Carlos Castano

Associate Professor

Contact information

2090 Rathbone Hall
cecastano@k-state.edu
Surface and Coatings Engineering Laboratory (SurfACE Lab)

Education

• Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 2014
• M.S., Materials Engineering, National University of Colombia, 2009
• B.S., Engineering Physics, National University of Colombia, 2005

Professional experience

Carlos E. Castano joined Kansas State University as an associate professor in the Alan Levin Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in January 2026. Prior to K-State, Castano was an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Nuclear Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and director of the Vertically Integrated Programs (VIP) for the College of Engineering. Castano received a bachlor’s in engineering physics and a master’s in materials engineering from the National University of Colombia. He worked in research and development for a few years in the coating industry before obtaining his doctorate in materials science and engineering at Missouri S&T. He joined VCU in 2014, holding appointments as a postdoctoral fellow, research associate at the Nanomaterials Core Characterization Center and assistant professor before being promoted with tenure in 2023. Castano has received funding from various sources, including state and federal agencies like the VA Department of Energy, NSF, DOE and NRC, as well as multiple industrial sponsors.

Research

Castano's research group focuses on tailoring the surface properties of materials by physical and chemical methods for engineering applications. The research areas are organized around four main fields: surface science, nanotechnology, functional coatings and materials under extreme environments (irradiation, plasmas and high temperatures). The SurfACE Lab is located in 0035 Rathbone Hall. If you are interested in joining or collaborating on the research, let’s set up a meeting.

Some areas of expertise include:

• Synthesis of materials: Plasma-assisted processes, electrochemical methods and focused ion beam.
• Surface modification with plasmas – applications in advanced manufacturing.
• Nuclear materials and materials under extreme environments.
• Nanomaterials engineering and advanced materials characterization.
• Functional coatings and surface science: modification of tribological, corrosion, mechanical, magnetic, electrical, chemical and optical properties.
• Corrosion engineering: anticorrosion coatings of lightweight (Mg and Al alloys) and steel alloys.

Academic highlights

Castano has received numerous recognitions, including an NSF Career Award, honorary Alpha Sigma Mu membership, Roberto Rocca Fellowship, VCU NIRA, ASME Rising Star 2024 and induction into the National Academy of Inventors Chapter at VCU.