2026 - Gavin Cunningham
Technical Applications & Sales Engineer
Koehler Instrument Company, Inc.
Gavin Cunningham, EIT, is a chemical engineer with experience in ASTM standards-based laboratory testing, technical applications, laboratory instrumentation, process engineering, and data-driven technical reporting. He earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University at Buffalo and passed the Fundamentals of Engineering Chemical exam.
Gavin currently works as a Technical Application Engineer at Koehler Instrument Company, where he supports petroleum, lubricant, grease, and materials testing instrumentation. His work includes executing laboratory experiments, analyzing samples, reviewing ASTM test methods and acceptance criteria, preparing technical reports, and communicating findings to customers, distributors, and internal sales and engineering teams. He also contributes to technical documentation, product evaluation, standards compliance, and application support for laboratory testing equipment.
In addition to his applications engineering experience, Gavin has worked in workforce development and offshore wind supply chain initiatives, supporting grant writing, RFQ preparation, technical training materials, and collaboration between industry, government, and educational partners. He also has research experience from the University at Buffalo, where he supported advanced membrane research for gas separation and CO₂ capture applications, including MOF/polymer membrane work, synthesis planning, documentation, and characterization-data review.
Gavin’s academic and project experience includes process simulation, equipment design, techno-economic analysis, acrylic syrup plant design, portable water purification system design, and turbine prototype development. He is proficient in MATLAB, Python, UniSim, Microsoft Office, and data-driven engineering workflows. His professional interests include laboratory instrumentation, ASTM testing, process engineering, compliance, oil and gas, energy, advanced manufacturing, and practical technical application support.Presentation(s):
Advanced Tribological Testing: Innovations in Testing Modern Lubricants Using the Four-Ball Method Standardized by ASTM
Abstract Number: 137
Wednesday, October 14th
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Advances in Automated Low-Temperature Petroleum Testing: Flow Characterization by Optical Cloud and Tilt Pour Point Analysis
Abstract Number: 123
Wednesday, October 14th
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
High-Precision Emission Monitoring: Improving the Sensitivity of Instrumentation Used to Detect Trace Leaks and VOCs at Refineries
Abstract Number: 136
Wednesday, October 14th
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Mechanical Shear-Induced Viscosity Loss in Polymer-Modified Lubricants: Evaluation with Use of Diesel Injector & Other Techniques
Abstract Number: 131
Wednesday, October 14th
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Thermal Stability and Performance Analysis of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) in HPHT Downhole Operations
Abstract Number: 141
Wednesday, October 14th
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
What are the Recent Advances in the Last Three Years Using AI and ML that Can Revolutionize the Petroleum Testing Laboratory?
Abstract Number: 142
Wednesday, October 14th
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
