Faculty Profiles

Dr. Aswath is the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. As TXST Provost, Dr. Aswath is helping in the pursuit of our strategic Hopes and Aspirations High vision to become an R1 by 2027, enhancing student success, growing the Round Rock Campus, increasing enrollment, and making TXST an employer of choice. His focus includes examining academic structures, resource allocation, policies, and procedures to ensure the efforts of faculty, staff, and administrators align with the goals of the university and that academic priorities are implemented efficiently.
In addition to his experience in academic operations, Dr. Aswath is an accomplished scholar. He is a Fellow of American Society of Materials, Fellow of Society of Tribology Lubrication Engineers, and most recently, was elected as Fellow of National Academy of Inventors. He has published over 150 journal papers, graduated 20 Ph.D. students and 35 master’s thesis students, has commercialized several technologies in materials science, and he is included in multiple patent publications and filings.
Dr. Aswath earned a bachelor of science in physics, chemistry and math from St. Joseph College, Bangalore University, and a bachelor of engineering in metallurgy from the Indian Institute of Science. He earned a master of science in materials science and a doctorate in materials science and engineering at Brown University.

Have worked extensively in a number of research areas in Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Started my career working in the area of Fatigue and Fracture of Engineering Materials and have extensive experience in durability and high temperature performance of materials. Have since worked in Composites including materials that were used on in high performance aircraft and missiles, these included Ceramic Matrix Composities that were made by polymer pyrolysis as Si-O-C-N matrix Nextel composites as well as near net shape low observable high temperature composites for radome applications such as Silicon Nitride-Barium Aluminosilicate composites. Subsequently have also worked in biomaterials such as Bioglass as well as Silicious based amorphous ceramics for rapid bone healing. This work also resulted in the delelopment of various types of coating using Plasma enhanced CVD process as well as 3D printing of net shape in-situ composites for critical size defects. In collaboration with Scottish Rite Hospital have contributed significantly to the understanding of Perthes disease and examining the mechanism of bone remodeling and regeneration under restricted blood flow conditions. In addition, to these interests, I have also worked extensively in the areas of Tribology and Lubrication in the area of automotive engine applications with the development of various environmentally friendly engine oils that result in lower emission, longer durability and improved fuel efficiency. This work has resulted in finding alternatives to existing additive technology in the marketplace and resulted in numerous patents and publications. Dr. Aswath has published over 140 pear reviewed Journal Papers and holds over 20 patents. He is a Fellow of ASM International, Fellow of Society of Tribology and Lubrication Engineers and Fellow of National Academy of Inventors.

Have taught over half a dozen courses over my career including undergraduate and graduate courses in Materials Science and Engineering. They include Introductory Courses in Materials Science and Engineering for all Engineering Students as well as upper division courses in Mechanical Properties of Materials. In addition, the portfolio of graduate courses include, Mechanical Properties of Materials, Fatigue of Materials, Creep and Oxidation of Materials, Phase Transformation in Materials and Special Topics in Tribology and Lubrication