Dr Downey joined FIU as an instructor in Fall of 2020. He received his PhD in chemical engineering from Michigan State University in 2016, where his research focused on the toughening of carbon fiber composite materials. Dr Downey has about 12 years industry experience and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt. Prior to earning his PhD, he was a research engineer and a technical applications engineer with Emitec Inc, working in the large engine and locomotive exhaust gas after treatment industry. (2005 to 2012) After receiving his PhD, Dr. Downey was a post-doctoral researcher at the Michigan State University Composite Materials and Structures Center investigating thermoplastic-graphene nanocomposites. (Jan to June 2017) He was recruited as a senior material scientist by Magic Leap Inc, specializing in carbon fiber composite materials and materials characterization. (2017 to 2020).

At FIU, Dr. Downey has taught classes in numerical methods and heat transfer as well as co-taught both semesters of the senior design capstone class in multiple semesters.

Office hours:

• Monday & Wednesday 10:30-11:30 am
• Tuesday & Thursday: 10-11 am

Dr. Abderrachid Hamrani joined the Mechanical and Materials Engineering department at FIU in Fall 2021 semester as Visiting Faculty. Dr. Hamrani was a postdoc researcher at McGill University (Canada, 2018-2020). Before that, he was an assistant professor and senior lecturer at the University of Boumerdes (Algeria, 2011-2018). He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical engineering (manufacturing processes) from Arts et Métiers Institute of Technology ParisTech (France, in 2016). His current research interests include AI and machine learning, advanced modeling and simulation in computational mechanics (solids and fluids), optimization techniques, and inverse analysis. He has published over 22 scientific articles, which include 12 peer-reviewed journal articles, 1 chapter book.

Office: EC 3325