Dr. Lokesh Saharan is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Gannon University, specializing in additive manufacturing, smart materials, rehabilitation robotics, and engineering education. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Dallas, where his dissertation focused on the design and development of the iGrab hand orthosis powered by twisted and coiled polymer muscles.
With over a decade of academic, research, and leadership experience, Dr. Saharan has served at institutions including Penn State Behrend, Miami University, and the University of Texas Permian Basin, where he directed the Advanced Manufacturing Center. He has secured more than $1.7M in competitive research and education grants, published widely in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, and co-edited a CRC Press book on manufacturing systems.
An active member of ASME, IEEE, SPIE, and AAAS, Dr. Saharan contributes to the professional community as a reviewer, session chair, and editor. He also serves as faculty advisor for Pi Tau Sigma and SAMPE student chapters at Gannon. His teaching and research continue to advance innovations in 3D printing, biomedical applications, and the integration of AI in engineering education. His full scholarly contributions can be found at his Google Scholar.
Educational History
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Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering - The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX (December 2017)
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Master of Technology in Mechanical Engineering - Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, India (May 2011)
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Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering - Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India (May 2008)
Professional Experience
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Assistant Professor Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Gannon University. (January 2024 - Present)
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Department Coordinator Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas Permian Basin. (June 2021 – January 2024)
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Assistant Professor Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas Permian Basin. (August 2020 – January 2024)
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Assistant Teaching Professor Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Penn State Behrend, Erie, PA. (August 2019 - July 2020)
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dept. of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH. (June 2018 - July 2019)