Pedram Roghanchi

Pedram Roghanchi is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky's Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Reno (2017), and previously served as an Assistant Professor at New Mexico Tech (2018–2023). His research focuses on mine safety engineering, respiratory hazards from respirable coal/silica dust, and innovative applications of robotics/drones in hazardous environments.

Education:

• Ph.D., Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno (2017)
• M.Sc., Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno (2013)
• B.Sc., Mining Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran (2011)

Research interests include:

• Respirable dust characterization and toxicity
• Underground mine emergency evacuation systems
• Drone and robotic systems for mine rescue/inspection
• CFD modeling of dust deposition in human lungs
• Thermal comfort management for mine workers
• Risk analysis of occupational lung diseases

Recent work emphasizes:

• Designing intrinsically safe drones for underground operations
• Developing AI-driven path planning algorithms for mine emergencies
• Quantifying health impacts of respirable coal mine dust (RCMD)
• Improving regulatory compliance through advanced monitoring systems

Labs/teams: Active in the UK Mining Safety Research Group and Robotics for Hazardous Environments Lab, collaborating with industry partners on practical solutions for underground mining challenges.