Dr Zhiwei Sun is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering , University of Adelaide. He specializes in advanced experimental methods for combustion and multiphase flows (e.g., particle-laden flows, fluidized beds, bubble flows), utilizing optical/laser-based diagnostics with high spatial-temporal resolution. His research intersects with artificial intelligence (AI) , computational fluid dynamics (CFD) , and renewable thermal energy (hydrogen, solar thermal, biomass). His work focuses on: Optical diagnostics development for complex flows Renewable energy systems for decarbonization High-temperature industrial process innovation He supervises Masters and PhD candidates and applies cutting-edge techniques to study laminar/turbulent flows across energy and environmental applications.
Dr David Sibley is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Loughborough University since October 2019. He previously served as a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at the same institution from March 2015 to September 2019. His research focuses on fluid dynamics, particularly the motion of contact lines and complex fluid properties. Education: PhD in Mathematics (University of Bath, 2006–2010), MSc in Modern Applications of Mathematics (University of Bath, 2005–2006), BSc (Hons) in Mathematical Sciences (University of Nottingham, 2002–2005). Professional Experience: Postdoctoral Research Associate at Imperial College London's Department of Chemical Engineering (2010–2015). His work involves analytical and numerical methods, including matched asymptotics, to study interfacial flows and non-Newtonian effects in fluid systems. The research connects applied mathematics with engineering challenges in multiphase systems. Contact: d.n.sibley@lboro.ac.uk | Office: SCH.1.18, Schofield Building
Halim Kusumaatmaja is an Honorary Visiting Professor in the Department of Physics at Durham University. He is actively involved in theoretical and computational research at the intersection of physics, chemistry, engineering, and biology. His work is closely associated with the Durham Centre for Soft Matter, the Biophysical Sciences Institute, and the SOFI CDT, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to scientific problems. Professor Kusumaatmaja's research spans multiple areas of soft matter and biophysics, with particular focus on wetting phenomena on structured surfaces, membrane biophysics, liquid-liquid phase separation, multi-stable elastic structures, crystallography on curved surfaces, the Lattice Boltzmann Method, and energy landscape exploration. His work combines theoretical modeling with computational techniques to address fundamental questions in fluid mechanics and biological systems. He has developed novel approaches for computing free energy landscapes of continuum models, which has applications across various soft matter systems. His recent publications (2021-2025) demonstrate a strong trend toward interdisciplinary research that bridges traditional boundaries between physics, biology, and computational science. His work spans from fundamental studies of wetting and capillary phenomena to applications in biological systems like stress granule condensates and membrane biophysics. Notably, he has recently expanded into quantum computing applications for classical physics problems, showing his ability to adapt to emerging computational paradigms. His research consistently focuses on understanding complex energy landscapes, interfacial phenomena, and the mechanical properties of soft materials. Professor Kusumaatmaja has supervised PhD students including Ke Sun and Listra Ginting, and actively welcomes talented undergraduates, PhD students, postdocs, and visitors to join his research group. He has secured funding through various prestigious fellowships including EPSRC, Leverhulme Early Career, Marie Curie, Newton, and Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 fellowships, demonstrating his ability to attract competitive research funding. His research group operates at the forefront of computational soft matter physics, utilizing advanced simulation techniques to tackle problems ranging from fundamental wetting phenomena to biological membrane interactions. The group maintains strong collaborations with experimental colleagues, ensuring that theoretical predictions can be validated against real-world observations. Professor Kusumaatmaja is also a co-author of the authoritative text 'The Lattice Boltzmann Method: Principles and Practice' (Springer, 2017), which has become a standard reference in the field.
Ali Beskok is the George R. Brown Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Professor at Southern Methodist University's Lyle School of Engineering, where he also serves as Associate Dean of Research Innovation and PhD Education. Holding a courtesy appointment as The Brown Foundation, Inc. Professor of Engineering, his career spans fundamental and applied research in micro/nano-scale thermal-fluid systems with significant biomedical and energy applications. Education: Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, 1996 M.S. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, 1994 M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, 1991 B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Türkiye, 1988 Professor Beskok's research program centers on theoretical, computational, and experimental investigations of micro/nano-scale transport phenomena. His pioneering work encompasses multiphase flow heat and mass transfer, AC electrokinetic transport, bio-microfluidics, and dielectric spectroscopy-based detection systems. He co-authored the seminal text "Microflows and Nanoflows: Fundamentals and Simulation" (Springer, 2005) that established foundational principles for the field. Current efforts focus on developing impedance-based biosensors for rapid disease diagnostics and elucidating nanoscale fluid dynamics for energy conversion systems. Analysis of his 2023-2026 publications reveals dominant trends in SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody detection using microfluidic biosensors and fundamental studies of evaporating menisci in nanochannels. His work uniquely bridges theoretical modeling of competing buoyancy-driven and electrothermal flows with practical applications in lab-on-a-chip medical diagnostics, demonstrating exceptional continuity between fundamental fluid mechanics and translational biomedical engineering. Scientific Awards: Ranked top 1% nanotechnologist globally (Ioannidis et al., PLOS Biology, 2019) ASME EES Segment Prominent Researcher Award (2018) SMU Gerald J. Ford Research Fellowship (2016) ASME ICNMM Outstanding Leadership Award (2015) ASME ICNMM Outstanding Researcher Award (2012) ASME Fellow designation (2010) Throughout his career, Beskok has mentored numerous graduate students while securing substantial research funding from federal agencies and industry partners. His leadership roles include Chair of SMU's Mechanical Engineering Department (2013-2019) and current Associate Dean position. He maintains active collaborations with biomedical researchers to translate nanofluidic discoveries into point-of-care diagnostic devices. At SMU, Beskok directs a multidisciplinary research group operating advanced facilities for micro/nano fluidics simulation and experimentation. His team combines molecular dynamics modeling, continuum simulations, and microfabrication techniques to investigate thermal-fluid phenomena at scales where classical physics breaks down, with particular emphasis on bio-integrated sensor systems.
Johannes Tausch is a Professor at Southern Methodist University specializing in numerical approximation and fast methods for boundary integral equations. His research spans computational electromagnetics, optics, fluid mechanics, shape optimization, and high-dimensional quadrature. Applications include heat transfer, anomalous diffusion, wave propagation, and electromagnetic analysis. Research focuses on developing efficient computational techniques for boundary integral reformulations of PDEs. Key methodologies include fast multipole methods, adaptive quadrature, Galerkin formulations, and mesh-free approaches for complex geometries. Current work emphasizes parabolic problems, moving boundaries, and high-dimensional integration. Publications demonstrate consistent focus on accelerating integral equation solvers through hybrid algorithms, matrix compression techniques, and specialized quadrature. Recent advancements target time-dependent domains and multiphysics coupling. No awards or student advising information is provided in the source materials.
David Halpern is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Alabama, specializing in applied mathematics, fluid dynamics, and scientific computing with applications in biomedical sciences. He holds a B.Sc. from the University of Bristol (1984), an M.Math from the University of Cambridge (1985), and a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Arizona (1989). His career includes postdoctoral research at Northwestern University and visiting positions at the University of Michigan and Tulane University, where he is also an Adjunct Professor. Research focuses on modeling nonlinear physical phenomena in biomedical contexts, particularly lung mechanics such as airway closure and reopening, surfactant dynamics, and gas bubble evolution in circulation. Teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in mathematics, including calculus, differential equations, numerical analysis, and partial differential equations. His work integrates theoretical models with computational simulations to address challenges in biomedical engineering and fluid dynamics. Collaborative efforts include multi-scale modeling of lung physiology and interfacial instabilities in complex fluids.
Dr. Apostolos Georgiadis serves as an Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College London, while maintaining his primary role as a Researcher at Shell's Rock & Fluid Science platform. He acts as principal researcher for Shell's Digital Rock programme, which develops advanced tools for reservoir characterization in collaboration with Imperial College London and other academic partners. Since April 2017, he has also supported Shell's global technology deployments as an advisor for the Commercial Technology Deployment team. Dr. Georgiadis earned his Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Patras, Greece in 2007. He then pursued his PhD at Imperial College London as part of the Shell-Imperial College Grand Challenge on Clean Fossil Fuels, conducting experimental research on interfacial tension measurements at elevated pressures and temperatures. Following his PhD, he continued as a research associate with the Molecular Systems Engineering group at Imperial, working on heavy oil modeling using the SAFT theoretical framework. His research expertise centers on petroleum engineering with specialized knowledge in digital rock physics , interfacial phenomena , and enhanced oil recovery processes. Dr. Georgiadis integrates experimental work with theoretical modeling to investigate multiphase flow in porous media, wettability characterization, and thermophysical properties under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions. His work bridges fundamental pore-scale mechanisms with practical reservoir-scale applications, contributing significantly to the understanding of fluid-rock interactions in hydrocarbon systems. Analysis of Dr. Georgiadis's publication record reveals a consistent focus on pore-scale characterization using advanced imaging techniques like micro-CT and atomic force microscopy. His research spans multiple disciplines including petroleum engineering, materials science, and fluid mechanics, with particular emphasis on wettability, capillary phenomena, and fluid distribution in reservoir rocks. A notable progression is evident from his early fundamental interfacial tension measurements toward applied digital rock physics and field-scale technology deployment. Dr. Georgiadis has maintained a long-term collaboration with Imperial College London through the Shell-Imperial College Grand Challenge on Clean Fossil Fuels, participating first as a PhD student, then as a research associate, and currently as an industry researcher collaborating with academic partners on cutting-edge reservoir characterization technologies. Outside his primary research role at Shell, Dr. Georgiadis volunteers with the Perspectivity Foundation as a session leader and facilitator, engaging groups in dialogue around 'wicked problems' related to the water-energy-food nexus and climate change. He has facilitated numerous sessions since 2013, bringing his technical expertise to broader sustainability discussions and demonstrating his commitment to addressing complex global challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Lesley James is a Professor of Process Engineering at Memorial University, holding former roles as Chevron Chair in Petroleum Engineering. She specializes in sustainable oil production through Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) strategies, particularly focusing on offshore Newfoundland and Labrador reservoirs. Her research emphasizes CO2 utilization, WAG processes, and digital oilfield technologies to enhance recovery rates in complex reservoirs. She collaborates extensively with industry on projects like Hebron EOR screening and Hibernia CO2 injection. Education: B.Sc. (Eng.) from University of New Brunswick; M.Eng. and Ph.D. from University of Waterloo. Professional Engineer (PEGNL), past-president of Society of Core Analysts (SCA), and active member of SPE, CSChE, AIChE, and EAGE. Research Interests: Maximizing offshore oil recovery through fluid-rock interaction studies CO2-EOR for carbon sequestration benefits Integration of digital twin and IoT technologies in reservoir management Hydrate formation risk mitigation in WAG operations Awards: SPE Distinguished Achievement Award for Faculty Excellence. Mentor for student societies including SSPE, EAGE, and MetSoc. Key Contributions: Developed lithofacies identification algorithms using data clustering, pioneered smart proxy models for reservoir optimization, and advanced nanoparticle-based EOR techniques. Leads the Hibernia Enhanced Oil Recovery Laboratory at Memorial University.
Dr. Abbas Mamudu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He holds a B.Eng. and M.Eng. from the University of Benin (2007, 2014) and a PhD from Memorial University (2022, GPA 4.0). His expertise spans Safety and Risk Engineering, Green Energy, and Enhanced Oil Recovery. Prior to joining Memorial, he worked as Quality Control Manager at Schneider & Schroeder Services Limited, addressing process safety and risk challenges, and served as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Process Engineering at Memorial. His research focuses on CO2 sequestration, reservoir simulation, and AI-driven risk mitigation. Key areas include offshore hydrocarbon reservoir utilization, dynamic risk modeling, and sustainable energy practices. His work integrates advanced technologies like AI and 4IR frameworks to enhance operational safety and efficiency. Education: B.Eng. in Petroleum Engineering, University of Benin (2007) M.Eng. in Petroleum Engineering, University of Benin (2014) PhD in Petroleum Engineering, Memorial University (2022) Dr. Mamudu has published extensively in top-tier journals, with a focus on CO2 storage, reservoir dynamics, and safety engineering. His awards include the Best Regional Research Paper (Society of Petroleum Engineer) and the School of Graduate Studies’ Fellowship from Memorial University. Awards: Best Regional Research Paper (M.Sc Division), Society of Petroleum Engineer Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies’ Award, Memorial University His advisory experience includes leading research projects at the University of Benin and mentoring students in reservoir simulation and EOR techniques. His work bridges academic research and industrial applications, emphasizing practical solutions for energy sector challenges.
Prof. Wenxiao Pan is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her interdisciplinary research bridges mechanical engineering, applied mathematics, and scientific computing, focusing on numerical methods for complex fluids, soft matter, and solid materials. She holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Peking University, and a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Brown University. Education: PhD 2010, Brown University MS 2007, Brown University MS 2003, Peking University, China BS 2000, Peking University, China Research Interests: Machine Learning-enhanced Modeling Data-driven Model Order Reduction Quantum Computing Applications Complex Fluid Dynamics Energy Storage Systems Manufacturing Optimization Recent Research Trends: Prof. Pan’s work emphasizes scalable numerical methods and AI-driven simulations for materials design. Her recent publications highlight advancements in graph neural networks for particulate systems, quantum topology optimization, and phonon dynamics in nanomaterials. Awards: 2024 Vilas Associate Award 2017 R&D 100 Award (Carbon Capture Initiative) 2014 Pacific Northwest Lab Exceptional Contribution Award Advising & Grants: Active in mentoring graduate students and leading projects in energy storage and materials modeling. Her research group operates from https://pan.labs.wisc.edu/ .
Prof. Markus Richter is a Professor at the Technical University of Chemnitz and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia (UWA). His primary affiliation is with the Department of Fluid Science and Resources. His research focuses on experimental and theoretical studies of fluid thermodynamics, with emphasis on high-pressure systems, LNG, adsorption phenomena, and advanced instrumentation. He has developed novel methods for measuring thermophysical properties, including microwave cavity resonators and vibrating-tube densimeters. His work integrates computational techniques like symbolic regression with experimental data analysis to advance equations of state modeling. Key research areas include: (1) Phase behavior and thermodynamic properties of complex fluid mixtures, (2) Sorption phenomena on surfaces and porous materials, (3) High-precision measurement methodologies for viscosity, density, and heat capacity, (4) Applications in energy storage (e.g., methanol-H₂ carriers) and carbon capture. Recent work emphasizes LNG custody transfer metrology and CO₂ adsorption studies on non-porous materials. His experimental innovations include the Four-Sinker Densimeter and microwave cavity systems for simultaneous phase property measurements. He has contributed to software tools like OilMixProp for thermophysical property calculations. His interdisciplinary approach bridges fluid mechanics, material science, and computational methods.
Claire Bourquard is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at Eindhoven University of Technology, specializing in the Dynamics and Control group. She holds a PhD in Aeroacoustics and Acoustic Engineering from ETH Zürich (2020) and a Master's in Aerospace Engineering from ISAE-Supaéro (2015). Prior to her current role, she worked as a senior scientist at Silicon Austria Labs (2022) and held postdoctoral/lecturer positions at ETH Zürich focusing on ultrasonic cavitation and acoustic MEMS development. Her research emphasizes experimental methods in acoustics, particularly low-order modeling of acoustic systems via network approaches, nonlinear dynamics of aeroacoustic instabilities, and fluid dynamics across gases, liquids, solids, multiphase mixtures, and non-Newtonian fluids. She leads projects addressing acoustics in complex engineering systems under the mentorship of Prof. Ines Lopez Arteaga. While no awards are explicitly listed, her work bridges fundamental acoustics with applied engineering challenges in noise control and fluid dynamics. Her advising record includes one supervised project, though specific student names are not disclosed. She is affiliated with the Dynamics and Control group at TU/e, collaborating on advanced acoustic characterization and modeling techniques.
Professor Dominic Gross is a faculty member in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, part of the College of Engineering. His research focuses on grid-forming control of power electronics-interfaced renewable generation, aiming to enable resilient zero-carbon power systems. He holds a PhD (2014) and a Dipl.-Ing. (equiv. to M.Sc.) (2010) from the University of Kassel. His research interests include control of microgrids, distributed control of complex networked systems, and grid-forming control strategies for wind/solar systems. He has received notable awards including the NSF CAREER Award (2022) and the IEEE Power and Energy Society Best Paper Award (2019). Recent publications emphasize advancements in grid-forming inverters, unbalanced power flow models, and fault-tolerant control of renewable systems. His work bridges power system stability analysis with converter control optimization. Teaches courses like State Space Systems Analysis (E C E 334) and Utility Application of Power Electronics (E C E 714). Active in advising pre-dissertators and dissertators through specialized research courses. His research lab focuses on transforming grid infrastructure through advanced inverter control, contributing to IEEE standards and industrial partnerships.
Guillaume Balarac is a Professor at ENSE3 (Grenoble Institute of Technology) within the University of Grenoble Alpes. He is affiliated with the Laboratory of Geophysical and Industrial Flows (LEGI) and leads research in the MOST team, focusing on turbulence modeling and simulation. Current Role: Professor since 2021 Prior Role: Maître de conférences (2008-2021) Award: IMT Espoir Prize - Academy of Sciences (2019) Recognitions: Junior Member, Institut Universitaire de France (2017-2022) His research explores turbulent flows through numerical simulations, emphasizing Large Eddy Simulation (LES) development, subgrid-scale modeling, and industrial applications in renewable energy systems. Key contributions include turbulence prediction methods, analysis of swirling flows, and machine learning integration for boundary condition reconstruction. Recent publications focus on LES optimization for complex geometries, turbulence in microencapsulation processes, and fluid-structure interaction solvers. His work spans fundamental turbulence studies and applied projects for hydraulic machinery, wind turbines, and additive manufacturing flows. Scientific Awards: IMT Espoir Prize - Academy of Sciences (2019) Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) Junior Membership (2017-2022) Balarac's collaborative efforts include partnerships with Stanford's Center for Turbulence Research and contributions to patents related to floating vertical-axis wind turbines.
Cyril Crua is a Professor of Engineering at the University of Sussex, leading the Engineering (UoA12) REF2029 submission. Previously, he was Professor of Thermofluids and Director of the Advanced Engineering Centre at the University of Brighton. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE). His research focuses on fluids, heat, and mass transfer processes in energy, biomedical, and manufacturing sectors, with expertise in optical measurement techniques for complex multiphase flows. His work has been supported by EPSRC funding since 2013, alongside industry, Innovate UK, and EU grants. Research interests include spray/aerosol formation, carbon capture, and optical diagnostics for sprays and combustion. He has examined 21 PhD theses globally and supervises multiple current students, including those exploring cryogenic fuels, machine learning for flow analysis, and wound dressing optimization. Key grants include EPSRC-funded projects on steam loop efficiency and bioartificial liver prototypes. He holds honorary positions such as Visiting Professor at Sandia National Laboratories and serves on committees like the IMechE Thermofluids Group and ILASS Europe. Awards include the 2015 Tanasawa Award and the 2003 Richard Way Memorial Prize. Crua’s work bridges experimental fluid dynamics with interdisciplinary engineering, addressing challenges in sustainable energy and medical devices. His lab, the Thermo-Fluid Mechanics Research Centre (TFMRC), drives innovation in multiphase flow analysis and bioengineering applications.
