Daniel Oropeza

Dr. Daniel Oropeza is an Assistant Professor in the Materials Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), within the College of Engineering. His research focuses on advancing materials and manufacturing technologies for aerospace systems and extreme environments, emphasizing process-microstructure-property relationships. He leads the Materials and Manufacturing for Aerospace and Extremes (MMAX) Lab, which develops novel techniques for powder synthesis, additive manufacturing, and ceramic processing.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (MIT, 2021)
• M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics (Stanford, 2014)
• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering (UT Austin, 2012)

Research Interests:

His work spans powder synthesis (e.g., ultrasonic atomization of refractory alloys), additive manufacturing (porous materials, reactive binder jetting), and functional ceramics for applications in hypersonics, space propulsion, and robotics. The MMAX Lab integrates material science, mechanical engineering, and advanced manufacturing testbeds to enable responsive manufacturing solutions.

Awards & Grants:

• LLNL Early Career UC Faculty Initiative Award (2024)
• Global Young Investigator Award (ACerS, 2025)
• ONR Grant for Ultrasonic Atomization Research (2024)
• CNSI Challenge Grant for UC M² ADE Consortium (2024)

Advising & Labs:

He mentors a team of graduate and undergraduate students in the MMAX Lab, focusing on projects like NASA-funded research on refractory metal alloys for space propulsion. The lab collaborates with national labs (e.g., LLNL) and industry partners to bridge fundamental research and applied technologies.

Labs/Teams:

MMAX Lab develops custom equipment for powder bed fusion, nanoparticle jetting, and reactive binder jetting systems. Current projects include ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) for extreme environments and multi-material manufacturing for defense and energy applications.