Dr. Juan Ramirez is a Senior Engineer in Exponent’s Thermal Sciences practice. Dr. Ramirez is
a mechanical engineer and as such, he performs scientific investigations of fires and explosions
in industrial, commercial, and residential settings. Dr. Ramirez specializes in the investigation
of failures associated with equipment that transports, uses, handles, or stores gases and liquids.
Past work has included investigations involving industrial systems such as gas-fired grain
dryers, thermal fluid ovens, positive displacement compressors, refrigeration systems, grain
elevators, heat exchangers, pumps, and conveyor systems. In residential settings, he has
investigated fires and burns associated with consumer electronics, furnaces, refrigerators,
humidifiers, space heaters, and heating pads.
Prior to obtaining his Ph.D and joining Exponent, Dr. Ramirez worked in engineering
consulting designing heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration systems for
retail and grocery stores and office buildings. He uses that experience to investigate HVAC
system failures. Past work has included analysis of pipe water freezing and bursting, system
performance issues, asphyxiation by refrigerant release, and carbon monoxide exposure.
Dr. Ramirez provides consulting services in chemical process safety and hazard analysis. He
has conducted facility siting and consequence analysis modeling studies, and participated as a
HAZOP study team member.
Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Ramirez was a post-doctoral research associate at the Materials
Science & Technology Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory. During this time, he
developed physical models for the kinetics of phase transformations, heat and mass transfer,
nucleation, growth, and diffusion. He also performed computational modeling work in the
fields of materials processing, solidification, and microfluidics.
Academic Credentials and Professional Honors
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Iowa, 2004
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Missouri-Rolla, 1999
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Central de Venezuela, 1996
- Honorable mention for graduating first in class of 30 mechanical engineers
Licenses and Certifications
- Professional Engineer, Illinois, License # 062063583
- Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) by the National Association of Fire
- Investigators (NAFI) National Certification Board, Register # 14685-7659.
- 40-Hour HAZWOPER training program in accordance with 29 CFR Part 1910.120
Languages
- Spanish
Academic Appointments
- Adjunct Instructor, Engineering Thermodynamics or Mechanics of Materials, College of
- Dupage, continuously since the Fall semester, 2009
Professional Affiliations
- Technical Track Organizer for the Safety Engineering and Risk Analysis sessions at the
- 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exhibition (IMECE), San
- Diego, CA
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (member)
- National Fire Protection Association (member)
- Technical Committee on Water Cooling Towers (Principal Member)
- National Association of Fire Investigators (member)
Prior Experience
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, 2004–2007
- The University of Iowa, Research and Teaching Assistant, 2000–2004
- Henderson Engineers, HVAC Design Engineer, 1999