Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2008
  • M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2005
  • B.S., Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2002
  • B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 2002
Licenses & Certifications
  • Professional Engineer Metallurgical, California, #1971
Professional Honors
  • Corrosion Fund Scholarship, 2007 and 2008
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award, 2007
  • Edwin Letts Oliver Scholarship for Mining and Metallurgy, 2003
Professional Affiliations
  • NACE International (member)
  • American Gas Association - Transmission Integrity Management Committee
Languages
  • Hindi

Dr. Bhargava specializes in corrosion science, with an emphasis on corrosion monitoring, testing, evaluation, and protection. He has expertise with the application of electrochemical and microscopy (optical, SEM, TEM) techniques in various areas, particularly the oxidation behavior of 3d transition metals and their passive films. 

Dr. Bhargava also has extensive experience in general and localized corrosion, galvanic corrosion, atmospheric corrosion, anodization processes, alloying effects on corrosion performance, and evaluating the corrosion behavior of materials in high temperature, high pressure aqueous environments. He has also developed a strong background in material science, semiconductors, photovoltaics, nanotechnology, and materials characterization.

Dr. Bhargava has investigated corrosion issues relating to medical devices, pipelines, boilers, architectural materials, electronics, and automotive components, as well as coating failures. He has performed corrosion performance evaluations on many different materials used in the medical device industry including stainless steels, titanium, nitinol, and cobalt-chromium alloys using electrochemical and metallographic techniques.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Bhargava completed graduate studies at University of California, Berkeley, in the department of Materials Science and Engineering, where his research focused on the synthesis, characterization, and application of metal oxide nanostructures formed by an electrochemical route. These nanostructures were applied and tested as electrodes in both lithium batteries and nickel metal-hydride batteries. Dr. Bhargava also constructed simulated high temperature, high pressure systems for testing the corrosion behavior of Ni-alloys used in pressurized water reactors during his graduate work. While at the University of California, Dr. Bhargava served as the graduate student instructor for the upper division corrosion class for four years, as well as the introductory materials science course for one year.