other sustainable manufacturing practices. He also has eight years of industry experience, including business incubation and serving as CTO in IT companies. Throughout his career, Dr. Li has maintained a distinguished scholarly record, while devoting strong efforts to developing programs that benefit the institution and the manufacturing community at large. In various roles, he has conducted research/development projects with more than $50 million in grants supported by DoD, Army, DOE, NNSA, DOL, NSF, and Texas ATP/ARP. His research also includes numerous industry projects sponsored by industry partners such as Dell, Caterpillar, EOS, GE Aerospace, Raytheon, ALPS automotive, Honeywell, and others.
jianzhi.li@utrgv.edu
Lesly Orozco-Zarate - Director of Special Programs
Lesly Orozco-Zarate is the Director of Special Programs at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She holds a Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering, a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration, and a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering. In this role, Lesly leads efforts that connect education with real industry needs. She manages programs that support workforce development, including industry-recognized certifications, internships, externships, summer camps and collaborative projects with companies, national labs and secondary education partners . With a background that blends engineering and education, she brings both technical knowledge and practical insight into how students can succeed in today’s job market.
Lesly also helps organize events that bring together schools, colleges, and industry leaders to strengthen regional partnerships. She works closely on aligning training programs with what employers are looking for, making hands-on learning a priority for students across South Texas. Her work plays a key role in making workforce development one of the strongest areas within the IAM, helping prepare students with the skills and experience they need to thrive in advanced manufacturing and related fields.
Dr. Farid Ahmed
Dr. Farid Ahmed is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria. His research interests include additive manufacturing processes and applications, convergent manufacturing, laser material processing, sensing technologies for monitoring applications in advanced manufacturing, and printed electronics.
Dr. Benjamin Peters
Dr. Peters is currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Texas-Pan American in May 2011. In August 2014, he graduated from the University of Texas-Pan American with two Masters of Science in Manufacturing Engineering with focuses in Systems Engineering and Engineering Management. Following graduation, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology. While at Georgia Tech, he developed multiple frameworks that process information-rich, but spatially large data structures for monitoring the health of industrial assets from fields such as: automotive, gas turbine, and aviation. In December 2021, he graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with my Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Engineering.
Dr. AMM Nazmul Ahsan
Dr. AMM Nazmul Ahsan is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering at UTRGV. He received his Ph.D. degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from North Dakota State University in 2019. Before that he completed his master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from the same university. His research interests include additive manufacturing process modeling, simulation, and optimization, machine learning enabled in-situ manufacturing process monitoring and control, new process development, and robotic manufacturing. He received the Outstanding Early-Career Faculty Award 2021 in the College of Engineering and Technology at Western Carolina University. He is a recipient of Chancellor's Gold Medal and Prime Minister’s Gold Medal Awards at the undergraduate level.
Dr. Ahmed Bendaouia
Dr. Fenfen Wang
Dr. Fenfen Wang is a newly appointed Postdoctoral Scholar at UTRGV, serving as a visiting assistant professor and researcher. She earned her Ph.D. in Mechanics from Case Western Reserve University and brings extensive expertise in the experimental operations of lithium-ion battery (LIB) fabrication, spanning coin cell to pouch cell formats. Her experience includes electrode material synthesis, electrode processing, electrolyte formulation research and development, battery testing, and advanced data analysis. Dr. Wang has successfully led numerous research projects, showcasing her leadership and deep technical knowledge in the field.
Dr. Monsuru Ramoni
Dr. Monsuru Ramoni is currently an Assistant Professor at UTRGV. He holds M.S. degrees in Manufacturing Engineering and Management from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, and in Industrial Engineering from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. He earned his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University, Lubbock. Dr. Ramoni's research focuses on additive manufacturing, material characterization, and engineering education. Dr. Ramoni has secured funding from NASA, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Dr. Nadim Zgheib
Dr. Nadim Zgheib is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). He earned his Ph.D. through a collaborative program between the University of Florida and the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (INPT) in France. His research centers on turbulent multiphase flows, encompassing areas such as fluid-sediment and fluid-structure interactions, airborne dispersal, frost formation in complex geometries, ice accretion on airfoils using turbulence- and droplet-informed simulations, and the dynamics of offshore renewable energy structures.
Dr. Mostafa Malki
Dr. Mostafa Malki is a long-standing professor at UTRGV, specializing in business development and entrepreneurship. As a visionary leader, he oversees two prominent organizations. He serves as the Executive Director for Business Development at America’s Additive Foundry, part of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Cyber Systems, where he drives innovation and growth in the manufacturing sector. Additionally, he is the co-founder of Aaron Economic Consulting, which provides economic consulting services to private corporations, municipalities, and government entities. The firm specializes in economic impact studies, site selection, tax abatement, and incentive packages, supporting strategic decision-making and economic development initiatives.
Dr. Philip Park
Dr. Philip Park is an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He obtained his PhD in Civil Engineering and MS in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and received another MS and a BS in Civil Engineering at Yonsei University -South Korea. Dr. Park has interdisciplinary research experience at UTRGV, Texas A&M University, and Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science covering structural engineering, material science, and theoretical mechanics. His current research interests include multifunctional materials for sensing applications, high-performance fiber-reinforced construction materials, thermos-mechanical analysis and modeling for geothermal energy harvesting and fusion energy reactors.
Dr. Jinghao Yang
Dr. Jinghao Yang earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2022, following a Ph.D. in Mechatronics Engineering from Dalian University of Technology in 2018. His academic journey began with a B.S. in Mechanical Manufacturing and Automation from Northeastern University in 2012. Currently, he holds the position of Assistant Professor at UTRGV. Before joining the university, he was a Senior Vision Systems Engineer at Tesla, Inc. His research is primarily focused on development of precision, intelligent and flexible multi-scale sensors leveraging computer vision and AI, as well as real-time, non-destructive, and label-free multifunctional measuring and sensing technologies for onsite and remote monitoring and controlling. Dr. Yang published articles in the journals of optics, sensing, and instrument area, such as Optics Express and IEEE Sensors Journal, as well as in Sensors and Actuators A: Physical. He also holds over 20 Chinese patents.