Ryan Karkkainen
About Ryan Karkkainen
Ryan Karkkainen is a Senior Research and Development Engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, with a background in mechanical engineering and extensive experience in academia and industry. He has held positions at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, University of Miami, and Anderson University, and has a keen interest in material forensics, safety engineering, and multi-scale modeling.
Current Position at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Ryan Karkkainen currently holds the position of Senior Research and Development Engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a role he has occupied since 2023. In this capacity, he focuses on advancing research initiatives and engineering solutions within the laboratory's projects. His work involves applying his extensive background in mechanical engineering and multi-disciplinary design to innovative research challenges.
Previous Experience at U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Before his current role, Ryan Karkkainen worked as a Research Engineer at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory from 2006 to 2013. During his seven years at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, he contributed to various research projects that supported military applications and technology development.
Academic Roles at Universities
Ryan Karkkainen has held academic positions at multiple institutions. He served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Miami from 2014 to 2021, where he engaged in teaching and research. Following this, he was an Associate Professor at Anderson University in South Carolina from 2021 to 2023, further contributing to the academic community through his expertise in mechanical engineering.
Educational Background in Mechanical Engineering
Ryan Karkkainen has a solid educational foundation in mechanical engineering. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Louisiana State University from 1994 to 1998. He then pursued a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, from 1998 to 2000. He completed his academic journey with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Florida from 2003 to 2006.
Research Interests and Expertise
Ryan Karkkainen has a keen interest in several areas of mechanical engineering, including process-microstructure-property linkages, material forensics, safety engineering, and the development of multi-functional materials. His expertise extends to impact energy absorbing materials and multi-disciplinary engineering system design, encompassing projects related to CubeSat and robotics.