Vinu Unnikrishnan

Dr. Vinu Unnikrishnan is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the College of Engineering, West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). He holds a B.Tech from the University of Kerala, an M.S. from IIT Madras, and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, followed by a postdoctoral position in Mechanical Engineering at the same institution. His research focuses on computational mechanics, experimental design, and computational modeling of soft materials and multifunctional nanocomposites, particularly in developing biofidelic simulants and thermal analysis of carbon nanotubes. He holds two U.S. patents on biofidelic soft skin simulants and customized insoles for diabetic foot ulcers.

Dr. Unnikrishnan teaches courses in Civil, Mechanical, and General Engineering, including Engineering Dynamics and Structural Analysis. He is an Associate Editor of Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures, a NSF panel reviewer, and a member of professional organizations like ASME and AIAA. His awards include the EPSCoR Travel Grant (2018) and U.S. Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowships (2015-2016). He contributes to the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health and the WTAMU Graduate Advisory Committee.

His research has led to over 42 journal papers, 90 conference publications, and 4 book chapters. Key areas include thermal conductance of CNT junctions, anisotropic characterization of polymeric composites, and biomechanical modeling of human tissues. His work bridges computational and experimental approaches, emphasizing practical applications in healthcare and aerospace.