Principle Investigator
Dr. Yong-Joe Kim
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Phone: (979)845-9779
Email: joekim@tamu.edu
Office: MEOB 315
Laboratory: JCAIN 431 – 433
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Yong-Joe Kim is an Associate Professor of the Mike J. Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. Dr. Kim received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Chung-Ang University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and Purdue University, respectively. Dr. Kim then worked for the Boeing Company in Seattle for 5 years as an engineer/scientist before joining the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University (TAMU) as an Assistant Professor in 2009. Since 1995, Dr. Kim has maintained active research in acoustics, dynamics, vibration, signal processing, and biomechanics. He currently serves as the director of the Acoustics and Signal Processing Laboratory (ASPL) at TAMU. His research interests include: linear/nonlinear sound field visualizations of aero-, hydro-, and vibro-acoustic systems, nondestructive structural health monitoring based on ultrasonic array measurements, noise and vibration control including acoustic metamaterials, wave propagations in composite structures and biological systems, acoustophoresis in microfluidic devices for separating cells/microparticles, and mechanical and electrochemical property identification of cells and exosomes.
Current Students
Nicholas Sandoval
Ph.D. Student (Sep. 2025 – Present)
B.S., 2025, Mechanical Engineering, New Mexico State University
Co-advised with Dr. Pablo Tarazaga
Email npsand12@tamu.edu
Research Interests
Acoustic nondestructive evaluation of additively manufactured lattice structures
Benjamin Minter
M.S. Student (Aug. 2025 – Present)
B.S., 2025, Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University
Email: benminter12@tamu.edu
Office: JCAIN 432
Research Interests
Ultrasonic structural health monitoring and exosome-based cancer diagnosis
Sahil’s photo will be uploaded soon.
Sahil Menpara
M.S. Student (Jan. 2026 – Present)
B.Tech., 2024, Mechanical Engineering, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India
Email smenpara@tamu.edu
Research Interests
Acoustic metamaterials
Nicolas Borin
Undergraduate Research Student (Sep. 2025 – Present)
Email nborin@tamu.edu
Research Interests
AI-based structural health monitoring
Celine Cho
Undergraduate Research Student (Sep. 2025 – Present)
Email celine718c@tamu.edu
Research Interests
AI-based acoustic signal processing
Former Members
Ph.D. Students
Zhongzheng Liu, Ph.D. in 2016
Thesis: Acoustophoresis of Micropaticles and Cells in Microfluidic Devices (https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/158107)
Je-Heon Han, Ph.D. in 2013 and Post-Doctoral Researcher (08/2013 – 01/2014)
Thesis: Investigation on wave propagation characteristics in plates and pipes for identification of structural defect locations (http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/151345)
Yaying Niu, Ph.D. in 2013
Thesis: Three-dimensional nonlinear acoustical holography (http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/149484)
Master Students
Rex Yusri, M.S. in 2025
Thesis: Experimental and computational aeroacoustic evaluations of five eVTOL propeller blades
Seongil Hwang, M.S. in 2016 and Assistant Researcher (02/2017 – 12/2019)
Thesis: Experimental contribution analysis of external noise components to the interior noise of an automobile (https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/187324)
Nan Ye, M.S. in 2014
Thesis: Noise reduction of centrifugal compressors using array of quarter wavelength resonators (http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/153659)
Ramon A. Silva, M.S. in 2013
Thesis: Numerical simulation and laboratory testing of time-frequency MUSIC beamforming for identifying continuous and impulsive ground targets from a mobile aerial platform (https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/149539)
Visiting Scholars and Researchers
Eric Valencia, Undergraduate Research Student (01/2024 – 05/2024) and Assistant Researcher (06/2024 – 12/2024)
Research Topics: Computational Aeroacoustic Analysis (CAA) and acoustic measurements
Dr. Youn Doh Ha, Visiting Scholar (08/2016 – 08/2017)
Associate Professor, Kunsan National University, S. Korea
E-mail: ydha@kunsan.ac.kr
Dr. Insu Paek, Visiting Scholar (01/2016 – 07/2016)
Professor, Kangwon National University, S. Korea
E-mail: paek@kangwon.ac.kr
Dr. Arturo Baltazar, Visiting Scholar (09/2015 – 08/2015)
Research Professor, Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Program, CINVESTAV-Unidad Saltillo, Mexico
E-mail: arturo.baltazar@cinvestav.edu.mx
Dr. Cheolho Hwang, Visiting Scholar (02/2010 – 08/2014)
Professor, Hannam University, Daejeon, S. Korea
E-mail: cheolho@hnu.kr
Undergraduate Research Students
Miguel-Angel Lopez (06/2025 – 12/2025)
Research Topics: Computational structural dynamics
Monica Lee (01/2025 – 05/2025)
Research Topics: Electrochemical impedance of cancer exosomes
Juan Reyna (01/2024 – 05/2024)
Research Topics: Vibration and sound transmission characteristics of viscoelastic materials
Ryan E. Gautier (01/2025 – 05/2017)
Research Topics: Microfluidic cell property measurements
Sara Van Kalker (01/2017 – 05/2017)
Research Topics: MCF-7 cancer cell culture
John-Stephan Kouam (01/2017 – 05/2017)
Research Topics: MCF-7 cancer cell culture
Kwanghyung Lee (06/2014 – 12/2015)
Research Topics: Active noise control of rocket engine noise
Victor Leon (01/2015 – 05/2015)
Research Topics: Acoustics-based temperature measurement in a shock tube
Jonathan Jolly (08/2013 – 05/2014)
Research Topics: Active noise control of rocket engine noise
Ryan Marietta (08/2013 – 05/2014)
Research Topics: Active noise control of rocket engine noise
Dirk de Hann (08/2013 – 05/2014)
Research Topics: Active noise control of rocket engine noise
Sergio A. Rodriguez (08/2013 – 05/2014)
Research Topics: Active noise control of rocket engine noise
Gabriel D. Homan-Cruz (08/2013 – 12/2013)
Research Topics: Active noise control of rocket engine noise
Danny R. Foster (06/2012 – 08/2012)
Research Topics: Experimental investigation of acoustic energy harvester
Kevin Reinecke (06/2012 – 08/2012)
Research Topics: Finite element modeling of drilling pipes
Zachary Klammer (01/2011 – 05/2011)
Research Topics: Design and fabrication of acoustic energy harvester
R. Daniel Cross (01/2010 – 05/2010)
Research Topics: Design and construction of anechoic chamber
Ross Harkness (01/2010 – 05/2010)
Research Topics: Design and fabrication of acoustic impedance tube