Vinod Kumar

Dr. Vinod Kumar is a Professor and Chair in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University (2005) and has completed postdoctoral research at Princeton University/NOAA/GFDL (2007-2008) and Rice University (2005-2007). His expertise spans computational fluid dynamics (CFD), finite element methods (FEM), and high-performance computing (HPC). Professional roles include Senior Scientist at Calysta Inc. (2019-2020) and prior faculty positions at The University of Texas, El Paso (2008–2023).

Research interests focus on fluid dynamics, nanomaterials, and interdisciplinary applications in energy, biomedical engineering, and environmental systems. His work has produced over 50 peer-reviewed articles, including studies on unit commitment optimization, microbial fuel cells, and biomedical device materials. Teaching responsibilities include graduate courses in CFD, FEM, and numerical methods, along with undergraduate fluid mechanics and differential equations.

Notable contributions include advancements in computational modeling for renewable energy systems and collaborations on biocontrol agents for agricultural pests. His professional experience bridges academia and industry, emphasizing applied engineering solutions to real-world challenges.