People – High-Performance Engineering

Fall 2025 HiPE

Faculty

Dr. Damian Valles

Bio: Dr. Damian Valles is in his second year as an Associate Professor at the Ingram School of Engineering, Electrical Engineering Program. He’s been working on HPC research since 2005, Embedded research projects since 2012, and Machine Learning research since 2014. Triple graduate from the ECE Department at UTEP. IEEE, Supercomputing, & AI believer. Faculty Fellow appointments for the Translational Health Research Center (THRC) and the Texas State Center for Analytics and Data Science (TXST CADS) Research Center.

Damian’s Page

Ph.D. Students

Zaheen Afroz Simin
Fall 2025 – present

Bio: Zaheen Afroz Simin is pursuing her Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at Texas State University, a journey she began in Fall 2023. With a profound curiosity and a passion for continuous learning, Zaheen is dedicated to expanding her skill set and knowledge. She is particularly interested in applying machine learning technologies in Electrical Engineering. Outside of her academic pursuits, Zaheen loves to travel and explore new places, constantly seeking new experiences and insights. Her enthusiasm for technological innovation and global exploration drives her forward in her personal and professional endeavors.
Project: TBD

Zaheen’s Page

MS Thesis Students

Md Masrur Hossain Rakin
Fall 2025 – present

Bio: Md Masrur Hossain Rakin is a Master of Science candidate in Electrical Engineering at the Ingram School of Engineering, Texas State University, beginning his studies in Fall 2024. His research interests lie at the intersection of machine learning and electrical engineering, with a particular focus on the application of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) to semiconductor and electrical materials science. He is committed to advancing knowledge in computational modeling and intelligent systems for next-generation electronic materials. Beyond his academic endeavors, Rakin maintains a strong dedication to continuous learning and the pursuit of innovative ideas that bridge theory and practice in engineering.
Project: Deep Learning Physics-Informed NN in UWBG

Masrur’s Page

Erich Ellsworth
Fall 2025 – present

Bio: Erich Scott Ellsworth is a graduate student at the Ingram School of Engineering, where he is pursuing a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in Spring 2024. His research and publications cover machine learning at the edge, the Internet of Things (IoT), and radar systems. He is currently focused on advancing the practical application of machine learning in edge environments. Outside of academics, he enjoys amateur radio, working on cars, and exploring state parks.
Project: Reinforcement Learning Agent Design for Autonomous Rover Navigation

Erich’s Page

Md Sakif Uddin Khan
Fall 2025 – present

Bio: EMd Sakif Uddin Khan (SAKIF) is a Master’s student in Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering at Texas State University, working under Dr. Damian Valles in the High-Performance Engineering (HiPE) research group. His research blends robotics, computer vision, and embedded sensing to develop autonomous systems for precision livestock management. Sakif designs transformer-based vision models that recognize cattle behaviors and environmental cues in real time. He also explores soft-robotic locomotion and energy-efficient designs inspired by nature. His broader goal is to create “ranch-ready” robots that work alongside farmers and turn field data into meaningful insight for smarter, more sustainable agriculture. Beyond agricultural robotics, he has worked on projects in soft robotics, autonomous navigation, and cyber-physical security, and has presented multiple papers at IEEE venues and SFF Symposiums. Outside of academics, he loves playing Video Games on PlayStation and working on cars.
Project: AnimalCareBot’s Transformer-Based Vision Classification and Segmentation.

Sakif’s Page

Undergraduate Research Assistants

- Kevin Castaneda Guerra
  Spring 2024 – present
Bio: Kevin Castañeda is a Texas State University sophomore pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He enjoys dissecting and comprehending the structural and functional components of objects to gain a deeper insight into their design and functionality. As he embarks on his first research project, he is excited about the learning journey ahead, eager to absorb the intricacies of the research procedures and contribute his creative perspective to the team’s collaborative efforts.

Project: A mobile robot with sensors for animal tracking |

Kevin’s Page
- Nathan Charles
  Fall 2025 – present
- Bio: Nathan Charles is a Texas State University senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He has a strong interest in AI, machine learning, and robotics. He’s an officer in the TXST IEEE student chapter and utilizes his background in robotics to assist new engineers in launching their technical journeys. As he begins his time with the HiPE Lab, he’s excited to learn more about the research process and contribute to impactful projects.
  
  Project: A mobile robot with sensors for animal tracking |
  Nathan’s Page
  
  Utsav Adhikari
  Fall 2025 – present
  
  Bio: Utsav Adhikari is a sophomore at Texas State University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. His interests center on AI and automation, with a strong motivation to explore how emerging technologies can drive innovation. As an officer in the TXST IEEE student chapter, he helps students in the Open Project Space by teaching the fundamentals of microcontroller usage and encouraging hands-on exploration. He also serves as an Instructional Assistant in the Department of Physics, supporting students in their learning journey. Utsav is excited to begin his role as a research assistant, where he looks forward to gaining deeper research experience, expanding his technical skills, and contributing to impactful projects.
  
  Project: A mobile robot with sensors for animal tracking |
  
  Utsav’s Page
  
  Javier A. Aristondo-Flores
  Fall 2025 – present
  
  Bio: A Computer Science and Physics student researching computational physics and AI at Texas State University and quantum algorithms for finance at KTR Capital.
  
  Project: Semiconductor AI and MD Simulations |
  
  Javier’s Page