Kaushik Dayal

Kaushik Dayal is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering. He leads the Multiscale Mechanics Research Group and is affiliated with several interdisciplinary centers including the Center for Nonlinear Analysis, the Center for the Mechanics and Engineering of Cellular Systems, the NextManufacturing Center, and the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. His research bridges theoretical and computational mechanics with applications in materials science, energy, and environmental systems.

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (2007)
• M.S., Aeronautics, California Institute of Technology (2001)
• B.Tech., Naval Architecture, Indian Institute of Technology Madras (2000)

His research focuses on theoretical and computational multiscale methods, particularly in modeling the behavior of materials across atomic to continuum scales. Key areas include non-equilibrium response, electromagnetic effects, phase-field modeling of fracture, poroelasticity, soft active materials, and data-driven inverse design. He investigates phenomena such as microstructure evolution, dislocation dynamics, surface growth, and material behavior under extreme conditions. His work integrates mechanics with chemistry, robotics, and climate resilience, often leveraging machine learning and Bayesian inference.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend in computational mechanics of heterogeneous and functional materials, with emphasis on phase-field models, multiscale homogenization, and instability exploitation in soft electromechanical systems. Many studies involve collaboration with national labs and cross-departmental teams, reflecting a highly interdisciplinary approach.

• McGaw Graduate Fellowship in Mechanical Engineering
• Army Research Laboratory Journeyman Fellowship
• Adamson Fellowship
• Bushnell Doctoral Fellowship
• Mao Yisheng Outstanding Dissertation Award
• MIT Postdoctoral Fellowship for Engineering Excellence
• Center for Machine Learning and Health Fellowship
• Dowd Doctoral Fellowship
• Steinbrenner Doctoral Fellowship
• Dunlap Awardee

Dayal has advised numerous PhD students, many of whom have gone on to postdoctoral positions at institutions such as Caltech, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. His research is supported by major grants from the Department of Defense (MURI program), Air Force Research Laboratory, and other federal agencies. He actively promotes education through teaching assistant awards and participation in Rising Stars workshops.

He leads the Multiscale Mechanics Research Group, a vibrant team engaged in cutting-edge research on material modeling, soft robotics, energy materials, and environmental mechanics. The group emphasizes open scientific exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovation in computational methods.