Find Academic Supervisors

Sumanta AcharyaView profile

Professor

• Thermal and Fluid Sciences
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Turbulence Modeling
• +5 more

Sumanta Acharya is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Illinois Tech's Armour College of Engineering. His career spans computational methods, experimental fluid mechanics, and combustion, with affiliations including ASME, AIAA, and ASTFE. Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota (1982) M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota (1980) B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (1978) A leading expert in thermal and fluid sciences, Acharya focuses on gas turbine heat transfer, turbulence modeling, and advanced cooling systems. His work integrates Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with experimental validation for applications in biofuels , hydrogen combustion , and phase change materials . Recent publications highlight innovations in Brayton cycle integration, impingement cooling, and aerothermal performance optimization. Awarded by ASME, AIAA, and LSU, his honors include the ASME Heat Transfer Memorial Award (2011) and ASME Fellow (1999). He has contributed to key committees, including the ASME Heat Transfer Division Executive Committee and the Department of Energy's University Turbine Systems Research program. Researcher to Know, Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (2022) ASME Dedicated Service Award (2019) AIAA Thermophysics Award (2015) Contact: sacharya1@illinoistech.edu | Phone: 312.567.3701

Tapio SchneiderView profile

Professor

• Atmospheric Dynamics
• Climate Modeling
• Geophysical Turbulence
• +4 more

Tapio Schneider is the Theodore Y. Wu Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. His research focuses on atmospheric dynamics across Earth and other planets, climate modeling innovations, and geophysical turbulence analysis. He contributes to the Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) and develops advanced computational tools for climate prediction. Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Vordiplom, 1993) Princeton University (M.Sc. 1997, Ph.D. 2001) University of Washington, Seattle (Visiting Graduate Student, 1994-1995) His research spans climate dynamics , atmospheric turbulence , and AI-enhanced climate modeling , addressing challenges in cloud dynamics, extreme weather patterns, and planetary climate systems. Current work emphasizes hybrid machine learning-physical models and computational acceleration for high-resolution simulations. Recent publications highlight trends in AI integration for climate science, with applications in hydrology , cloud microphysics , ocean circulation , snowpack modeling , and climate tipping points . His team develops open-source tools like ClimateMachine for GPU-accelerated simulations. Scientific Recognition: Fellow, American Geophysical Union (2022) Rosenstiel Award (2019) World Economic Forum Young Scientist (2012) David and Lucile Packard Fellow (2005-2010) Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow (2004-2006) Tapio leads climate dynamics research at Caltech, directs the Linde Center for Global Environmental Science (2011-2012), and serves as Editor for the Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems . His group collaborates with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2016-2024) and Google Research (2022-present).

Peter TeertstraView profile

Associate Professor

• Thermal Engineering
• Heat Transfer Modeling
• Electronics Cooling
• +3 more

Peter Teertstra is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo and Director of the Sedra Student Design Centre. He holds a PhD (2003), MASc (1992), and BSE (1990) from the University of Waterloo and Calvin College, respectively. His research focuses on thermal modeling for microelectronics/optoelectronics cooling, experimental heat transfer in micro/nano-scale systems, and predicting air cooling limits in electronics. He oversees the Sedra Student Design Centre, supporting teams in competitions through resource access and sponsorship. Teertstra teaches courses like GENE 199, ME 101, MTE 201, and PD 21, emphasizing engineering practice and thermodynamics. His publications (2006–2011) address thermal conductivity in fuel cells, convection modeling, and heat transfer in electronics enclosures. He is currently accepting graduate applications via an online process.

Jung-Fu LinView profile

Professor

• Mineral Physics
• Earth and Planetary Geophysics
• Geochemistry
• +3 more

Dr. Jung-Fu Lin is a Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, holding the Dave P. Carlton Centennial Professorship. His research focuses on understanding planetary interiors through high-pressure experiments, particularly using diamond anvil cells and synchrotron facilities. Key areas include mineral physics, Earth's core dynamics, and the role of water in mantle processes. Expertise: High-pressure mineral physics, X-ray spectroscopy, and planetary materials science. Current projects: Investigating iron alloys in Earth's core, thermal conductivity of mantle minerals, and carbon storage mechanisms. Research highlights include discoveries on iron spin transitions, elasticity of bridgmanite, and Martian core dynamics. Awards include the NSF CAREER Award and Fulbright Scholarship. Lin supervises graduate students in experimental petrology and mentors postdocs globally. Teaches courses on Earth materials and mineral physics. Active in international collaborations, including with Okayama University (Japan) and Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland). His lab develops advanced laser heating systems and Raman spectroscopy tools for high-pressure studies.

Martin Z. BazantView profile

Professor

• Electrochemical Systems
• Transport Phenomena
• Applied Mathematics
• +3 more

Martin Z. Bazant is the E. G. Roos (1944) Professor of Chemical Engineering and Professor of Mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), holding the Digital Learning Officer role in the Department of Chemical Engineering. His research focuses on mathematical modeling of electrochemical systems, transport phenomena, and applied mathematics, with significant contributions to battery technology and electrochemical energy storage. He is affiliated with MIT’s Department of Mathematics and the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), leading initiatives like the Center for Battery Sustainability and D3BATT. Education: Ph.D. from Harvard University (1997), M.S. and B.S. from the University of Arizona (1993, 1992). His work bridges theory and application, addressing challenges in lithium-ion batteries, solid-state systems, and electrolyte dynamics. Notable achievements include pioneering studies on coupled ion-electron transfer mechanisms and phase separation in battery materials. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering (2025) and a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society (2023). As an educator, he develops MOOCs on transport phenomena and contributes to digital learning initiatives. His research group explores advanced battery diagnostics, machine learning for materials science, and environmental applications of electrochemical processes. Key collaborations include startups like Lithios, Inc., and leadership roles in professional societies such as the International Electrokinetics Society.

Amilcare PorporatoView profile

Professor

• Ecohydrology
• Soil-Atmosphere Interaction
• Hydrologic Time Series
• +2 more

Amilcare Porporato is the Thomas J. Wu '94 Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Princeton University, with joint appointment at High Meadows Environmental Institute. His research integrates hydrology, ecology, and thermodynamics to study soil-water interactions and sustainable resource management. Education includes: Ph.D. Polytechnic of Milan (1996) M.S. Civil Engineering, Polytechnic of Milan (1992) Research explores nonlinear hydrologic systems, soil moisture dynamics, ecohydrology, and environmental complexity using theoretical and experimental approaches. His work advances understanding of water-biota interactions across scales from pore-level processes to landscape evolution. Honors and Awards: Hydrologic Sciences Award, AGU Borland Lecturer American Geophysical Union Fellow Inaugural Landolt Chair, EPFL Teaches courses on Environmental Thermodynamics (ENV 385/CEE 385) and Ecohydrology (CEE 587/ENV 587).

• Multiphase Flow in Porous Media
• Phase-Field Modeling
• Reactive Transport
• +6 more

Xiaojing (Ruby) Fu is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering at the California Institute of Technology and a William H. Hurt Scholar (2024-present). Her research focuses on multiphase fluid mechanics in porous media, integrating theory, computation, experiments, and field observations to address geoscience and engineering challenges. Her educational background includes: B.S. in Engineering from Clarkson University (2011) M.S. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2015) Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2017) Professor Fu's research centers on cryosphere hydrology, subsurface engineering, and phase transitions in porous media. She investigates multiphase flow dynamics in contexts like permafrost thaw, snow metamorphism, and carbon sequestration using phase-field modeling and experimental techniques. Her work bridges fundamental physics with applications in environmental resilience and energy systems, emphasizing predictive capabilities for large-scale phenomena through simplified multiscale theories. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals intense focus on cryosphere processes (snow, permafrost) using advanced phase-field modeling and fiber-optic sensing. Key trends include freezing infiltration patterns, meltwater transport in layered snow, and seismic monitoring of soil moisture. Her work increasingly integrates field validation with computational models for environmental applications like drought monitoring and carbon sequestration. Her scientific recognition includes: William H. Hurt Scholar (2024) Professor Fu actively mentors graduate students, as evidenced by qualified students in her research group. She teaches core courses including Thermal Science (ME 11 abc) and Computational Methods for Flow in Porous Media (ME/CE/Ge/ESE 146), training students in both theoretical foundations and applied techniques for subsurface flow problems. She leads the Fu Research Group on Mechanics and Physics of Porous Media Flow, which develops multiscale theories to predict large-scale environmental and energy system behaviors. The group combines mathematical modeling, laboratory experiments, and field observations to address problems in geologic carbon storage, cryosphere dynamics, and subsurface resource management, with recent emphasis on climate change impacts and monitoring technologies.

Britney SchmidtView profile

Associate Professor

• Planetary Science
• Glaciology
• Robotic Exploration
• +3 more

Britney Schmidt is Associate Professor in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Astronomy at Cornell University, where she leads the Planetary Habitability and Technology Lab. She develops robotic tools like the Icefin underwater vehicle to study Earth's ice shelves and glaciers, providing insights into climate change and analogs for ocean worlds like Europa. Her research bridges glaciology, planetary science, and astrobiology. Research focuses on ocean world habitability, ice-ocean interactions, and Antarctic climate systems. Fieldwork includes extensive campaigns in Antarctica and the Arctic using robotic explorers. Recent publications explore Europa's habitability, Thwaites Glacier dynamics, microbial communities in hypersaline environments, and planetary analog studies. Technical developments include novel instrumentation for under-ice exploration. Awarded the 2024 Blavatnik National Award for groundbreaking research. Leads multiple international collaborations including NASA's Europa Clipper mission and Thwaites Glacier projects.

Ann B LeeView profile

Professor

• Scientific Machine Learning
• Trust-Worthy UQ
• Likelihood-Free Inference
• +1 more

Ann B. Lee is a Professor and Co-Director of the PhD Program in Statistics at Carnegie Mellon University , with a joint appointment in the Department of Statistics & Data Science and the Machine Learning Department. Prior to joining CMU, she held positions as a J.W. Gibbs Assistant Professor at Yale University and a visiting research associate at Brown University. PhD in Physics, Brown University MSc/BSc in Engineering Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden Her research focuses on statistical methodology for complex data in the physical sciences , emphasizing trustworthy inference, uncertainty quantification, and integration of classical statistics with machine learning. Recent work includes likelihood-free inference, calibrated forecasting, and diagnostics for generative models. The STAMPS research group , which she co-founded in 2018, hosts weekly meetings and public webinars. In Fall 2024, STAMPS will transition into a CMU Research Center. Recent publications span likelihood-free inference , climate modeling , and astronomy . Notable collaborations include applications to hurricane intensity guidance , galaxy redshift estimation , and cosmological parameter biases . She mentors PhD students and has advised multiple award-winning researchers, including ASA Best Student Paper Award winners. Her teaching includes advanced courses on probability, regression, and AI for climate sciences.

Paul D. AsimowView profile

Professor

• Geochemistry
• Geology
• Chemical Petrology
• +4 more

Paul D. Asimow is the Eleanor and John R. McMillan Professor of Geology and Geochemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), part of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University (1991), an M.S. (1993), and a Ph.D. (1997) from Caltech. His career progression includes roles as Assistant Professor (1999–2005), Associate Professor (2005–2010), and Professor (2010–present), with the McMillan Professorship since 2016. Education: A.B. in Geology, Harvard University, 1991 M.S. in Geology, Caltech, 1993 Ph.D. in Geology, Caltech, 1997 Research Interests: Focuses on computational, experimental, and observational approaches to igneous petrology and mineral physics. Key areas include adiabatic mantle melting, water's role in mantle dynamics, high-pressure mineral physics, and processes at mid-ocean ridges. His research utilizes advanced facilities like the Lindhurst Laboratory of Experimental Geophysics and the alphaMELTS software package for thermodynamic modeling. Articles Overview: Recent work spans planetary crust formation, Martian petrogenesis, and high-pressure mineral behavior. Themes include experimental techniques, computational modeling, and cosmochemical studies of meteorites. Awards and Honors: James B. Macelwane Medal (AGU) Frank Wigglesworth Clarke Medal (Geochemical Society) Richard P. Feynman Prize for Teaching Excellence (Caltech) Fellow of the American Geophysical Union Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America Grants and Labs: Received NSF funding for developing an interactive phase equilibria curriculum. Leads the Lindhurst Laboratory, focusing on shock-wave experiments and high-pressure mineral physics. Collaborates on software tools like alphaMELTS and MAGMASOURCE. Labs and Teams: Active in the Caltech Shock Wave Laboratory, advancing experimental methods for planetary material studies. Engages in interdisciplinary projects on Mars geology and terrestrial planet formation.

Yildiz BayazitogluView profile

Professor

• Thermal Sciences
• Heat Transfer
• Nanotechnology
• +4 more

Dr. Yildiz Bayazitoglu is the Harry S. Cameron Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering at Rice University since 1996. She joined Rice in 1977 and has held prior roles as an assistant professor at Middle East Technical University (1973–74) and a visiting assistant professor at the University of Houston (1975–76). Her education includes a B.S. from Middle East Technical University (1967), and M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1969 and 1974). Her research focuses on convective heat transfer with phase change , micro/nano-scale heat transfer , and radiation heat transfer . Key areas include thermal modeling of biomedical systems, containerless materials processing, and fuel cell design. She has pioneered work on nanofluids, interfacial thermal resistance, and radiation shielding for aerospace applications. Dr. Bayazitoglu has published over 200 technical papers and holds patents in thermal engineering. She authored two heat transfer textbooks and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Thermal Sciences . Her honors include ASME’s Heat Transfer Memorial Award, AAAS and AIAA Fellowships, and membership in the Turkish Academy of Sciences. Education: B.S., Middle East Technical University (1967) M.S., University of Michigan (1969) Ph.D., University of Michigan (1974) Leadership Roles: Former Vice-President of the International Center for Heat and Mass Transfer (2019–2021) Member of Turkish Academy of Sciences Energy Sources Committee (2017–2018) Her work bridges thermal engineering with biomedical, aerospace, and materials science applications, emphasizing practical solutions to complex thermal challenges.

Aytaç KubilayView profile

Academic

• Urban Microclimate Modeling
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
• Thermal Comfort Analysis
• +4 more

Dr. Aytaç Kubilay is a Senior Researcher at the Chair of Building Physics, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich. His research focuses on urban microclimate modeling, particularly wind-flow analysis, thermal comfort optimization, and vegetation-based climate mitigation strategies. Institution: ETH Zurich Department: Mechanical and Process Engineering Research Scope: Urban climate, CFD modeling, heat island mitigation Research interests include computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications for urban environments, with emphasis on heat island effects, wind-driven rain analysis, and porous media heat transfer. His work combines numerical simulations and experimental validations to assess thermal comfort and climate adaptation strategies in cities. Recent publications analyze vegetation impacts on urban microclimates, including tree cooling potential, street-level thermal comfort dynamics, and high-rise building wind mitigation. Studies employ custom solvers like urbanMicroclimateFoam and OpenFOAM for integrated flow-heat-moisture modeling. Key collaborations include researchers from ETH Zurich (Jan Carmeliet, Dominique Derome) and international institutions, focusing on sustainable urban planning and climate resilience frameworks.

Christophe AnceyView profile

Associate Professor

• Fluid Dynamics
• Rheology
• Hydraulics
• +6 more

Christophe Ancey is an Associate Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), where he serves in the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), specifically in the Institute of Civil Engineering (IIC) and the Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory (LHE). He also holds teaching appointments in SGC-Teaching and EDME-Teaching departments at EPFL. His office is located at GC A1 401, Station 18, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. Dr. Ancey holds both a PhD and engineering degree from Ecole Centrale de Paris and Grenoble National Polytechnic Institute. After completing his doctoral work (1994-1997) on rheology of granular flows under Pierre Evesque, he worked as a researcher at Cemagref before joining EPFL in 2004. He directs the Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory and serves as associate editor for Water Resources Research, a leading journal in hydrology. Dr. Ancey's research spans fluid dynamics, rheology, and hydraulics with emphasis on geophysical flows and natural hazards. His work focuses on three interconnected themes: rheology of concentrated suspensions (particularly granular flows in avalanches and mudflows), inverse problems in rheology (determining microscopic behavior from macroscopic measurements), and particle entrainment in turbulent suspensions (erosion and sediment transport processes). His recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate continued innovation in sediment transport modeling, experimental techniques like PIV for complex flows, and integration of machine learning approaches. The research shows progression from fundamental fluid mechanics to practical applications in natural hazard assessment and river engineering, with particular attention to granular segregation, avalanche-obstacle interactions, and river morphodynamics. Associate Editor, Water Resources Research Co-founder of Toraval, an engineering consulting firm specializing in avalanche risk management Dr. Ancey teaches courses on Fluid Mechanics, Flood and Dam Break Waves, Hydrological Risks and Structures, and Similarity and Transport Phenomena in Fluids. He has supervised numerous PhD students whose work spans environmental hydraulics, granular flows, and sediment transport, with current students including Chen Yanan, Farazande Sofi, and Giboulot Axel Loïc among others.

Alexis BerneView profile

Associate Professor

• Radar Meteorology
• Precipitation Microphysics
• Polar Precipitation
• +4 more

Alexis Berne is an Associate Professor at the Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory (LTE) within the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He co-directs the SSIE-GE program and serves as a member of the CDS (Commission for Doctoral Studies) . His research spans radar meteorology, precipitation microphysics, polar precipitation, and geostatistics, with a focus on mountainous and polar regions. Current Positions Associate Professor, LTE, EPFL (2013–present) Co-Director, SSIE-GE, EPFL PhD Program Committee Member, EDCE-GE, EPFL Research Interests include the remote sensing of precipitation, particularly snowfall and ice production mechanisms, using radar and geostatistical methods. His work addresses atmospheric processes in extreme environments like Antarctica and the Swiss Alps, leveraging machine learning and numerical modeling for climate analysis. Teaching encompasses courses on remote sensing, atmospheric processes, and climate change, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and spatiotemporal variability. He advises current PhD students such as Heather Anne Corden and Gionata Ghiggi, alongside mentoring past students like Jacopo Grazioli and Timothy Hugh Raupach.

Sebastian SchemmView profile

Associate Professor

• Atmospheric Sciences
• Extratropical Cyclone Dynamics
• Jet Stream Physics
• +7 more

Sebastian Schemm is a Heisenberg Fellow at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), University of Cambridge, a position regarded as equivalent to a non-permanent Associate Professor. He leads research within the Atmosphere-Ocean Dynamics group and previously held an ERC Starting Grant-funded Assistant Professorship (without tenure track) at ETH Zurich. Education and Career Path PhD (2013) and MSc (2010), ETH Zurich, Switzerland Postdoctoral researcher, University of Bergen, Norway (2014–2017) Postdoctoral researcher, Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, ENS Paris (2017–2018) Assistant Professor (ERC Starting Grant), ETH Zurich (2020–2024) Heisenberg Fellow, DAMTP, University of Cambridge (2025–present) Research Focus Schemm’s work centres on atmospheric and climate dynamics, spanning turbulence to planetary scales. Core themes include the physics of extratropical cyclone life cycles, jet-stream and storm-track dynamics, Rossby waves and teleconnection patterns, high-resolution atmospheric modelling, and the integration of machine-learning techniques for parameter estimation, data assimilation, and kilometre-scale global simulations. He also contributes to large-scale initiatives such as ECMWF’s WeatherGenerator. Scientific Awards and Editorial Service DFG Heisenberg Fellowship (2025) ERC Starting Grant (2020–2024) European Meteorological Society Young Researcher Medal (2019) Co-Editor, Weather and Climate Dynamics (EGU) Co-Editor, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society PhD Supervision & Funding He currently supervises PhD students at both Cambridge and ETH Zurich, with funding streams including the Cambridge CREATES Doctoral Training Partnership and Swiss/EU grants. Ongoing students explore reinforcement-learning parameterisations, jet-stream–storm-track relationships, mid-latitude eddy energetics, machine-learning ensemble forecasting, and Bayesian parameter estimation in LES. Active Projects EU Horizon project WeatherGenerator (led by ECMWF) PASC HiRAD-Gen : High-Resolution Atmospheric Downscaling Using Generative Models