Laura Villafane Roca

Laura Villafane Roca is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. Her research focuses on multiphase flow dynamics, parachute textiles, and advanced measurement techniques for fluid dynamics applications. She holds a NASA Early Stage Innovation Award (2019) recognizing her contributions to aerospace engineering research.

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Her research interests span experimental methodologies for dispersed multiphase flows, crater morphology characterization during plume-surface interaction, and fluid-structure interactions in parachute systems. She employs innovative techniques like millimeter-wave tomography and multiscale digital image correlation to study complex fluid dynamics phenomena.

Recent work includes validation of interferometric systems for particle-laden flows and predictive modeling of ejecta dynamics in lunar environments. Her publications reflect interdisciplinary collaboration across aerospace engineering and fluid mechanics.

• Awards: NASA Early Stage Innovation Award (2019)
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Laura collaborates extensively with institutions like the Beckman Institute, focusing on advanced imaging and predictive modeling for aerospace applications.