Daniel Lecoanet

Dr. Daniel Lecoanet is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering. His research focuses on astrophysical and geophysical fluid dynamics, with expertise in numerical simulations and the development of the Dedalus code. He holds a PhD in Physics from UC Berkeley and has held postdoctoral fellowships at Princeton University.

Education:

• PhD in Physics, UC Berkeley (2016)
• Masters of Advanced Study in Applied Mathematics, University of Cambridge (2011)
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2010)

Research Interests: Lecoanet investigates fluid dynamics in astrophysical and geophysical contexts, including convection in stars and planets, internal gravity waves, and magnetic dynamo processes. He leads development of the Dedalus spectral code, widely used for solving PDEs in complex geometries. Key topics include wave generation by convection, convective boundary mixing, and magnetohydrodynamic instabilities.

Grants & Awards:

• NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Grant ($402,908, 2024–2027)
• Simons Foundation Targeted Grant ($3.9M, 2024–2028)
• Sloan Research Fellowship (2024–2026)
• Hertz Foundation Fellowship (2011–2016)

Advising & Mentorship: Lecoanet supervises PhD students (Emma Kaufman, Liam O'Connor, Benjamin Hyatt) and postdocs (Evan Anders, Kyle Augustson). He mentors summer students in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics program and teaches courses on numerical methods and fluid dynamics.

Labs & Collaborations: Collaborates with international teams on stellar magnetic field modeling, internal wave dynamics, and Dedalus software development. Active in CIERA (Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics) and the Fluid Mechanics of Planets and Stars research group.