Amrita Mishra
Amrita Mishra’s research interest in computational materials science has made her an in-demand scholar in the field. The newest faculty member in the University of Mississippi’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, she’s helping produce future graduates who will one day have careers of their own.
“I was looking for an opportunity to utilize my teaching and research skills,” said Mishra, who joined the faculty as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering over the summer. “Having taught undergraduate and graduate students at UNR and ISU, I have a broad perspective of students and their individual needs.”
Courses Mishra teaches include Introduction to Materials Science, Properties and Selection of Materials and Materials lab. Her future course offerings are Electronic Properties of Materials, Ceramics, Nano-materials and Materials Thermodynamics.
Mishra came highly recommended and has already earned the respect of her UM colleagues.
“She has tremendous potential to collaborate with other researchers across the campus working on fundamental material science research area driven by the thermodynamics of the complex systems,” said A.M. Rajendran, chair and professor of mechanical engineering. “I see great opportunity for the department to expand in new research areas through Dr. Mishra.”
Before joining the faculty, Mishra was a graduate teaching assistant and postdoctoral scholar at the University of Nevada at Reno and at Iowa State University.
An accomplished scholar, she has co-authored more than a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles. She is also a reviewer of scientific journals such as ThermoChimica Acta, Acta Materials and Calphad. Her professional memberships include the Society of Women Engineers, the Materials Research Society, the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, and Women in Science and Engineering.
“In association with different student bodies and academic chapters, I want to encourage minorities and women in engineering,” Mishra said. “I want to advise them with grants, scholarships and other opportunities to improve their academic success.”
Mishra collaborates with her husband, Gautam Priyadarshan, who is a senior scientist at the university’s National Center for Physical Acoustics.
“Though we are both materials scientists, we complement each other and our work,” she said. “I can predict materials with my theoretical and computational approach, while he can confirm the predictions and models with his research and experimentations.”
Hobbies she enjoys include being outdoors, running trails in Oxford, reading and yoga.
“My husband and I were looking for programs which would allow us to grow in our careers and continue with our research ideas,” Mishra said. “Along with its academic ambience and preceding history, the University of Mississippi fit right into my aspirations and provided me with this exceptional opportunity.”