Deepak Sharma

Dr. Deepak Sharma is a Research Associate in the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University. His research combines experimental thermofluids, large-scale testing, advanced diagnostics, and AI-enabled analysis to develop practical solutions for safer communities and more sustainable energy and water systems.

A major focus of his research is wildland–urban interface (WUI) and community fire resilience. He studies firebrand generation and structure-to-structure fire spread using laboratory- to structure-scale experiments, high-speed and infrared imaging, and machine-learning methods. His work aims to provide experimentally grounded data and predictive relationships for fire-spread modeling, while also evaluating mitigation technologies under realistic fire conditions to better protect structures and communities.

His broader research addresses industrial decarbonization, sustainable water systems, data-center thermal management, and critical mineral recovery, including waste-heat recovery, thermal water pumps, desalination, zero-liquid-discharge technologies, advanced cooling systems, and energy recovery. At OSU, Dr. Sharma has contributed to 12 externally funded research projects, leading nine, representing approximately $1.5 million in research funding. His work has resulted in 10 peer-reviewed journal articles, three patents, and multiple conference publications and invited presentations, supported by collaborations with government, industry, research organizations, and academic partners.

Dr. Sharma received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University in 2022 and his master’s degree from IIT Patna in 2017. Across his research, he is passionate about using experiments, physics, and emerging computational tools to translate fundamental understanding into technologies and solutions with societal impact.