Mechanical engineering doctoral student wows national tribology conference with electrical erosion research
Published: Jun 27, 2025 4:00 PM
By Jeremy Henderson
When it comes to better understanding and mitigating the causes of electrical erosion now regularly reported in electric vehicles (EVs), the leading tribology program in the nation has a new poster boy.
Sudip Saha, a graduate research assistant in Auburn's Multiscale Tribology Laboratory, recently earned the Best Poster (Silver) Award at the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) Annual Meeting. Held last month in Atlanta, the conference brought together leading experts in the field; Saha's research on how lubricants and additives interact with the stray electrical currents that can cause localized melting and damage garnered significant recognition.
"Winning the award at STLE 2025 was incredibly rewarding," Saha said. "It felt great to have our work recognized by experts in the field, and the experience gave me a chance to share ideas with fellow peers and industry professionals."
Saha’s research into tackling bearing damage is also crucial for optimal performance in wind turbines, spacecraft and power generation systems.
"Sudip is a hard worker and has conducted many experiments and surface analysis on this topic," said Rob Jackson, the Albert Smith Jr. Professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Multiscale Tribology Lab. "He's published several research papers along these lines already, and several more are in the works."
Jackson also noted Saha's recent participation in the annual meeting of the National Lubricating Grease Institute, which sponsored his attendance.
"My research advisor, Dr. Jackson, has given so much support and guidance throughout my research journey," Saha said. "He's designed Auburn's tribology courses to be deeply interactive, and through hands-on lab work, I’ve been able to explore this field in depth.
"The Auburn STLE student chapter has also been a great platform for learning. It has given me the chance to mentor undergraduate students and take part in sessions and webinars with leading researchers. The community here has really helped me stay engaged and motivated."
