MOHAMMAD REZA FARAHANI · PORTFOLIO · 2026

From
fiber to
function.

Mechanical engineer and product designer building smart material systems

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01 / Currently
PhD Researcher
Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota
02 / Focus
Research Area
Shape memory alloys, NiTi yarns, smart textiles, wearable systems, and medical-device concepts
03 / SKILLS
Toolkit
CAD, simulation, MATLAB modeling, material characterization, microscopy, fabrication
04 / Identity
Edge
Researcher · product designer · startup founder · mentor
Research / About

I work where
material behavior
becomes design
behavior.

My work sits at the intersection of smart materials, textile structures, and human-centered product design. I study how shape memory alloys and multifunctional yarns can be modeled, fabricated, characterized, and integrated into systems that move, adapt, support the body, or improve medical and wearable devices.

Instead of treating materials as passive components, I design systems where geometry, actuation, fabrication, and user needs are developed together: from fiber-scale kinematics to human-scale function.

Mohammad Reza Farahani
MRF / PORTRAIT
SMA / NiTi yarnsPacking densitySmart textile actuationWearable devicesSMA stent conceptsAuxetic structuresMedical-device designHuman-centered prototyping
Engineered Systems
Selected
systems

My work moves across scales: from NiTi microfilament yarns and material characterization to medical devices, robotic actuation, and wearable support systems.

02 / Research
Yarn Packing Density Framework
Built a method for capturing yarn packing density using molding, resin, polishing, light microscopy, and image processing to connect yarn geometry with observed material behavior.
MicroscopyImage ProcessingTextile Mechanics
VIEW SYSTEM →
03 / Fabrication
SMA Twisted Yarn Fabrication
Designed and fabricated SMA twisted yarns using a custom-built spinning machine, tuning twist profiles for more repeatable mechanical response.
SMAMachine DesignYarn Manufacturing
VIEW SYSTEM →
04 / Medical
SMA Stent for HFpEF
Developing an SMA-based stent concept for insertion in the left ventricle of patients with HFpEF, combining smart-material design with medical-device thinking.
Medical DeviceSMAHFpEF
VIEW SYSTEM →
05 / Robotics
Bio-Inspired SMA Robotic Arm
Designed an antagonistic SMA wire and spring actuation system for real-time human motion replication using EMG, IMU sensors, and microcontroller-based control.
SMA ActuationEMG / IMUBio-Inspired
VIEW SYSTEM →
Experience / Timeline
The Strand
So Far

From Tehran to Minneapolis — a trajectory through smart materials

2023
2023 — Present
Graduate Research Assistant
Design of Active Materials & Structures Lab · University of Minnesota
Researching SMA/NiTi yarns, smart textiles, material characterization, actuator systems, and medical-device concepts.
  • Modeled microscale kinematics of Nitinol yarns using MATLAB optimization
  • Designed and fabricated SMA twisted yarns with custom-built equipment
  • Developed packing-density characterization using microscopy and image processing
  • Worked on SMA-based wearable and medical-device concepts
SMA ResearchNiTi YarnsMedical Devices
2023
2023 — Present
PhD Student
University of Minnesota · Mechanical Engineering · Minor in Product Design
Advisor: Dr. Julianna Abel · Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship 2026–2027
Product DesignMechanical Engineering
2019
2019 — 2022
Founder & Head Engineer
ISTA ARSH GAAM — Exoskeleton Chair Startup
Founded and led a startup developing a wearable exoskeleton chair to reduce physical strain during prolonged standing or sitting tasks.
  • Managed a multidisciplinary part-time team
  • Handled company setup, brand registration, and certifications
  • Consulted on humanoid robot and F1 suspension simulation projects
FounderWearable Tech
2015
2015 — 2017
M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering
Sharif University of Technology
Thesis: Optimal design of high-speed spindle bearings to reduce non-repeatable runout.
Spindle BearingsRunout Optimization
Capabilities
Capabilities
Matrix

My toolkit combines material characterization, modeling, fabrication, CAD, product strategy, and visual communication — because smart material systems need both engineering depth and design clarity.

Smart Materials & Textiles
Shape Memory AlloysCore research
SMA YarnsFabrication + modeling
Nitinol Design
Smart Textiles
Auxetic Structures
Knitting
Modeling & Simulation
MATLABResearch modeling
Genetic Algorithm
Abaqus / FEA
SolidWorksCAD + prototyping
Onshape
Design of Experiments
Fabrication & Manufacturing
CNC Machining
Laser Cutting
3D Printing
Manual Lathe
Custom Machine DesignSpinning + coil machines
Rapid Prototyping
Characterization & Testing
DSC / DMAMaterial characterization
Instron Tensile
SEM
Light Microscopy
Image Processing
Thermal Processing
Product & Medical Design
Human-Centered Design
Voice of Customer
Market Analysis
Medical-Device Concepts
Business Plan Dev.
Creative & Communication
Photoshop / Illustrator
After Effects
KeyShot
Scientific Writing
Mentoring
Teaching
Publications & Presentations
Research
Archive
Journal
2025
Microfilament Over-Twisted Coiled Yarn Artificial Muscles and Actuating Textiles
Advanced Robotics Research · Submitted December 2025
Charles A. Weinberg, Mohammad Reza Farahani, et al.
Oral
2025
Design Optimization of Superelastic NiTi Yarns for Energy-Absorbing Textiles
ASME SMASIS 2025 · Missouri, USA
M. R. Farahani and J. Abel
Oral
2024
Optimization of NiTi Microfilament Yarns
ASME SMASIS 2024 · Atlanta, USA
M. R. Farahani and J. Abel
Paper
2021
Minimization of Non-repeatable Runout in High-Speed Spindle Bearings
SAE Technical Paper · 2021
M. R. Farahani and S. Khodaygan
Poster
2018
Optimal Design of HSS Bearings to Minimize Repeatable and Non-Repeatable Runout
ISME 2018 · Semnan, Iran
M. R. Farahani and S. Khodaygan
Leadership & Teaching
Beyond the
Lab Bench
Fall 2023 — Present
Teaching Assistant
University of Minnesota
ME 5241: Computer-Aided Engineering · ME 5223: Materials in Design · ME 3221 Lab: Fundamentals of Design & Manufacturing
July 2024 — Present
Research Mentor
DAMSL, University of Minnesota
Mentoring MSc and BS students in data gathering, analysis, and experimental setup development.
July 2024 — Present
Student Board Member
ASM Shape Memory & Superelastic Technologies
Leading workshop and conference organization efforts in the smart materials community.
September 2025 — Present
Mentor Coordinator
CASMART Student Design Challenge
Facilitating technical milestone reviews and collaboration between student teams and industry/academic mentors.
Honors & Awards
Signals of
Recognition
2026–2027
Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellowship
University of Minnesota
Jan 2023
Mechanical Engineering Departmental Fellowship
University of Minnesota
2018
Braun Prize International Design Competition
iHairCare — haptic package concept for self-haircutting or remote hairstyling
2015
National University Entrance Exam — Top 0.8%
M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering entrance exam · Graduate scholarship 2015
2010
National University Entrance Exam — Top 0.3%
Undergraduate entrance exam · Undergraduate scholarship
Full Technical Specification

Let's build
material systems
that move.

I am open to research collaborations, internships, product-development opportunities, medical-device projects, smart-material systems, and creative engineering work.