Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2023
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2018
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, 2017
  • B.S., Petroleum Engineering, Texas Tech University, 2017
Academic Appointments
  • Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin – Madison, 2025
Professional Honors
  • ARL Distinguished Power and Propulsion Post-Doctoral Fellow
  • ARL Journeyman Fellow Scholarship – University of Wisconsin – Madison
  • Ankie Foell Energy Analysis and Policy Scholarship – University of Wisconsin – Madison
  • Byron H. Greaves Memorial Scholarship – Texas Tech University
  • President’s High Honor List – Texas Tech University
  • Dean’s High Honor List – Texas Tech University
Professional Affiliations
  • The Combustion Institute, 2025
  • The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2025
  • Society of Automotive Engineers, 2025
  • Energy Analysis and Policy Program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison

Dr. Amezcua applies his expertise in mechanical engineering and petroleum engineering across a variety of topics, including fundamental combustion, propulsion, alternative and renewable fuels, reactive mixing for nuclear fusion and hypersonic jets, internal combustion engines, battery thermal runaway, oil and gas, CO2 sequestration, optical diagnostics, and laser diagnostics to provide consulting service and tackle a wide range of challenges in these fields. He investigates and analyzes safety incidents and technical issues related to reactive and mechanical processes, including fires and explosions, industrial equipment, oil and gas, battery runaways, toxic releases, propulsion systems, internal combustion engines, renewable fuels, and consumer products. Dr. Amezcua is also fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Amezcua earned two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in Mechanical Engineering and the other in Petroleum Engineering, from Texas Tech University. He then obtained his Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, also from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before joining Exponent, Dr. Amezcua was a postdoctoral researcher at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, where he received the Distinguished Power and Propulsion Postdoctoral Fellowship. He also taught engineering courses at the University of Wisconsin — Madison.

During his doctoral and postdoctoral studies, Dr. Amezcua focused on optical and laser diagnostics to conduct fundamental research on reactive processes. These processes include the combustion of both renewable and petroleum-derived jet fuels, reactive mixing for nuclear fusion and hypersonic jets, reactive turbulent flows, and thermal runaway in batteries. His research enhances his expertise in a variety of areas, including explosions, fires, heat transfer, thermodynamics, turbulence, fluids, chemical processes, chemical kinetics, and transport phenomena. Additionally, during his doctoral studies, Dr. Amezcua obtained a patent for a new combustion strategy and founded a carbon capture start-up, which was awarded $250,000 in the Elon Musk XPrize carbon capture competition.