Richard and Barbara Nelson Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Richard and Barbara Nelson Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Allen Román's research focuses on combining automation, characterization, and data-driven modeling to enhance the study of polymer and composite material behavior. His team is also advancing towards self-correcting manufacturing systems through instrumented systems and data-driven modeling techniques. His research spans three key areas:
1. Smart Manufacturing: Leveraging instrumented systems, such as our patented rotating nozzle 3D printer and instrumented extruders, we aim to maximize throughput, to understand material behavior and to develop defect detection models for closed-loop correction.
2. High-throughput Characterization: We aim in developing characterization systems at the milligram scale, designed to capture rheological and viscoelastic behavior, enabling high-throughput materials testing.
3. Autonomous Materials Discovery: Integrating automation with high-throughput characterization workflows to accelerate material formulation and discovery, with a focus on viscoelasticity, thermal behavior, and rheology.
The ultimate goal is to advance polymer and composite research by creating autonomous workflows that drive innovation in manufacturing and materials discovery.
Allen Jonathan Román is interested in advancing polymer/composite materials research through two key initiatives: developing self-correcting manufacturing systems using automation, data-driven modeling, and instrumented technologies, and optimizing high-throughput characterization methods to accelerate the discovery and formulation of new materials.
Lab
Polymer Research Institute for Smart Manufacturing and Materials (PRISM)
ME Research Areas
Materials & Mechanics
Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer
ME Impact Areas
Environment & Sustainability
Next-Gen Manufacturing
Ph.D. 2023, Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.S. 2018, Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S. 2013, Biological Systems Engineering-Machinery Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Richard and Barbara Nelson Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2025-present
Core Postdoctoral Researcher, Argonne National Laboratory, 2023-2025
Polymer Processing Society Young Researcher Award (2024)
University of Wisconsin-Madison Research Competition Award (2023)
Society of Plastics Engineers Donald McCoy Scholarship (2022)
Society of Plastics Engineers TOPCON Service Award (2022)
SPE ACCE 2019 - Best Poster Award
SPE ACCE 2022- Best Poster Award
National Science Foundation - Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship (2018)
Graduate Engineering Research Scholars Fellowship (2018)
A.J. Román, J.C.Blanco Campos, T.A. Osswald, “Rotating Nozzle 3D Printer for Enhanced Printing Performance,” Nature Communications (under review)
A. J. Román, S. Qin, J.C. Rodríguez, L.D. González, V.M. Zavala, T.A. Osswald, “ Nature rubber blend optimization via data-driven modeling: The implementation for reverse engineering,” Polymers, vol 14 (11), 2262, 2022, DOI: 10.3390/polym14112262
Z. Liu, J.E. Estela García, T.A. Osswald, A.J. Román, “Melt flow analysis in rotational nozzle fused filament fabrication process,” Physics of Fluids, vol. 36 (10), DOI: 10.1063/5.0231864
A.J. Román, S. Qin, V.M. Zavala, T.A. Osswald, “Neural network feature and architecture optimization for injection molding surface defect prediction of model polypropylene,” Polymer Engineering and Science, vol. 61 (9), pp. 2376-2387, DOI: 10.1002/pen.25765
J.C. Rodriguez Urbina, T.A. Osswald, J.E. Estela Garcia, A.J. Román, “Environmentally safe preservation and stabilization of natural rubber latex in an acidic environment,” SPE Polymers, vol 4, pp 93-104, 2023, DOI: 10.1002/pls2.10089