DREAM Research Center Researchers
Petro Mushidi Tshakwanda, Ph.D.
Research Lead
Post-doc
As a postdoctoral researcher, Petro Mushidi Tshakwanda has pursued groundbreaking research in designing intelligent network systems through multi-agent systems with published contributions to prestigious journals and conferences. Dr. Tshakwanda is a recipient of 2 masters degrees: financial engineering (WorldQuant University) and information systems management (University of Liverpool), and a Ph.D. with distinction from the ECE department at UNM. Through the DREAM Research Center, Dr. Tshakwanda continues to distinguish himself in the fields of education, research, and technology leadership, with his rich expertise spanning artificial intelligence/Machine Learning, intelligent network systems, Internet of Things, and network automation.
Henok Berhanu Tsegaye, Ph.D.
Research Lead
Post-doc
Henok Berhanu Tsegaye is a postdoctoral fellow in the ECE department of UNM with research interests in Software-Defined Networking (SDN), cloud-edge computing, blockchain, internet of things (IoT), resilient communication networks, Beyond 5G/6G, and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). Dr. Tsegaye earned his Ph.D. in Information Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Trento, Italy, in collaboration with the Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK) after working as a satellite ground station operator at the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) and as an assistant lecturer at Jimma University in Ethiopia, where he received his BS in ECE and an MS in Communication Engineering.
Abid Mohammad Ali
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Abid Mohammad Ali is a 2nd year Ph.D. student in the University of New Mexico and doing his research under the supervision of Dr. Xiang Sun. His work focuses on AI driven optimized resource allocation techniques in wireless communication systems. Abid primarily employs machine learning approaches, particularly reinforcement learning, to develop efficient and optimized solutions for complex wireless network challenges.
Jin Zhang
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Jin Zhang is a Ph.D. candidate at UNM working with Dr. Xiang Sun on integrating semantic IoT for additive manufacturing (AM) to achieve the goal of efficient information exchange within AM systems. Within his work, he is interested in Machine Learning, edge computing, and networks. Jin looks forward to contributing to enhance semantic level interoperability of AM systems within the DREAM Research Center.
George Torres
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
George Torres is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in computer science from NMSU and has been a researcher within the Network and Systems Optimization Lab (NSOL) group led by Dr. Jay Misra at NMSU for 6 years since his junior year of undergraduate training. He has held research internships with NIST and Intel. His research interests include cybersecurity, smart grids, and software defined networking (SDN).
Sharad Shrestha
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Sharad Shrestha is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Computer Science at NMSU with over five years of industry experience. As a part of the NSOL lab supervised by Dr. Misra, his research includes network optimization and security in the additive manufacturing domain, Smart Grid technologies, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and 5G networks, aiming to enhance both their security and efficiency. Within the DREAM Research Center, his work focuses on identifying vulnerabilities within complex network systems and devising innovative security solutions that integrate industry best practices with rigorous academic research.
Ashok Karukutla
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Ashok Karukutla is pursuing his master’s degree in Computer Engineering with a specialization in Information Systems from the ECE Department at UNM, where his competences including Network Design, Digital Signal Processing, Advanced Networking, Smart Grid Networks, and Reinforcement Learning. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, he worked as an Administrator for over three and a half years in India, gaining valuable professional experience. His research interests are focused on Smart Manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and sensor networks, contributing significantly to ongoing research projects in these areas. His dedication to exploring cutting-edge technologies underscores his commitment to advancing innovations in intelligent systems and IoT-enabled solutions.
Santosh Adhikari
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Santosh Adhikari is a Ph.D. student in Computer Science at NMSU working with Dr. Panwar where he also serves as a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant (RA/TA). With over five years of industry experience as a software developer and data engineer, Santosh brings a strong technical background to his current academic pursuits. His research responsibilities focus on blockchain and distributed systems, where he investigates innovative approaches to decentralized computing and secure data management. Santosh looks forward to leveraging these cutting-edge technologies to develop secure, efficient solutions that drive progress in both academia and industry.
Kartick Kolachala
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Kartick Kolachala is a sixth-year Ph.D. student in the Computer Science department. He works with Dr. Roopa Vishwanathan in the CrySPR lab at NMSU. His research interest lies in building secure protocols for blockchain-based applications. He is currently working on various aspects of payment channel networks and in general layer-2 mechanisms. In the past, he has worked on building scalable routing protocols for payment channel networks, investigating the efficiency of current guidelines to curb cryptocurrency-based money laundering and building secure billing mechanisms for smart meters, building efficient off-chain solutions for smart contract execution, rebalancing in distributed credit networks.
Manuel Mares Solano
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Manuel Mares is a graduate student in Computer Science at NMSU. His current research is in the development of a secure protocol for blockchain applications, under the guidance of Dr. Roopa Vishwanathan. Before this, he was part of NMSU's Ciberseguros Lab, where he worked on projects involving smart grids, decentralized communication protocols, and developing web browser authentication tools.
Md. Mahbub Hasan
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Mahbub Hasan is a graduate researcher developing anomaly detection methods in distributed network systems for additive manufacturing security. Currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at New Mexico Tech, he brings a strong foundation in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, along with industry experience as an Electrical Engineer in manufacturing. Mahbub looks forward to exploring graph-based machine learning approaches to enhance cybersecurity in additive manufacturing and improve resilience against advanced persistent threats in distributed networks.
Sosmita Paul
Researcher
Master of Science
Sosmita Paul is a graduate student in the Electrical Engineering department at New Mexico Tech. Currently she is working on AI-driven cybersecurity for additive manufacturing systems. Her work focuses on developing machine learning and deep learning models for video anomaly detection and secure distributed manufacturing. Her research interests are in AI, computer vision, and cybersecurity. She looks forward to contributing to advancements in secure and intelligent manufacturing systems.
Marcus Sternhagen
Researcher
Undergraduate
Marcus Sternhagen is an undergraduate research assistant with the AI Vision and Security Lab at New Mexico Tech and is currently aiding with the Lab's data acquisition and model training efforts. He is working on a degree in Mathematics at NMT and hopes to work in education after he graduates. Marcus has been involved with AI research with the AI Vision and Security Lab for nearly two years and is proud to be able to contribute his fascination with 3D printing and Machine Learning to the team.
Tianjie Chen
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Tianjie Chen is a graduate student researcher supervised by Dr. Panwar at NMSU responsible for conducting research on verifiable computing within DIAM. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in computer science. He looks forward to utilizing this opportunity to explore the applicability of verifiability methods in fields beyond DIAM.
Casey Tran
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Casey Tran is an interdisciplinary graduate researcher at NSMU dedicated to developing smart, trustworthy manufacturing solutions shaped by the resilience and resourcefulness of the southwestern desert. He draws on the manifold of applications enabled by local elements—like the railroad ties once made from creosote and the everyday uses of mesquite—to illustrate how southwestern flora can inform next-generation manufacturing. By blending natural inspiration with advanced technology like neural networks and blockchain, he sees a future in which communities produce reliable, eco-friendly solutions, free from the constraints of conventional supply chains.
Syed Ziaul Bin Bashar
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Syed Ziaul bin Bashar is a dedicated PhD student and Research Assistant in the NSOL lab at NMSU, specializing in top-layer detection and security enhancements in Additive Manufacturing. His research extends to developing anomaly detection algorithms to identify inconsistencies in 3D printing processes, further securing manufacturing workflows. Previously, he has adeptly utilized Python to automate data workflows in supply chain management, showcasing his strong analytical skills and commitment to innovation in tech-driven solutions. Syed is keen to develop innovative solutions to prevent cyber-physical threats, aiming to establish New Mexico as a leading hub for Additive Manufacturing.
Raddad Almaayn
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Raddad N. Almaayn is a Ph.D. student in the Devetsikiotis Lab within the ECE Department at UNM, where his research focuses on blockchain solutions for supply chain provenance in additive manufacturing. He holds a master’s degree in Computer Engineering also from UNM, where he developed expertise in advanced networking, cybersecurity, reinforcement learning, IoT, and cloud computing. With a robust background in both electrical and computer engineering, he has developed a multidisciplinary approach to tackling complex technological challenges, with interests spanning blockchain, additive manufacturing, and resilient networked systems.
Jesus Diaz
Researcher
MS Graduate Assistant
Jesus Diaz is a graduate researcher at NMSU whose research lies in additive manufacturing technologies supervised by Dr. Mahajan. Jesus has received his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering at NMSU and is currently pursuing a master's degree with a thesis in the functional printing field. Jesus looks forward to contributing towards a distributed additive manufacturing future available to the vast additive manufacturing community of hobbyists, industry, and academia.
Huzaifa Hussain
Researcher
MS Graduate Assistant
Huzaifa Hussain holds a BS in mechanical engineering and is pursuing a master's degree in Industrial Engineering at NMSU within Dr. Mahajan’s lab. His research focuses on additive manufacturing, specifically studying lattice structures and their properties using multi-material techniques. He has expertise in operations, manufacturing, and material sourcing and looks forward to contributing to the DREAM Research Center.
Yie Sheng Chen
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Yie-Sheng Chen is a Ph.D. student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of New Mexico. He obtained his master's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Florida in 2013 and his research focuses on federated learning, distributed computing, and game theory. Prior to joining UNM, he spent seven years at AsusTek in Taipei, Taiwan, working on the RIL layer of Android phones, deep learning-based face recognition, and cloud storage solutions. Yie-Sheng looks forward to bringing his experience and research focuses to the DREAM Research Center.
Sumanth Reddy Nandhikonda
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
Sumanth Reddy Nandhikonda is a graduate research assistant working under the guidance of Dr. Chatterjee and currently pursuing his master’s degree in Data Analytics at NMSU with expertise in AI for Manufacturing, Python, and CAD modeling. His research focuses on Additive Manufacturing and developing educational modules to advance research in this field. Additionally, Sumanth is contributing to a workshop on Additive Manufacturing for K-12 teachers, equipping them with the knowledge and resources to educate their students about this transformative technology. Through this work, Sumanth looks forward to promoting innovation in digital manufacturing and enhancing the accessibility of additive manufacturing education for both industry and academic communities.
Rigesh Krishnaraj
Researcher
Graduate Assistant
As a research assistant for the DREAM project, Rigesh Krishnaraj is responsible for researching and developing an additive manufacturing curriculum under the guidance of Dr. Suparna Chatterjee. His primary objective is to design educational materials for K-12 teachers in New Mexico and facilitate professional development, along with assisting teachers in developing activities for teaching additive manufacturing to primary and secondary school students. Rigesh shares in the goals of the DREAM Research Center to integrate additive manufacturing in K-12 teaching and enhancing STEM education in New Mexico.