Faculty
Aline Avanessian, M.S.
Part-time Faculty
MSE 536: Introduction to Advanced Biomaterials
Aline Avanessian earned a Master of Science in Materials Engineering from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She has more than nine years of experience in polymer testing practices and seven years of experience in characterization, processing, and testing of metals, polymers, and ceramics. Avanessian is currently on staff at Northrop Grumman as a materials and process (M&P) engineer, with a focus on surface treatment and coating application processes, corrosion protection, and additive manufacturing.
Jeremi M. Leasure, M.S.
Part-Time Faculty
ME 507: Human Factors in Medical Devices
Jeremi M. Leasure, MS, is a part-time lecturer at the University of California, Northridge, and has worked for over fifteen years with clinical leaders and top companies on the development of medical devices used in surgery. These experiences, along with his academic background, will inform key concepts in ME 507 such as biomechanics and usability. Leasure earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Temple University and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University.
Shadi Mahjoob, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
ME 692: Computational Fluid Dynamics
Shadi Mahjoob, Ph.D., is a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at California State University, Northridge. She's an expert in thermal-fluids sciences and has worked on several projects utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), analytical, and experimental techniques. Dr. Mahjoob worked as a post-doctorate research scientist at the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany. She later joined the PAX Scientific company in northern California as a principal scientist. In 2015, Dr. Mahjoob joined California State University Northridge (CSUN) as an assistant professor and has also served as the faculty advisor for the Aero Senior Design Capstone project. In addition to teaching, she has contributed substantially to her field of study by publishing peer-reviewed articles in high impact factor journals and peer-reviewed conference papers, as well as mentoring multiple graduate and undergraduate students. Furthermore, she has had significant contributions to the university and community by serving in different committees and by organizing community-engagement programs. Dr. Mahjoob received her PhD degree from University of California, Riverside.
Melih Papila, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
ME 605: Statistical Methods and Analysis of Medical Devices
Dr. Melih Papila is an assistant professor in CSUN's Medical Device Engineering program. He joined CSUN in 2022, after serving as a faculty member in the Materials Science and Nano-Engineering Program at Sabancı University in Istanbul. His research focuses on sustainable, multifunctional composites, integrating experimental and simulation data for predictive modeling. Over his career, Dr. Papila has supervised six Ph.D. dissertations, 18 master’s theses, and mentored numerous undergraduate researchers. He is also the recipient of a variety of awards in his field, most recently the Engineering Council’s Outstanding Engineering Achievement Merit Award and the NASA/MUREP MPLAN Award. Dr. Papila earned his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida, Gainesville.
Tohid Sardarmehni, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Director, Advanced Systems Lab
ME 384: System Dynamics: Modeling, Analysis and Simulation
ME 584: Modeling and Simulation of Dynamic Systems
ME 684: Design and Control of Dynamic Systems
ME 435: Mechatronics
ME 435L: Mechatronics Lab
ME 595ICS: Intelligent Control
Tohid Sardarmehni, Ph.D., is the director of the Advanced Systems Lab and an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering. Since joining California State University, Northridge in 2022, Dr. Sardarmehni has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in dynamic systems, controls, and mechatronics. As lab director, he leads research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and control theory, developing intelligent systems that can interact with their environments, adapt, and learn optimal behaviors. Dr. Sardarmehni's leadership has secured $1.6 million in competitive research funding, driving forward projects that blend AI innovation with robust control methodologies. He completed two years of postdoctoral research at Texas A&M University, where he advanced state-of-the-art work in autonomous and intelligent systems. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering – Dynamics and Controls from Southern Methodist University.
Vinicius Maron Sauer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
ME 508: Biotransport Phenomena
Vinicius M. Sauer, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at California State University, Northridge. His academic and research background is centered on thermal-fluid systems, with specific expertise in energy systems, heat transfer, combustion, and propulsion. His research, which includes publications in prestigious journals such as Physics of Fluids and the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, involves the intricate analysis of fluid dynamics and reacting flows. He has secured research funding from different agencies, including the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and the American Chemical Society. His contributions to the field have been recognized with awards such as the Outstanding Engineering Achievement Merit Award and the Future Technology Leader Award from The Engineers' Council. Dr. Sauer earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, Irvine.
Ruth Marie Tieck, Ph.D.
Lecturer
ME 510: Medical Device Manufacturing
I have been working at Medtronic, within the Diabetes business unit, sine Fall of 2005, concentrating on the development, manufacture, and testing of insulin therapy devices and platforms.
