Interfacial Multiphysics Lab is focused on advancing Mechanical Raman Spectroscopy (MRS), an analytical experimental method developed by lab members (US Patent 9,778,194, Review of Scientific Instruments 85, 013902 (2014)), to solve important extreme environment operational problems with emphasis on basic research focused on material interfaces and on applied research focused on developing sensing based solutions for working engineers. Emphasis is on understanding fracture mechanics in extreme environments with specific projects currently focusing on;

1. Mechanical Shock: Application of Nanomechanical Raman Spectroscopy and data science for understanding/describing shock as well as low velocity fracture/sensitivity to damage
2. Chemical Shock: Use of data science for combined edge-cloud solutions for deploying high voltage batteries in sensitive applications with emphasis on extreme events such as nail puncture-high voltage shock-rapid temperature events etc.

Lab Director, Prof. Tomar started his career as an assistant professor in January 2006 after graduating from Georgia Tech with PhD in mechanical Engineering in December 2005. He was promoted to full professor in 2016 at Purdue University. Lab has graduated 15 PhDs, 24 MS-Thesis students, and multiple non-thesis/undergrad special topic research project students. Lab has published over 400 publications (h-index > 30), filed 6 research patent/disclosures (awarded 4 patents), written 2 published books with more than 3000 copies sold, and edited 5 research volumes. Lab has been part of over 34 externally funded projects from Industry, Office of Naval Research (ONR), Naval Surface Warfare Center, National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DoE), ARMY, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFoSR). Lab’s excellence in research has been recognized by a number of awards including VAJRA award from Govt of India, AFoSR young investigator award for high temperature interface thermomechanics, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Orr early career award for excellence in fracture and fatigue, The Mineral, Metal, and Materials Societies (TMS) early career faculty fellow-honorable mention award for materials research, inaugural Elsevier Material Science and Engineering journals’ early career young researcher award for interface mechanics, Purdue’s Seeds for Success Awards (2017, 2018, 2020), Purdue’s CT Sun Research award, Purdue’s University Faculty Scholar Award, and multiple other best paper awards. For his contribution to profession, Dr. Tomar has been elected an ASME Fellow in 2016 and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Associate Fellow in 2015. He has been bestowed with multiple mentorship and teaching awards including Indiana LSAMP outstanding mentor award, Purdue School of Aeronautics Best undergraduate teacher Gustafson award etc. He has organized multiple conferences as track chair and conference co-organizer with various Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor positions at reputed journals. Lab student members have won multiple research and service awards at undergraduate and graduate level including Mitchell Scholarship award to Milad Alucozai that is first ever awarded in Purdue’s undergraduate education history, NASA Rascal award to an undergraduate team, NSF best poster award with grad student Ming Gan, Best paper awards at TMS with Bing Li and Abhijeet Dhiman, Chorafus foundation best PhD dissertation finalist to Ming Gan, College of Engineering outstanding service award to Devendra Verma, and numerous other student awards such as Blissland Dissertation Fellowship, Purdue's Nominee for external Best Master's Thesis competitions, multiple Lynn Fellowships, and finally numerous student conference travel awards sponsored by organizations across the world. Students after graduation have enjoyed successful career in academia US government agencies national labs and industry. Seven lab alumni have either tenured or tenure-track faculty positions in universities in USA, Mexico, India, China, and S Korea.