Sally Bane

Sally Bane is an Associate Professor and Director of Laboratory & Hands-On Education at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University. She holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia (2004), an M.S. in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology (2005), and a Ph.D. in Aeronautics from Caltech (2010).

Her research focuses on plasma-assisted combustion, hypersonic flow dynamics, optical diagnostics, and flow control. Key interests include nanosecond pulsed plasmas, supersonic flow control, and detonation dynamics. She employs advanced techniques like Background-Oriented Schlieren (BOS), Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), and numerical modeling to study high-speed flows and plasma interactions.

Bane’s recent work emphasizes plasma-based flow control for shock-wave/boundary layer interactions and integration of virtual/physical labs for fluid mechanics education. She has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed publications, including studies on plasma-assisted ignition, detonation propulsion, and uncertainty quantification in experimental methods. Her research bridges fundamental fluid dynamics with practical applications in aerospace engineering.

She leads laboratory initiatives emphasizing hands-on learning and innovative pedagogy. Her team collaborates on projects funded by agencies like NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy, focusing on next-generation propulsion systems and plasma technologies.