Farhan Ishrak

Intro

I am a Materials Science & Engineering Ph.D. candidate at North Carolina State University with more than five years of combined research and metals manufacturing experience. My work focuses on rare-earth permanent magnets, powder metallurgy, solid-state processing, magnetic composites, and materials characterization, with particular emphasis on processing–microstructure–magnetic/mechanical property relationships.

My current research includes SmCo₅-based hard magnetic materials, SmCo₅–Fe systems, and Al-based magnetic composites. I have hands-on experience with spark plasma sintering, solid-state extrusion and solid-stir processing, severe plastic deformation, hydrothermal nanoparticle synthesis, and advanced structural, magnetic, and mechanical characterization.

Before joining NC State, I completed an M.S. in Materials Science at Missouri State University and a B.S. in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). I also worked as a Metallurgical Quality Engineer in high-volume steel manufacturing.

In my free time, I enjoy baking, going to the gym, and watching documentaries.

Education

Expected August 2026
North Carolina State University
Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering
GPA: 4.00/4.00

December 2022
Missouri State University
M.S. in Materials Science
GPA: 3.97/4.00

April 2019
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)
B.S. in Materials & Metallurgical Engineering
GPA: 3.65/4.00

• Academic CV

Research Experience

Jan 2023–Present
North Carolina State University
Graduate Researcher

• Develop and optimize solid-state processing routes for rare-earth permanent magnets and magnetic composites, including SmCo₅-, SmCo₅–Fe-, and SmCo₅–Al-based systems.
• Design experiments across temperature, pressure/load, dwell time, force, speed, and tooling variables to establish reproducible processing windows.
• Investigate processing–microstructure–property relationships using XRD, SEM/EDS, EBSD, TEM, SQUID-VSM, MFM, tensile testing, Vickers hardness, and nanoindentation.
• Study phase evolution, densification, defects, and interfaces to understand their effects on coercivity, hysteresis behavior, and mechanical performance.
• Commission and calibrate laboratory equipment including spark plasma sintering and nanoindentation systems.
• Prepare technical reports, manuscripts, and conference presentations for DOE- and NSF-supported collaborative research projects, and mentor students in laboratory workflows.

Jan 2021–Dec 2022
Missouri State University
Graduate Researcher

• Synthesized core–shell heterostructured magnetic nanoparticles using hydrothermal wet-chemistry routes.
• Tuned synthesis conditions to study coercivity and exchange-bias behavior.
• Performed structural and magnetic characterization using XRD, SQUID-VSM, HRTEM, and SEM/EDS.
• Developed reproducible experimental workflows for nanoparticle synthesis and data collection.

Graduate Thesis
• Synthesis and Characterization of Bi-Magnetic Core-Shell Nanoparticles

Jan 2018–Apr 2019
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)
Undergraduate Thesis

• Utilization of steel slag to produce non-fired bricks.
• Measured compressive strength, water absorption capacity, density, and porosity of prepared bricks.

Industry Experience

Nov 2019–Dec 2020
Abul Khair Steel Products Ltd.
Metallurgical Quality Engineer

• Controlled Zn–Al galvanizing bath chemistry using optical emission spectroscopy (OES).
• Verified coating thickness, adhesion, uniformity, and product quality in a high-volume production environment.
• Led a 22-person QA laboratory team conducting routine testing, defect investigation, and corrective actions.
• Performed root-cause analysis on corrosion, cracking, strength variation, and surface discoloration issues.
• Maintained ISO 9001:2015 documentation, audit readiness, and traceable quality records.
• Collaborated with production teams to stabilize process parameters and improve consistency.

Skills & Expertise

Magnetic Materials & Processing:
Spark plasma sintering (SPS); severe plastic deformation (HPT); solid-stir/friction-stir-based processing; heat treatment/aging

Characterization:
SQUID-VSM; MFM; XRD; SEM/EDS; EBSD; TEM/HRTEM; FIB coordination; metallography; optical microscopy; particle size analysis; DSC/TGA

Synthesis:
Hydrothermal wet-chemistry synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles; powder-based materials processing; high-temperature processing

Mechanical Testing:
Nanoindentation (TI-980, PI-89); tensile testing; Vickers hardness

Data Analysis & Software:
OriginPro; ImageJ; Microsoft Excel; Python (basic data analysis/automation)

Publications & Professional Activities

Selected Publications

1. F. Ishrak, M. Lastovich, F.-Y. Tsai, et al., “Microstructural Evolution and Magnetic Properties of Spark Plasma Sintered SmCo₅ and SmCo₅-Fe Composites,” Journal of Alloys and Compounds (2025). First author.

2. A. Malakar, A. Martin, F. Ishrak, et al., “In-situ thermo-mechano-chemical transformation and consolidation of Sm-Co powders via a single-step route for bulk magnet fabrication,” Nature Communications (2025).

3. F. Ishrak, R. S. Haridas, A. Malakar, et al., “Aluminum/SmCo₅ Composites for Structural and Magnetic Applications,” Journal of Materials Science (2024). First author.

4. F. Ishrak, F.-Y. Tsai, C. Perkins IV, et al., “Upcycling aluminum scrap and end-of-life permanent magnets into ductile Al-6061/SmCo₅ structural magnetic composites,” Materials & Design (under review).

5. M. J. Uddin, M. Lastovich, F.-Y. Tsai, F. Ishrak, et al., “Solid-State Reactive Processing of Al–Fe₃O₄ Nanothermites for In Situ Formation of Soft-Magnetic Fe Nanoparticles in an Aluminum Matrix,” ACS Materials Au.

6. F. Ishrak, R. A. Mayanovic, M. Benamara, “Investigations of Size-Dependent Properties of Mn-Co-NiO Based Heterostructured Nanoparticles,” AIP Advances.

7. T. Ajantiwalay, F. Ishrak, A. Malakar, et al., “Comprehending Interphase Shearing Behavior within a Bulk Cu–Nb Alloy using Micromechanical Testing,” Materials Characterization.

8. J. Escobar, J. Silverstein, F. Ishrak, et al., “Microstructural evolution in shear punch tests: A comparative study of pure Cu and Cu–Cr alloy,” Materials Science and Engineering: A.

Recent Conference Presentations

• Solid-State Processing of SmCo₅-Based Magnets via Combined Shear and Thermal Activation for Structural and Magnetic Integration — TMS 2026 (Talk)
• Metal Matrix Magnetic Composites — TMS 2026 (Poster)
• Microstructure–Magnetism Correlation in SmCo-Based Materials via Solid-State Design Strategies — MMM 2025 (Talk)
• Metal Matrix Composites by Solid Stir Manufacturing Routes — TMS 2025 (Talk)
• Magnetization of Al-based Alloys by Shear-assisted Solid Phase Processing — TMS 2024 (Talk)

Awards & Honors

• TMS Student Travel Grant, Functional Materials Division (2026)
• GSA Award for Conferences, NC State (Fall 2025)
• MMM 2025 Conference Travel Award
• GSA Award for Travel, NC State (Spring 2025)
• TMS Student Travel Grant, Materials Processing & Manufacturing Division (2025)
• Graduate Merit Award, College of Engineering, NC State (2024)
• Physics & Astronomy Department and Friends Scholarship, Missouri State (2022–2023)

Professional Service

• Peer Reviewer, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics (2026–Present)
• Peer Reviewer, Scientific Reports (2025–Present)
• Peer Reviewer, MRS Advances (2025–Present)
• Peer Reviewer, JOM (2024–Present)

Updates

2026
• Presented two contributions at the 2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition.
• Received the TMS Student Travel Grant from the Functional Materials Division.
• Began serving as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics.

2025
• Published first-author work on spark plasma sintered SmCo₅ and SmCo₅–Fe composites in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds.
• Co-authored a Nature Communications paper on single-step thermo-mechano-chemical transformation and consolidation of Sm-Co powders.
• Presented research at the MMM 2025 and TMS 2025 conferences.

2024
• Published first-author work on Aluminum/SmCo₅ composites in the Journal of Materials Science.
• Received the Graduate Merit Award from the College of Engineering at NC State.

01/07/2023
• Started Ph.D. studies in Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University.

11/18/2022
• Successfully defended my Master's thesis at Missouri State University.

Contact

Location

Raleigh, NC




Email

farhan.ishrak0501@gmail.com

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