Sharad Acharya is a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on the study of mechanics of medical devices. Currently, he is working on a project involving application of Nitinol-based Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator for bending of surgical needle. He holds a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He has worked as a lecturer in Kantipur Engineering College, Nepal and as a design and operation engineer at Devighat Hydropower Station, Nepal Electricity Authority before joining the PhD program at Temple University in the Fall of 2018.