J. Richard Culham

J. Richard Culham is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Engineering. Currently serving as Special Advisor to the Dean, he previously held administrative roles as Interim Dean (2020) and Vice-Dean of Engineering.

• Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering (University of Waterloo, 1989)
• Master's in Mechanical Engineering (University of Waterloo, 1979)
• Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering (University of Waterloo, 1978)

His research focuses on thermal management of micro- and nano-devices, with expertise in microscale/nanoscale heat transfer, thermal interface materials, and entropy generation minimization. His work involves analytical and empirical modeling of cooling systems for electronics and optoelectronics.

Recent publications analyze convective-diffusive flows in porous media, MHD flows, and nanofluid heat transfer mechanisms, reflecting his interests in nanotechnology, thermal systems optimization, and microfluidics.

Scientific Honors:

• Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

As Director of the Microelectronics Heat Transfer Laboratory (MHTL), he has authored over 150 publications and mentored graduate students in electronics cooling and thermoelectric systems. Notably, he is not currently accepting graduate student applications.

Specialized Lab: Microelectronics Heat Transfer Laboratory (MHTL)