William Anderson

William Anderson is a Professor in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University since 2001. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Pennsylvania State University, 1996), M.S. in Chemical Engineering (University of Arizona, 1984), and B.S. in Chemistry (Arizona State University, 1979). His research focuses on chemical propulsion systems, combustion dynamics, and rocket engine design methodologies.

Key research areas include measurement and modeling of combustion instabilities, rocket combustor stability, and liquid propulsion systems. His work spans experimental and computational studies of thermoacoustic behavior, injector design, and hypergolic reaction mechanisms. He has led projects on resonance igniters, hydrogen peroxide/kerosene combustors, and multi-fidelity modeling frameworks.

Anderson has been recognized with the C.T. Sun Research Award (2005) and multiple Best Paper Awards from AIAA conferences. He served as Global Engineering Program Director (2011–2014) and is an Associate Fellow of AIAA. His expertise is showcased in invited lectures at institutions worldwide, including Technical University of Munich and Harbin Institute of Technology.

He has authored/co-authored books on rocket propulsion and combustion instability, including Rocket Propulsion (Cambridge University Press, 2018) and edited volumes such as Liquid Rocket Engine Combustion Instability (AIAA, 1995). His lab collaborates internationally on advanced propulsion technologies, emphasizing design, build, and test methodologies.