Alireza Vakil Amirkhizi serves as Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the Francis College of Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell. His research focuses on mechanics of materials under extreme conditions and advanced composite systems. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego (Dissertation: Multifunctional Composites and Structures with Integrated Mechanical and Electromagnetic Properties) M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, San Diego B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Sharif University of Technology (Thesis: Experimental Study of Concrete Shear Walls Reinforced with Punched Steel Plates under Cyclic Loading) Dr. Amirkhizi's research spans applied mechanics and materials science with emphasis on dynamic behavior of materials under high strain-rates, extreme pressures, and temperature variations. His work explores metamaterials for wave manipulation, biomechanics of soft tissues, and molecular-level design of polymeric materials. Current investigations focus on structure-property relationships for next-generation protective systems and energy-absorbing composites. His publication record (2006-2019) reveals consistent contributions in composite mechanics , polymer physics , and metamaterial design . Key themes include constitutive modeling of pressure-sensitive polymers, micromechanical analysis of composite systems, and electromagnetic-mechanical coupling in chiral materials. His work bridges experimental validation with computational modeling across multiple length scales. Notable recognitions: Dissertation Fellowship (2006), UC San Diego Highest Academic Achievement Award (2004), UC San Diego MAE Department Certificate of Recognition (2003), UC San Diego Research funding demonstrates strong military and defense partnerships. As Principal Investigator, he secured grants from the U.S. Army (Natick Soldier RDEC), Air Force (AFOSR, SBIR), Office of Naval Research, and DARPA for projects including parachute material shelf-life analysis, cavitation-resistant coatings, and microstructurally-architected materials. Collaborative projects with S. Nemat-Nasser at UC San Diego involved blast-mitigating polymers and multi-frequency dynamic materials. His laboratory activities focus on experimental characterization of materials under dynamic loading, supported by advanced testing facilities for high-strain-rate mechanics and multi-physics material response.






