Tuğrul Özel, Ph.D.
Assoc. Professor 
School of Engineering
Industrial&Systems Eng. 
Rutgers University
96 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
+1 (848) 445-1099
ozel@rutgers.edu

 RESEARCH SUMMARY

• Professor Özel's research has been well funded (over $1 million as sole or lead-PI) by the National Science Foundation, Department of Commerce-National Institute of Standards and Technology, NASA/New Jersey Space Grant Consortium, Taiho Koygo Tribology Research Foundation and industry (e.g. United Technologies Research Center, 3-M Research & Development Center). His collaborative projects were funded over $1 million from various sources as well and provided funding visiting scholars to conduct collaborative international research at Rutgers Manufacturing & Automation Research Laboratory under Professor Özel's supervision.

• At Rutgers, Professor Özel has received several prestigious federal grant awards including 4 awards from National Science Foundation, 1 award from National Institute of Standards and Technology, 1 award from NASA Space Grant, and grants from Taiho Kogyo Tribology Research Foundation and industry (e.g. United Technologies, 3M Company) totaling nearly $900K since 2008. He also participated in a European Commission Research Directorate grant ($900K) for international research exchange for biomedical devices design, prototyping and manufacturing which allowed him to host visiting scholars and advising visiting students as a thesis committee member.

• Professor Özel's current research projects include advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing using laser powder bed fusion and fused filament fabrication, precision/micro-machining, micro-needle array fabrication and biomanufacturing, predictive modeling of machining induced surface integrity, nanosecond pulsed laser materials processing of ceramic materials and computational modeling and multi-objective optimization of advanced manufacturing processes.

RESEARCH TOPICS

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Additive and Hybrid Manufacturing Processes
• Biomanufacturing and 3D Printing
• High Speed Machining of Aerospace Alloys and Composites
• Precision Machining
• Laser Processing and Micromachining
• Micro/Nano-Manufacturing Processes and Process Control
• Modeling, Simulation and Optimization of Advanced Manufacturing Processes
• Mechatronics, Automation, and Control Systems

SELECTED EXTERNAL FUNDING AWARDED 

• 3M Company Research & Development,  Corporate grant agreement, 10/01/2017-09/14/2018 T. Özel (Sole-PI).

• Taiho Kogyo Tribology Research Foundation (TTRF), "Measurement and Identification of Variable Friction on Micro-Textured Tungsten Carbide Cutting Tool Surfaces in High Speed Machining,” 07/01/2017 - 06/30/2018,  $30,000, T. Özel (Sole-PI).

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Predictive Modeling for Laser Based Powder Metal Additive Manufacturing of Nickel-Based Alloyed Parts,  Measurement Science and Engineering, 07/01/2014 - 06/30/2015 (extended to 06/31/2016, $99,417, T. Özel (Sole-PI).

• National Science Foundation, Predictive Modeling and Optimization of Machining Induced Surface Integrity with Applications in Titanium and Nickel-Based Alloyed End Products, CMMI, Manufacturing Machines and Equipment, $388K, 2011-2014 (extended 2015), T. Özel (sole PI).

• National Science Foundation, EAGER: Pulsed Laser Assisted Exfoliation of Single Crystalline SiC Thin Layers for Cost Effective Micro-Device Fabrication, CMMI, Materials Processing and Manufacturing, $130K, 2011-2012, T. Özel (PI) and G. Celler (co-PI).

• European Commission Research Directorate-General, FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IRSES, International Research Exchange For Biomedical Devices Design, Prototyping and Manufacturing, J. Ciurana- Univ. Girona, Spain (PI), E. Ceretti- Univ. Bresca, Italy (co-PI), P. Bartolo- Inst. Polytech. Leira (co-PI), C. Rodriguez- Tech Monterrey, Mexico (co-PI), J.V. Lopes De Silva CTIR, Brazil (co-PI), T. Özel (co-PI), €745,200 (04/01/2010- 03/31/2014).

• National Science Foundation, REU, Collaborative Research: Improving Machinability of Titanium Alloys using Physics-based Simulation Modeling, CMMI, Manufacturing Machines and Equipment, 2009-2011, T. Özel (sole PI).

• National Science Foundation, Collaborative Research: Improving Machinability of Titanium Alloys using Physics-based Simulation Modeling, CMMI, Manufacturing Machines and Equipment, 2008-2011, T. Özel (sole PI).

• United Technologies Research Center, Investigations on Influence of Machining-Induced Strain, Stress and Temperature Fields on White-Etch Layer Formation in IN-100 Super Alloy, Phase I & Phase II,  2007, T. Özel (sole PI).