Brian Elbing

Brian Elbing is the Tom Cunningham Chair and Professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Oklahoma State University (OSU). His research focuses on fluid mechanisms, particularly tornado infrasound, drag reduction for ships, helicopter wake dynamics, and atmospheric turbulence. He has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation's Experimental Physics Investigator award (2022-present) and the Regents Distinguished Research Award (2024).

Education:

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2009
• M.S.E., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2005
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Western Michigan University, 2003

Research Interests: Elbing's work spans fluid dynamics, flow control, and acoustics. His tornado research explores infrasound generated by tornadoes, while his drag reduction studies focus on naval applications. He also investigates atmospheric turbulence and multiphase flows. His research has been featured in Physics Today, Wall Street Journal, and WIRED.

Grants & Awards:

• Lead investigator for grants including NASA-funded balloon-based seismic studies and tornado infrasound monitoring.
• Recipient of the Tom J. Cunningham Chair (2024–present) and Moore Foundation support.

Labs & Teams: Directs the Experimental Flow Physics Lab, collaborating with NASA, JPL, and international teams on projects like the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule re-entry observations and stratospheric balloon-based sensing.