Complex Systems Dynamics & Control Group

    University of Idaho

Principal Investigator

Dr. Gautam Kumar
Assistant Professor
Chemical & Biological Engineering
University of Idaho
875 Perimeter Drive MS 3024
Idaho, Moscow 83844-3024

Office: McClure Hall, Room 401D
Research Lab: IRIC building, Room 133
  • +00 (208) 885 1587
  • gkumar@uidaho.edu
  • Curricum Vitae: Kumar_CV

    Dr. Gautam Kumar joined the Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering (now Chemical and Biological Engineering) as an Assistant Professor in 2016. He obtained chemical engineering degrees from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (bachelor's) and Lehigh University (master's and doctorate). Prior to joining the University of Idaho, he was a postdoctoral research associate in the Electrical and Systems Engineering Department at Washington University in St. Louis.



    Current Lab Members

    Joseph Schmalz (Ph.D. student, Chemical Engineering)

    Joe was born and raised in Boise, ID. In 2015, he graduated with a degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Joe joined our research group as an undergraduate researcher in the spring of 2017 and continued working towards his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in the Fall of 2017. Outside of the lab, Joe enjoys hiking, running, and climbing.


    Ben Plaster (M.S. student, Chemical Engineering)

    Ben was born and raised in Spokane, WA. In 2013, he graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory High School. He attended the University of Idaho and Charles University in Prague from 2013-2017. At the University of Idaho, he was involved in leadership with Beta Theta Pi, as well as undergraduate research with Dr. Eric Aston. After earning his B.S. in Chemical Engineering, he went on to work for NASA at Marshall Space Flight Center in the summer of 2018. Afterward, he joined our research group to pursue his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. Outside of the lab, Ben spends his time cycling, reading, and cooking with friends.


    Andrew Branen (Ph.D. student, Chemical Engineering)


    Jacquelin Martinez-Alvarez (Jackie Martinez) (Undergraduate student (Junior), Chemical Engineering)

    Jackie was born in Walla Walla, Washington and raised in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Before coming to the University of Idaho in the Fall of 2016 where she is currently pursuing a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering, she earned Associates in Science (A.S.) and Associates in Arts (A.A.) from Walla Walla Community College in the Spring of 2016. At the University of Idaho, she is involved in research in the Department of Chemical Engineering and serving as a Vice-President of Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. She is a Diversity Scholar and two times winner of the National Grand Challenge Scholar. In her leisure time, she enjoys being outdoors (specifically hiking), spending time with my family, and playing around with cosmetics. As a part of her National Grand Challenge Scholarship, she is involved in an outreach educational program in Neural Engineering, initiated by the PI in the Fall of 2017, at Moscow High School where she is using Emotiv device to educate/motivate students in Brain-Machine Interface technologies.


    Niko Hansen (Undergraduate student, Chemical Engineering)

    High School Students

    Ilan Carter (Freshman, Moscow High School)
    Ayden Clytus (Sophomore, Moscow High School)
    Ambrea Sam (Senior through HOIST program)

    Past Lab Members

    Vishwanath Ketkar (Graduate Student, Electrical & Computer Engineering)
    Nathan Myres (Undergraduate, Chemical Engineering)