Hello, I'm

Avinash Nayal

Ph.D. Candidate · Mechanical Engineering

University of Oklahoma

Open to Industry Positions

Researcher in thermal management, advanced materials, and energy systems. Experienced at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with 9+ peer-reviewed publications. Passionate about solving complex engineering challenges at the intersection of heat transfer and materials science.

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Avinash Nayal
9
Peer-Reviewed
Publications
3070%
Thermal Conductivity
Enhancement
40%
Analysis Cycle Time
Reduction (ORNL)
30%
Thermal Uniformity
Improvement
7
Scholarships
& Fellowships

About Me

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma, advised by Prof. Jivtesh Garg in the Micro/Nano Heat Transfer Lab. My research spans thermal management systems, advanced composite materials, and first-principles computational modeling.

Most recently, I completed a prestigious internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) where I investigated phonon thermal transport in energy-relevant materials using DFT simulations, developing Python-based post-processing frameworks that reduced analysis cycle time by 40%.

I hold an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University and a B.Tech. from Nirma University, India. My work has been published in leading journals including RSC Nanoscale, Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology, and Materials Chemistry and Physics.

nayal1@ou.edu LinkedIn Profile

Education

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering

University of Oklahoma

Aug 2020 - Present

M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering

Arizona State University

Aug 2018 - Jul 2020

B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering

Nirma University, India

Aug 2013 - May 2017

Experience

GRO Intern - Materials Science & Technology

⭐ Featured

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Jan 2025 - May 2025
  • Investigated phonon thermal transport in energy-relevant materials using DFT (Quantum ESPRESSO, Phonopy)
  • Analyzed mechanical strain effects on thermal conductivity in GaN under mentorship of Dr. Lucas Lindsay
  • Developed Python post-processing framework that reduced analysis cycle time by 40%
DFTQuantum ESPRESSOPythonPhonopy

Graduate Research Assistant (Phase 2)

Micro/Nano Heat Transfer Lab, University of Oklahoma

Jan 2023 - Present
  • Designed Couette-shear extrusion tool with full GD&T drawings and BOM
  • Achieved uniform temperature control (ΔT < 2°C) across battery thermal modules
  • Led comparative testing of air, liquid, CPCM, and hybrid cooling systems for BTMS
BTMSSolidWorksCPCMGD&T

Graduate Teaching Assistant - Capstone Course

University of Oklahoma

Aug 2021 - Present
  • Managed 6 senior design teams on USPS Automated Delivery Unit Sorter improvements
  • Instructed students in SolidWorks, ANSYS Fluent, and engineering design principles
SolidWorksANSYS FluentMentoring

Graduate Research Assistant (Phase 1)

Micro/Nano Heat Transfer Lab, University of Oklahoma

Aug 2020 - Dec 2022
  • Synthesized expandable graphite composites achieving 3070% increase in thermal conductivity
  • Conducted first-principles study on hexagonal BCₓP reporting 162 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹ thermal conductivity
  • Mentored 2 junior researchers on thermal testing and data analysis
Materials SynthesisFirst-PrinciplesMATLAB

Master's Thesis Researcher

Nano-Engineered Thermal Radiation Group, Arizona State University

May 2019 - Jul 2020
  • Developed theoretical heat transfer model for Solar Thermophotovoltaics (STPV) in MATLAB
  • Built experimental STPV setup achieving <5% deviation from theoretical predictions
STPVMATLABOptics

Research Intern

IIT Gandhinagar - Mechanical Engineering Department

Aug 2017 - Jul 2018
  • Led testing and overhaul of 5 kWe diesel-powered fuel cell auto-reformer system (DRDO-sponsored)
  • Created scale-up plans from 5 kWe to 30 kWe using ASPEN modeling
Fuel CellsASPENP&ID

Research Intern

Institute for Plasma Research - Dept. of Atomic Energy, India

Jan 2017 - Jul 2017
  • Simulated thermo-hydraulic behavior of ITER divertor component using FEM in ANSYS APDL
  • Achieved 30% better thermal uniformity in divertor cooling system design
ANSYS APDLFEMITER

Research & Projects

Key research areas spanning thermal management, materials science, and computational modeling

Battery Thermal Management

Hybrid cooling achieving automotive-grade thermal uniformity

Comparative evaluation of air-cooled, liquid, CPCM-enhanced, and hybrid cooling configurations achieving ΔT < 2°C uniformity across battery modules.

BTMSCPCMHeat Transfer
Graphite intercalation routes

Advanced Composite Materials

Record-breaking polymer nanocomposites with 4030% thermal enhancement

Synthesis of expanded graphite/paraffin composites achieving 3070% thermal conductivity improvement; graphene/epoxy composites with 44% enhancement.

GrapheneEG/PCMNanomaterials
STPV experimental lab setup

Solar Thermophotovoltaics (STPV)

Near-field radiative heat transfer with validated theoretical model

MATLAB-based theoretical model and novel experimental setup using silica microspheres for precise 100 μm gap maintenance, validated to <5% deviation.

STPVMATLABRadiation
BC2P crystal structure

First-Principles Phonon Transport

DFT-computed thermal conductivity of hexagonal BC₂P

DFT simulations using Quantum ESPRESSO and Phonopy to investigate phonon thermal transport in GaN and BCₓP, computing thermal conductivity of 162 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹.

DFTPhonopyQuantum ESPRESSO
Fuel cell test rig

Fuel Cell System Upscaling

5 kWe to 30 kWe diesel autothermal reformer upscaling

Testing and overhaul of 5 kWe diesel-powered fuel cell auto-reformer (DRDO-sponsored), with ASPEN-based scale-up plans to 30 kWe capacity.

Fuel CellsASPENEnergy
ITER divertor thermal contour analysis

ITER Divertor Thermal Analysis

FEM modeling of extreme heat flux divertor components

FEM modeling of high heat flux (>10 MW/m²) divertor behavior in ANSYS APDL, achieving 30% better thermal uniformity through design optimization.

ANSYS APDLFEMNuclear Fusion

Publications

9 peer-reviewed publications in materials science and thermal engineering journals

1

Hydrogen-peroxide intercalated expanded graphite facilitates large enhancement in thermal conductivity

Tarannum F., Danayat S., Nayal A., et al.

Materials Research & Tech 2024
DOI ↗Scholar ↗
2

Thickness dependent thermal conductivity of strontium titanate thin films

Annam R.S., Danayat S., Nayal A., et al.

JVST-A 2024
DOI ↗Scholar ↗
3

Role of four-phonon processes in thermal conductivity

Danayat S., Tasnim Z., Nayal A., Annam R., Garg J.

RSC Nanoscale 2024
DOI ↗Scholar ↗
4

Superior enhancement in thermal conductivity of epoxy/graphene nanocomposites through use of dimethylformamide

Danayat S., Nayal A., Tarannum F., Annam R., Muthaiah R., Garg J.

MethodsX 2023
DOI ↗Scholar ↗
5

Thermally expanded graphite polyetherimide composite with superior electrical and thermal conductivity

Tarannum F., Danayat S., Nayal A., et al.

Materials Chem & Phys 2023
DOI ↗Scholar ↗
6

Large Enhancement in Thermal Conductivity of Solvent-Cast Expanded Graphite/Polyetherimide Composites

Tarannum F., Danayat S., Nayal A., Muthaiah R., Annam R., Garg J.

Nanomaterials 2022
DOI ↗Scholar ↗
7

The superior effect of edge functionalization relative to basal plane functionalization on thermal properties of graphene composites

Muthaiah R., Tarannum F., Danayat S., Annam R., Nayal A., Garg J.

RSC PCCP 2022
DOI ↗Scholar ↗
8

Expanded Graphite/Paraffin composite phase change materials: Effect of solvent and ultrasonication on thermal properties

Nayal A., Garg J.

APS March Meeting 2022
Scholar ↗
9

Thermal Conductivity of Hexagonal BC₂P - a First Principle Study

Muthaiah R., Tarannum F., Annam R., Nayal A., Danayat S., Garg J.

RSC Advances 2020
DOI ↗Scholar ↗

Skills

Simulation & Modeling

ANSYS FluentExpert
ANSYS APDLExpert
COMSOLProficient
Quantum ESPRESSOProficient
Phonopy / DFTProficient
FEA / CFDExpert

Programming

PythonExpert
MATLABExpert
C++Proficient
FortranFamiliar
HPC WorkflowsProficient

CAD & Design

SolidWorksExpert
Fusion 360Proficient
GD&TProficient
DFM / DFA / DFCProficient
TinkercadFamiliar

Materials Characterization

Raman SpectroscopyProficient
DSC / TGAProficient
XRD / SEMProficient
Laser Flash (LFA467)Proficient
3D ScanningProficient

Awards & Scholarships

2025Dr. Kent & Kayleen Thomas Scholarship, University of Oklahoma
2024Exxon Mobile Milam Scholarship, University of Oklahoma
2023Milton J. Gordon Memorial Scholarship, University of Oklahoma
2023Exxon Mobile Milam Scholarship, University of Oklahoma
2023Gallogly College of Engineering Scholarship, University of Oklahoma
2022Nettie Vincent Boggs Graduate Fellowship, University of Oklahoma
2022Jim & Bee Close Engineering Scholarship, University of Oklahoma
2021John E. Francis Scholarship, University of Oklahoma
2021Jim & Bee Close Engineering Scholarship, University of Oklahoma

Get In Touch

Open to industry positions in thermal systems, materials engineering, and R&D roles

Email

avinash.nayal@gmail.com

LinkedIn

avinashsinghnayal17

University Email

nayal1@ou.edu