Ratneshwar Jha

Ratneshwar (Ratan) Jha is the L3Harris Chair Professor and Department Head of the Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences at Florida Institute of Technology since September 2023. He previously held leadership roles as Department Head of Mechanical Engineering at Rowan University (2018–2023) and Director of the Raspet Flight Research Lab & Advanced Composites Institute at Mississippi State University (2012–2018). His academic journey includes professorships at Clarkson University (1999–2012) and industry experience in India, where he led teams designing the HAL Tejas combat aircraft. Dr. Jha earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University, an MS in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech, and a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from IIT.

His research focuses on Aircraft Design, Composites Modeling, and Structural Health Monitoring, with contributions to cold spray technology, composite material behavior, and non-destructive testing. He has published over 150 papers and secured $15M+ in research grants. Notable awards include ASME Fellow and AIAA Associate Fellow.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Arizona State University
  • M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
  • B.S., Aeronautical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology
• Professional Roles:
  • Academic Editor, International Journal of Aerospace Engineering
  • ABET Program Evaluator

His recent work emphasizes advanced composite materials, damage detection techniques, and smart structures. Articles span topics like cold spray deposition, phononic crystal acoustics, and wind turbine monitoring. He has advised 31 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, fostering industry-aligned education through programs like the '3+1' pathway for engineering technology degrees.

Awards & Recognition:

• ASME Fellow (2020)
• AIAA Associate Fellow (2018)

Grants & Labs:

• Directed the Raspet Flight Research Lab and Advanced Composites Institute
• Research funded by NSF, NASA, and industry partners