
Welcome to the National Corrosion and Materials Reliability Laboratory
The place where science, applied science and technology are integrated
About
We are the Corrosion and Materials Reliability Lab at Texas A&M University
We are...
1. A World Class Corrosion Education and Research Center.
2. Creating Tomorrow’s leaders in corrosion science and engineering.
3. Bridging the gap between fundamental research (science) and technology (engineering.)

Faculty

Director and PI
Homero Castaneda is a Professor with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and the Director at the National Corrosion and Materials Reliability Laboratory at Texas A&M University.
Dr. Castaneda has over 21 years of experience in Academia, Industry, and National Laboratories. He got his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Penn State University in 2001.
He has authored over 115 peer-reviewed papers in the areas of corrosion science and engineering, pipelines, coatings degradation and reliability, materials characterization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. He holds eight patents and four copyrights.

Co Director and PI
Bilal Mansoor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University and serves as Co-Director and Principal Investigator at the National Corrosion and Materials Reliability Laboratory. His research focuses on hydrogen- and oxygen-mediated degradation of structural and functional materials under high-temperature, high-pressure environments, with an emphasis on understanding and co-designing both processing pathways and material architectures to control degradation under extreme service conditions.
Dr. Mansoor’s work addresses fundamental and applied challenges associated with hydrogen uptake, embrittlement, oxidation, passivity breakdown, and coupled thermo-chemical-mechanical degradation across a broad range of material systems, including advanced steels, magnesium alloys, additively manufactured metals, protective coatings, and energy-relevant materials. A defining aspect of his approach is the intentional use of processing-driven heterogeneity—arising from thermo-mechanical processing, surface modification, joining, and additive manufacturing—as a design variable rather than a liability, enabling targeted control of degradation behavior.
His group integrates advanced electrochemical methods, high-temperature and high-pressure environmental testing, and in-situ and operando characterization to link processing, microstructure, and environment across length and time scales. Dr. Mansoor has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and leads interdisciplinary projects with national and international partners with the overarching goal of enabling materials and subsystems that are intrinsically resilient to hydrogen- and oxygen-driven degradation.

Posdoctoral Fellow
Atzin Ferrel
Atzin is originally from Cd. Madero Tamps, Mexico. She studied her bachelor’s degree in chemical sciences at ITESM Campus Monterrey, and her master’s and PhD degree in Advanced Technology at CICATA- IPN. Her focus was on corrosion science developing her research topic on the study of hybrid polymers and later on the application of manganese-based perovskites as cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells. During her graduate studies she did research at the University of Akron, OH and University of St. Andrews.

Posdoctoral Fellow
Ulises obtained his bachelor's in mechanical engineering at Carlos III University in Spain, spending his junior year as an international student at the California State University of Long Beach in L.A. The trajectory of his career then shifted and joined the corrosion department at the University of Akron, aiming to unravel the cause of failure in steel reinforced structures. Throughout his Ph.D. studies, he specialized in advanced surface characterization and electrochemical testing, participating in a variety of research projects internally and for outside companies leading to both academic publications and conference talks. He strives to excel at learning, leading, and exceeding expectations both professionally and personally, while be a valuable and contributing member of his team.
Team

PhD student
Adnan Khan
Adnan Khan is a Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, working under the supervision of Dr. Bilal Mansoor. He specializes in high-temperature degradation, microstructural transformations, and corrosion analysis of metallic alloys in diverse environments. With a strong background in advanced characterization techniques, such as SEM, EIS, and XRD, and expertise in developing smart coatings and composite materials, his research aims to advance high-performance and durable material solutions for critical applications. Adnan's work bridges the gap between fundamental materials science and industrial needs, contributing to innovative and sustainable technologies.

PhD Student
Ayush Raj
Ayush Raj is a Ph.D. candidate in Material Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, specializing in corrosion science and battery technologies. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from KIIT University and M.S. in Materials Engineering from Texas A&M University. Currently, he conducts research on carbon fibre structural cathodes, coating reliability, galvanized steel, and galvanic coupling.

PhD Student
S. M. Hakim Marjuban
S M Hakim Marjuban is a Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, specializing in advanced polymeric and metallic coating technologies. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).
Marjuban’s research is centered on understanding the corrosion mechanisms of various automotive coatings. He is proficient in advanced characterization techniques such as SEM, XRD, FTIR, DSC, and TGA, with significant expertise in developing coating and nanofiber technologies for electrical and automotive applications. Additionally, he leverages Python and MATLAB to create machine learning models that predict coating performance.
Outside his academic and research endeavors, Marjuban enjoys playing soccer and badminton, exploring new destinations and has a deep passion for music.

PhD Student
Abdul Mannan
Abdul Mannan holds a Master of Science in Materials Science and has worked as a Graduate Student Technician at the National Corrosion and Materials Reliability Center, CIR. In this role, he specialized in operating benchtop autoclaves, conducting Slow Strain Rate Tensile (SSRT) and High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) tests, and performing chemical characterization of nickel-based corrosion-resistant alloys (CRAs). His research focused on utilizing Ionic liquids to achieve up to 98% corrosion inhibition efficiency on carbon steel alloys. Abdul is proficient in various electrochemical techniques and has significant experience working in supercritical environments, including H₂S-rich conditions.
Outside of his professional work, Abdul enjoys kayaking and has a strong interest in cars, with a particular admiration for the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ.

PhD Student
Ahmadyar Qureshi
I am a Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University. My research focuses on photothermal and photochemical catalysis for hydrogen generation, improving hydrogen evolution reactions through electrochemical methods, and studying stress corrosion and cracking. With a strong background in chemistry and engineering, I aim to drive advancements in sustainable energy and materials science. I’ve had the privilege of publishing research on advanced catalysts and corrosion-resistant coatings, presenting my work at various international conferences, and contributing to innovative projects. Beyond research, I actively engage in academic leadership and enjoy collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to solve complex challenges. Outside of academics, I enjoy participating in outdoor sports and have a soft corner for sweet treats.
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PhD Student
Dongin Lim (Donny)
Dongin Lim is a Maintenance Officer in the Republic of Korea Air Force and a graduate student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University. With over 10 years of experience in aerospace maintenance, he specializes in preventing and addressing corrosion issues in military aircraft.
He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Kyungpook National University in 2014 and began his M.S. studies in Materials Science at Texas A&M in 2023. His research focuses on atmospheric corrosion and in-aircraft corrosion monitoring in humid environments, with the goal of advancing preventive maintenance within the Air Force.

PhD Student
Sasha George
Sasha M. George is a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and has previous experience in polymer formulation and synthesis for biomedical applications. In the Corrosion and Materials Performance Lab, her research focuses on developing advanced polymer coatings for automotive, oil and gas, and defense applications. She also explores the use of beneficial bacteria that form protective biofilms to prevent corrosion.
Sasha is passionate about translating scientific research into real-world industry solutions and thrives on collaboration across disciplines. Outside the lab, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and experimenting in the kitchen.

PhD Student
Moumita Chakraborty
Moumita Chakraborty is a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. She holds a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Florida. Her academic training spans galvanic corrosion and electrochemical modeling using COMSOL Multiphysics, as well as semiconductor devices, micro/nanofabrication, advanced packaging, and energy infrastructure.
Moumita’s research experience includes work on MEMS and nanomechanical resonators, thermal assurance, and 3D IC technologies, with hands on expertise in fabrication and characterization techniques such as lithography, etching, CMP, CVD, PVD, SEM, and. She is proficient in modeling and simulation tools including MATLAB, COMSOL, Cadence Virtuoso, and K-layout. Prior to her doctoral studies, she gained extensive industry experience as a Project Office Engineer, contributing to large-scale power distribution automation, load flow and fault analysis, and infrastructure modernization projects.
Outside her academic and research endeavors, Moumita is a passionate singer who enjoys immersing herself in historical and literary works and finds joy in traveling.

PhD Student
Rebecca Crow
Rebecca is a PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering from Houston, TX with expertise in rotating cylinder electrodes, organic coatings and extreme environment testing. When not organizing club activities as a TAMU AMPP officer, she loves learning about trains, self-driving cars and bears.

MS Student
Brooke Bond
Brooke is a first year grad student originally from East Texas. She has a BS in Materials Science and Engineering from Texas A&M, where she worked as an undergraduate researcher in the NCMRL. Currently, her research interests include MIC, extreme environment testing, and localized corrosion characterization. She is the Chair of the TAMU AMPP Student Chapter and serves as the global student representative on the AMPP Area and Chapter Engagement Committee.
When not in the lab, Brooke enjoys plane spotting, traveling, spending time outdoors with her dogs, and painting.

MS Student
Sonny Jaden Llave
Hi, my name is Sonny Jaden Llave! I’m a first year thesis masters student pursuing a major in Materials Science and Engineering with a minor in both Computer Science and German. I mostly work to support projects, and have done so in both coating and as well as pipelines.

MSEN Undergraduate
Emily Baird
I am currently a junior (‘27) in Materials Science and Engineering and have been with NCMRL since March 2025. I currently assist with a few projects but hope to start on my own in the future. In my free time, I love reading, cross stitch, painting, music, and playing Minecraft with my MSEN friends.

MSEN Undergraduate
Lauren Jenkins
Lauren is a junior undergraduate in Materials Science and Engineering. In her spare time, she enjoys activities such as reading, crocheting, hiking, and various crafts.

Mascot
Flan
Ms. Flan the Corrosion Kitten was rescued by our team on a site project in November 2025, at the time she was two months old. Since then she has served proudly as our mascot and beloved team member.
Flan likes ping-pong balls, wet food, and wrestling with crumpled receipts. In her free time she likes to nap in windows or sing.
All Members: Current and Former

Doctor of Philosophy
Name (Graduation Year)
Enrique Maya Visuet (2015)
Ahmad Ivan Karayan (2015)
Ximing Li (2015)
Dongrui Yang (2016)
Seongkoo Cho (2020)
Tse-Ming Chiu (2019)
Yenny Cubides (2020)
Mahdi Mohajeri (2020)
Ly Ramatou (2019)
Chankyu Kim (2021)
Brenda Galicia (2021)
Olivia Esmacher (2023)
Deeparekha Narayanan (2023)
Yu Liu (2023)
Daniela Fonseca (2024)
Reece Goldsberry (2023)
Lin Chen (2021)
Ayush Raj (2023)
Shaik Merkatur Hakim Marjuban (2021)
Alan Martinez (2023)
Myunghwan Jeong (2023)
Ahmadyar Qureshi (2023)
Victor Ponce Valderrama (2023)
Myunghwan Jeong (MJ)
Master of Science
Name (Graduation Year)
Jiani Niu (2014)
Ximing Li (2014)
Austin Smith (2014)
Prajakatta Mulay (2015)
Rafael Figueiredo de
Oliveira (2015)
Javier Esquivel Guerrero (2015)
Yenny Cubides (2016)
Ian Coleman (2017)
Tristan Petit De
Servis (2017)
Reece Goldsberry (2019)
Minho Lee (2022)
Assel Kalybayeva (2023)
Dongin Lim (2023)
Taratorn Sattaraphan (2023)
Undergraduate
Camden Voss
Lauren Jenkins
Rebecca Crow
Seo Bae
Brooke Bond
Ben Little
James Asthon Conner
Ryan Brooks
Avery Barlow
Kassandra Alaniz
Luke Goehring
Nguyen Khang
Atkinson Zach
Alan Martinez
Lucas Nash
Anthony Chavez
Bianca Avila
Hunter Harris
Reece Goldsberry
Master of Engineering
Name (Graduation Year)
Raghav Goyal (2023)
Post-doctoral Fellows/Exchange Research Fellows
Dr. Rodrigo Montoya, Sabbatical Professor
Dr. Ulises Diaz, Postdoctoral Scientist 2023
Dr. Atzin Ferrrel, Postdoctoral Scientist 2021
Prof. Velumani Subramanian, Postdoctoral Scientist 2020- 2021
Dr. Ahmad Ivan Karayan, Research Postdoctoral Fellow 2016-2020
Dr. Shei Sia Su, Postdoctoral Fellow 2016-2017
Mr. Kim Byungsu, Postdoctoral Fellow 2017-2018
Dr. Omar Rosas, Postdoctoral Fellow 2012-2015
Dr. Roberto Hernandez, Postdoctoral Fellow 2013-2015
Prof. Roman Cabrera, Postdoctoral Fellow 2014-2015
Prof. Rosa Luna, Postdoctoral Fellow 2014-2015
Prof. Israel Barraza Fierro, Postdoctoral Fellow 2014-2015
Come Visit Us
Address
RELLIS Campus CIR Building, Room 3320
1041 RELLIS Parkway
Bryan, TX 77807
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri
9:00 am – 5:00 pm









