Biography

Nikhil Churi received his doctoral degree in Industrial Engineering from Kansas State University (2010) & his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Mumbai (2002).

In 2023, he joined the Department of Strategic Management & Operations (SMO), Utah Valley University (UVU) as a full time Assistant Professor.

From 2021 to 2022, he was an Adjunct Professor, taught classes & served as an Advisory Board Member in the Department of Strategic Management & Operations (SMO) & Department of Executive Education at the Utah Valley University (UVU). Previously, in 2005 he had taught engineering classes in the Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering (IMSE) Department at Kansas State University (KSU) for 2 years.

During his graduate studies at Kansas State University (KSU), his Doctoral dissertation topic was Rotary Ultrasonic Machining (RUM) of Hard-to-Machine materials (aerospace grade titanium alloy, aluminum, carbon-fiber-reinforced-composite, silicon carbide, & dental ceramics) which was a project sponsored by the Boeing Company, Everett, WA & supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). He has authored/coauthored 14-research papers (journal & conference).

Previously in 2022, he has worked for Stryker Corporation in their Neurovascular (NV) Division in Salt Lake City, Utah as a Senior Project Manager - Manufacturing Operations & Digitalization Projects to implement Stryker’s Global Digitalization Strategic Systems that involves digital manufacturing execution system (MES), enterprise resource planning (ERP), plant maintenance (PM), real-time overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), & data applications.

From 2011 to 2021, he worked for Schlumberger Corporation (world’s largest oil & gas service provider) in their MegaDiamond Facility in Provo, Utah (a leading manufacturer of polycrystalline diamond cutters for oil/gas drilling, mining & construction applications worldwide). Here he led numerous engineering projects including successful implementation of a centralized floorwide statistical process control (SPC) system, laser systems, technology management, product improvement strategies, leading of various scrap reduction teams & kaizen training sessions, & the most recent project_ digitization of manufacturing floor. He has made several technical presentations related to polycrystalline diamond (PCD) manufacturing processes & systems within the Schlumberger Technical Communities.

From 2008 to 2011, he worked with Crystal Technology (a leading semiconductor manufacturer of lithium niobate wafers & electronic components used in optical equipment such as cameras, screens, & radars), Palo Alto, California as a Research Assistant & Process Engineer where his key responsibilities included improving the products & processes in their electronics device manufacturing & wafer manufacturing fab.

From the year 2011 to present, he has been offering his technical expertise as a reviewer & a Subject Matter Expert to the United States Department of Energy (USDOE), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) &, Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE).

Education

Teaching

Scholarly/Creative Works