Davood B. Pourkargar

Davood B. Pourkargar is an Assistant Professor in the Tim Taylor Department of Chemical Engineering at Kansas State University (K-State), part of the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering. He is also a graduate faculty member at the Food Science Institute and a faculty researcher at the Johnson Cancer Research Center. His professional experience includes roles at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Delaware.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University (2015)
• M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (2010)
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (2008)

Research Interests: Focuses on computational multiscale modeling, artificial intelligence, optimal control, and automation for sustainable energy/chemical production. Key areas include physics-informed machine learning, cyber-physical systems, and smart materials synthesis. His lab integrates process systems engineering with digital twin technology to enhance decision-making in complex systems.

Key Research Trends: Recent work emphasizes distributed control architectures, resilient process networks, and applications in renewable energy (e.g., green ammonia, solar cell production). His publications span AI-driven modeling, cybersecurity for manufacturing systems, and data-driven predictive frameworks.

Awards:

• 2024 Carl R. Ice College Outstanding Assistant Professor
• NSF EPSCoR Fellowship
• AFOSR Faculty Fellowship
• Multiple Best Presentation Awards at AIChE/ACC conferences

Advising & Grants: Advises over a dozen graduate/undergraduate students. Secured grants including NSF funding for physics-informed machine learning in organ-on-a-chip systems. Active in lab automation and robotic additive manufacturing initiatives.

Labs & Teams: Director of the Intelligent Sustainable Process Systems Lab (ISPSL), with computational and experimental facilities in Durland Hall. Collaborates across disciplines including food science, cancer research, and biomedical engineering.