Taghi Sherizadeh

Dr. Taghi Sherizadeh

Associate Professor, Mining and Explosives Engineering 

  • Computational mechanics
  • Numerical, statistical, and probabilistic modeling in rock mechanics
  • Rock slope stability of underground excavations
  • Application of numerical modeling in underground and surface mining
  • Reservoir geomechanics (wellbore stability, hydraulic fracturing, and sand production)
  • Geomechanical aspects of CO2 sequestration
  • Geothermal energy recovery
  • Assessment of nuclear waste disposal sites
  • Pore pressure in-situ stress analysis
  • Compaction and subsidence modeling
  • Artificial intelligence (artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic and genetic algorithms) 
Lana Alagha

Dr. Lana Alagha

Robert H. Quenon Associate Professor & Associate Chair for Research, Mining and Explosives Engineering 

  • Mineral processing
  • Surface chemistry
  • Water management
  • Nanotechnology
  • Rare earth minerals
  • Liquid membranes
  • Separation Science
  • Oil sand processing
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning tools
Denise Baker

Dr. Denise Baker

Assistant Professor of Psychology 

  • Human factors
  • Experimental psychology
  • Decision making attitudes and formation
  • Lay-perceptions of scientific information
Venkata Nadendla

Dr. Venkata (Sid) Nadendla

Assistant Professor, Computer Science 

  • Cyber-physical-human systems for smart living
  • Human-system interaction
  • Statistical inference and machine learning
  • Communications and information theory
  • Multiagent systems
  • Behavioral decision theory
Doug Bristow

Dr. Douglas Bristow

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director, Center for Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies 

  • Dynamic modeling and control of micro and nano-positioning systems
  • Atomic force microscopes and additive manufacturing systems
  • Volumetric error compensation for machine tools and robotics
  • Precision motion control
  • Iterative learning control
  • Multi-dimensional control
  • Signal processing

Dr. Jhon Silva- Castro

Associate Professor, University of Kentucky, Mining Engineering Department 

  • Explosives and explosions
  • Airblast, ground vibrations
  • Numerical modeling
  • Rock dynamics, rock fragmentation, fractures propagation
  • Mine Safety

MERIT Center Advisory Board

ARCH RESOURCES, INC

Paul A. Lang, PE, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

KOMATSU MINING CORP

Tom Barnes, Senior Manager - Global Service Excellence

 

FRED WEBER, INC.

Justin Higginbotham, PE, General Manager, Operations and Projects

 

PEABODY ENEGRY CORPORATION

Bryan Galli, PE, Group Executive and Chief Marketing Officer

 

PRAIRIE STATE GENERATING COMPANY

Lane Hendricks, Safety Manager

 

STRATA WORLDWIDE LLC

Tom Michaud, Chief Technical Officer

 

VALE BASE METALS

Luke Mahony, Global Head of Geology, Mine Engineering, Geotechnical and Technology & Innovation

  

MSHA REPRESENTATIVE

David Weaver, Regional Administrator Mine Safety and Health Enforcement