Harman Khare, Ph.D.
I am an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Gonzaga University, a research-active primarily undergraduate institution located in Spokane, WA. At Gonzaga, I teach courses in materials science, tribology and manufacturing, supervise capstone engineering design projects and direct undergraduate research in the GU Tribology Research Laboratory. Before joining the Gonzaga Engineering faculty, I was a Postdoctoral Researcher and later Manager of Research Projects in the Nanotribology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. I completed my graduate training in the Materials Tribology Laboratory, at the University of Delaware.

My research interest is broadly in the area of experimental tribology, which contrary to conventional wisdom has little to do with tribes but has surprising applications in biology. When not in lab measuring the slipperiness of surfaces, I enjoy running, hiking, tennis and woodworking.

Teaching | Google Scholar | LinkedIn | CV

Calling all Zags: Get involved!
We are always looking for motivated Zags (all years of study) looking to get involved in undergraduate research. If you’d like to learn more, drop me an email (khare@gonzaga.edu) or stop by for a chat (Bollier Center ISE243).

Current team (Spring 2025):

Jason Chou, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘27
Lexi Durbin, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘25
Sean Harrington, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘25
Vinh Hoang, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘25
Vincent Hsu, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘25
Finn Martsolf, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘27
Alec Reitz, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘27
Levon Wilcox, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘27

Lab alumni
Jackson Swets, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘25
Joseph Berbach, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘24
Jeffrey Henion, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘24
Libby Anders, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘24
Faith Duberow, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘24
Alex Trigloff, BS Eng. Management, ‘24
Nathan Omodt, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘24
Andrew Kelley, BS Eng. Management, ‘23
Ethan Bailes, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘22
Quang (Mark) Pham, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘22
Brenden Miller, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘22 (now at L3 Harris)
Reese Anselmi, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘22
Byron Carabajal, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘22
Eric Candaux, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘22
Ian Linville, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘22
Annaleigh Miller, BS Mechanical Eng., ‘22
Marissa Encarnacion, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘21 (now at Janicki Industries)
Steven Mamolo, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘21 (now graduate student at University of Michigan)
Lindsey Young, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘21 (now graduate student at Northeastern University)
Evelyn Cooper, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘20
Maegan Chmielewski-Anders, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘20
Braden Cote, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘20 (now graduate student at Montana State University)
Cooper Lytle, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘20
William Smith, BS Eng. Management ‘20 (now at Precision Castparts)
Kimbrell Larouche, BS Mechanical Eng. ‘19 (now at SunSense Solar)