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Lenan ZhangView profile

Assistant Professor

• Advanced Materials
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Energy and the Environment
• +10 more

Lenan Zhang is an Assistant Professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University, joining in July 2024. He directs the Energy Research Laboratory (ERL), focusing on energy sustainability through advanced materials and metrology tools. His research spans thermal and fluid transport phenomena at extreme scales, and he has developed innovative solutions for clean energy and water production. Education: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Purdue University (2016) M.S. and Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2018 and 2022) Research Interests: Advanced Materials, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Sustainable Energy Systems, and Thermal Systems. His work integrates mechanistic modeling and high-resolution spectroscopy to address global challenges in energy and environment. Publications: Recent work emphasizes solar desalination, energy-efficient systems, and electrochemical processes. Key trends include optimizing thermal localization, developing novel materials for desalination, and advancing renewable energy applications. Awards: Best Inventions of 2023 (TIME Magazine) Wunsch Foundation Silent Hoist and Crane Award (2022) Luis de Florez Award in Science (2021) Martin Family Fellowship for Sustainability (2020) Advising and Labs: Leads the Energy Research Laboratory (ERL) at Cornell. Prior roles include Research Scientist at MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Department. Collaborates across disciplines to advance clean energy solutions.

James A. SethianView profile

Professor

• Applied Mathematics
• Computational Physics
• Partial Differential Equations
• +6 more

James A. Sethian is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley , with additional affiliation at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory . His work focuses on developing and applying Level Set Methods and Fast Marching Methods to track evolving interfaces across diverse scientific domains. Education: Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics , University of California, Berkeley (1982) B.A. in Mathematics, Princeton University (1976) Research spans Applied Mathematics , Computational Physics , and Numerical Analysis , with applications in Semiconductor Manufacturing , Fluid Dynamics , Medical Imaging , Image Processing , Seismic Analysis , and Optimal Control . His publications demonstrate expertise in modeling interfaces that develop sharp corners, break apart, and merge, particularly through PDE-based numerical techniques. Key contributions include algorithms for noise removal , minimal surface computation , and multi-layer coating flows . As a mentor, he has advised numerous PhD students in computational methods and applied mathematics, including Robert I. Saye , Jon Arthur Wilkening , and David Layne Chopp . Projects under his leadership integrate ViscoElastic Flow , Tumor Modeling , and Robotics via curvature-driven evolution and interface tracking.

Brandon GraingerView profile

Associate Professor

• Electric Power Conversion
• Medium- and High-Voltage Power Electronics
• HVDC & STATCOM Systems
• +6 more

Dr Brandon M Grainger is an Eaton Faculty Fellow and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, where he also directs the Electric Power Technologies Laboratory, serves as Associate Director of the Energy GRID Institute, and co-directs Pitt AMPED. A key architect of Pitt’s electric power program since 2008, he focuses on advanced power conversion, high-voltage electronics, wide-band-gap semiconductors, and aerospace power systems. Education PhD, Electrical Engineering (Power Conversion), University of Pittsburgh, 2014 MS, Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2011 BS, Mechanical Engineering & Minor in Electrical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2007 Executive Education Certificate, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University, 2019 Research Focus Dr Grainger’s work lies at the intersection of power electronics, high-voltage engineering, and sustainable energy systems. He specializes in medium- and high-voltage power electronics (HVDC, STATCOM), resonant converters, and ultra-high-power-density designs leveraging SiC and GaN semiconductors. His investigations extend to electric-vehicle traction drives, solid-state transformers, optimized magnetics for aerospace applications, and resilient microgrids. He and his students routinely collaborate with NASA JPL, Johns Hopkins APL, Honeywell Aerospace, and the Naval Research Laboratory, leveraging Pitt’s NSF SHREC center to push the boundaries of power conversion in space and defense systems. Selected Research Themes High-frequency, high-density DC/DC converters for satellite power systems Radiation-tolerant GaN converters and point-of-load power stages Medium-voltage testbed development (13.8 kV, 5 MVA) Rare-earth-free permanent-magnet machine topologies Model-predictive control of multi-phase drives and microgrids Honors & Awards 2024 IEEE Region 2 Outstanding Educator Award 2024 Pitt STRIVE Outstanding DEI Service Award 2019 ESWP Engineer of the Year 2019 ASEE 2nd Place Best Paper Award 2019 SRI Undergraduate Best Mentor Award Richard K. Mellon Endowed Graduate Fellowship National Academies of Science & Engineering Ambassador Senior Member, IEEE Grants & Industry Partnerships Dr Grainger’s research has been continuously funded by federal agencies and industry partners including NASA JPL, Johns Hopkins APL, Honeywell Aerospace, the Naval Research Laboratory, Eaton, and the National Science Foundation through the SHREC Center. These awards support graduate students and post-docs working on next-generation power systems for aerospace, naval, and terrestrial applications. Laboratories & Teams Director, Electric Power Technologies Laboratory (EPTL) Associate Director, Energy GRID Institute Co-Director, Pitt AMPED (Advanced Multimodal Power and Energy Development) Faculty Affiliate, NSF SHREC Center

Khac Duc DoView profile

Professor

• Control of Nonlinear Systems
• Autonomous Marine Vehicles
• Partial Differential Equation Systems
• +3 more

Professor Khac Duc Do is a faculty member at Curtin University, holding a position in the School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He serves in the Office of the Provost and is based at Curtin Perth campus. His research focuses on advanced control systems, nonlinear dynamics, and robotics applications in marine, aerospace, and mechanical systems. He earned a PhD with distinction in 2003 and has held prestigious fellowships including ARC Postdoctoral Fellow (2004) and ARC Australian Research Fellow (2009). His teaching includes courses like Advanced Control and Mechatronics, Navigation and Marine Control Systems, and Advanced Control Engineering. Key research interests encompass control of nonlinear systems, stochastic systems, formation control of mobile agents, fluid-structure interaction, and boundary control of PDE-governed systems. His funded projects include wave-energy converter development (2023-2026), inerter-based damper research (2019-2021), and ocean vehicle control systems. Scientific awards include ARC grants totaling over AUD 2 million. Current opportunities include scholarships in control systems/fluid-structure interaction and a postdoc position in wave-energy conversion.

Shunde YinView profile

Associate Professor

• Petroleum Geomechanics
• THMC Modeling
• Soft Computing
• +2 more

Shunde Yin serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Energy & Petroleum Engineering at the University of Wyoming's College of Engineering & Physical Sciences, based in Room 4019 of the Engineering Building. His research focuses on advanced computational methods in petroleum geomechanics with practical applications to reservoir engineering challenges. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of Waterloo (2008), an M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (2003), and a B.E. in Civil Engineering from Shijiazhuang Railway Institute (1999). Dr. Yin specializes in Coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical (THMC) modeling and soft computing applications within petroleum geomechanics. His work integrates computational techniques to address subsidence, reservoir depletion, and seismic monitoring challenges, bridging theoretical geomechanics with field applications in energy extraction. Analysis of his 2002-2008 publications reveals consistent innovation in numerical methods for reservoir geomechanics, featuring displacement discontinuity techniques, finite element analysis, and machine learning applications across thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical domains. No scientific awards were documented in the source material. Information regarding student advising, research grants, and laboratory facilities was not provided in the available documentation.

Amine MEHELView profile

Research Professor

• Air Quality
• Pollution Control
• Turbulent Flow Dynamics
• +3 more

Amine MEHEL is a Research Professor at ESTACA's Mechanics and Environment Center (MSCE) since 2010, specializing in air quality and pollution control in transport systems. His work bridges experimental and numerical studies of turbulent flow interactions with pollutants and nanoparticles. Research Axes : CQA (Characterization of Air Quality) and EDP (Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Pollutants) Key Projects : CEPARER (2022-2025), AmCoAir (2020-2023), CAPNAV (2019-2022), CAPTIHV (2015-2018) His expertise includes experimental facilities like wind tunnels, PIV/LDV measurements, and CFD simulations using Eulerian-Lagrangian approaches. He supervises PhD students and coordinates teaching projects like PIRATE and PRI. Recent publications focus on ultrafine particle dispersion in vehicle wakes, brake emissions in underground stations, and cabin air quality characterization.

Steven F. SonView profile

Professor

• Energetic Materials
• Propulsion Systems
• Combustion Science
• +6 more

Steven F. Son is the Alfred J. McAllister Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, affiliated with the College of Engineering. He holds joint appointments in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Materials Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on energetic materials, combustion science, and propulsion systems, with emphasis on detonation physics, additive manufacturing of explosives, and novel propellant designs. Key projects include developing throttleable solid propellants, studying material-filled void effects on detonation waves, and optimizing nanomaterials for enhanced reactivity. Dr. Son’s work integrates experimental and computational methods, such as laser absorption spectroscopy and machine learning, to advance understanding of high-energy materials. His contributions span from fundamental material characterization to applied systems like Martian perchlorate-based propellants. He leads research at the Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories, Purdue’s premier facility for propulsion and energetic materials research. His recent studies explore flexoelectricity in fluoropolymer/aluminum composites, laser ignition systems for solid propellants, and thermal decomposition mechanisms of novel energetic formulations. While no awards are explicitly listed, his prolific publication record and interdisciplinary approach highlight his influence in the field.

Bo ZhuView profile

Assistant Professor

• Computer Graphics
• Computational Physics
• Scientific Machine Learning
• +3 more

Bo Zhu is an Assistant Professor in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on computational approaches for complex physical systems, including fluid dynamics, topology optimization, and robotics control. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and completed postdoctoral research at MIT CSAIL. He has been recognized with the NSF Career Award (2022) and multiple best paper awards at SIGGRAPH conferences. Education: B.E.-M.S., Software Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Ph.D., Computer Science, Stanford University Postdoc, EECS, MIT Research Interests: Develops numerical algorithms and machine learning techniques to simulate fluidic systems, soft materials, and multi-scale phenomena. His work emphasizes vorticity preservation, real-time simulation, and physics-based AI integration. Key Contributions: Pioneered Particle Flow Map (PFM) methods for fluid simulation, developed open-source libraries like SimpleX and PFM Hub, and contributed to projects like Genesis physics engine. Over 50 peer-reviewed publications in top venues (SIGGRAPH, NeurIPS, IEEE TVCG). Awards: NSF Career Award (2022) Best Paper Honorable Mention (SIGGRAPH 2025) Best Paper Award (SIGGRAPH Asia 2024) Grants & Projects: Leads NSF-funded research on Physical AI Design, collaborating with Sandia National Labs on real-time CFD solvers. Active in open-source software development for computational physics and graphics.

Michelle DiBenedettoView profile

Assistant Professor

• Environmental Fluid Mechanics
• Oceanography
• Contaminant Fate and Transport
• +7 more

Michele DiBenedetto is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University, associated with the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI). Her research focuses on environmental fluid mechanics, ocean waves, and turbulent flows, with applications in contaminant transport, biomonitoring, and ocean sensing. She holds a PhD from Stanford University (2019) and moved to Princeton in 2025 after serving as an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington (UW). Her work integrates laboratory experiments, mathematical modeling, and field observations to study interdisciplinary challenges like plastic pollution, renewable energy, and air-sea interactions. Key achievements include an NSF CAREER Award (2023) and NOAA Sea Grant funding (2024). She advises a team of graduate and undergraduate students, including Carlos, Julio, Andrew, and Ethan, whose research contributes to understanding particle dynamics in turbulent systems. Notable projects include investigating buoyant particles in wind-driven ocean boundary layers and developing methods to track particle orientation using collimated light. Her lab’s move to Princeton in 2025 marks a strategic shift to enhance collaborations in environmental fluid mechanics. Publications span experimental fluid mechanics and environmental applications, emphasizing ocean transport and marine biology.

• Geomechanics
• Granular Materials
• Particulate Systems
• +6 more

Professor Itai Einav is a renowned academic in civil engineering and geomechanics at The University of Sydney. He serves as Director of SciGEM (Science of Granular and Multiphase Energy Materials) and holds an honorary professorship at University College London. His research focuses on granular materials, particulate systems, and geomechanics, with particular emphasis on breakage mechanics and applications in mining, heat transfer, and fault dynamics. He advises PhD students on topics like robotic navigation inspired by earthworms and soil mechanics. Einav's work bridges fundamental physics and engineering applications, leveraging advanced imaging techniques (e.g., X-ray tomography) and computational models. He is affiliated with The Net Zero Institute and collaborates globally on projects like granular flow dynamics and porous media behavior. Notable contributions include the 2007 development of breakage mechanics theory and innovations in granular rheology and fault modeling.

Lydia BourouibaView profile

Professor

• Fluid Dynamics
• Disease Transmission
• Biophysics
• +6 more

Professor Lydia Bourouiba is a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), affiliated with the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES). Her research focuses on the intersection of fluid dynamics and disease transmission, with a strong emphasis on biophysics, interfacial flows, turbulence, and multiphase systems. Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from McGill University (2008) Research on fluid fragmentation, droplet/bubble dynamics, and pathogen transport Co-Founder and Associate Director of the NSF Center for Pandemic Prevention (APPEX) Her work spans fundamental and applied domains, including: Biophysics of pathogen transport in air and water Turbulent multiphase flows in respiratory events Fluid-plant interactions in agricultural disease Nonlinear dynamics in public health contexts Key article trends highlight: Biomedical fluid mechanics Climate and environment-driven disease modeling High-risk/high-reward public health innovations Interdisciplinary approaches combining physics, biology, and engineering Scientific awards include: Fellow of the American Physical Society (2021) American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering Fellow (2022) Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award for biomedical research Ole Madsen Mentoring Award She serves as Associate Editor for the journal FLOW and has founded conferences like the Gordon Research Conference on Fluids in Disease Transmission. Her lab (Fluids and Health Network) develops experimental and theoretical frameworks to address contamination, pandemic control, and fluid-health-environment interactions.

Ronald G. LarsonView profile

Professor

• Complex Fluids
• Fluid Mechanics
• Polymer Physics
• +6 more

Ronald G. Larson serves as the George Granger Brown Professor of Chemical Engineering and A. H. White Distinguished University Professor at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering, with additional appointments in Mechanical Engineering and Macromolecular Science & Engineering. His research leadership spans multiple departments within the Chemical Engineering Division, where he directs the Larson Lab focused on fundamental and applied soft matter physics. His research program investigates complex fluids through computational and theoretical frameworks, emphasizing polymer physics, rheology, and molecular simulations. Key thrusts include polymer melt processing, biomembrane dynamics, colloidal systems, and polyelectrolyte coacervation. The group employs advanced techniques like Brownian dynamics, coarse-grained modeling, and multiscale simulation to address challenges ranging from industrial polymer processing to biomedical applications. Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong momentum in rheological modeling of complex fluids, with particular emphasis on self-healing materials, wax deposition in pipelines, and crystallization mechanisms. The work bridges fundamental molecular insights with industrial applications, demonstrating consistent high-impact output across polymer science, soft matter physics, and chemical engineering domains. The Larson Lab operates as a collaborative hub within the Chemical Engineering Department, leveraging computational resources to advance understanding of fluid mechanics and material properties. Current projects integrate machine learning with traditional modeling approaches, reflecting the group's commitment to methodological innovation while maintaining strong connections to experimental validation and real-world engineering problems.

• Fluid Dynamics
• Multiphase Flow
• Bubble Dynamics
• +3 more

Andrea Prosperetti is a Full Professor at the University of Twente's Physics of Fluids department within the MESA+ Institute. His research focuses on multiphase flow dynamics, bubble behavior, and fluid mechanics, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals through advanced fluid dynamics studies. He has published extensively with over 224 research outputs and 70 h-index. Key research areas include fluid instabilities, interfacial phenomena, and numerical simulations of complex flows. Recent work explores particle-resolved convection, Taylor bubble dynamics, and hydraulic jumps on conical surfaces. His collaborations span international institutions, emphasizing computational modeling and experimental validation. Prosperetti has delivered numerous presentations on particulate flow simulations and fluid dynamics, and has held editorial and committee roles in organizations like the Institute for Cavitation Research and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).

Luis F. Ayala H.View profile

Professor

• Advanced Reservoir Simulation
• Multiphase Flow in Porous Media
• Unconventional Reservoir Analysis
• +3 more

Luis F. Ayala H. is the Department Head and William A. Fustos Family Professor in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University. He holds dual summa cum laude degrees in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering from Universidad de Oriente (Venezuela), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Penn State. His research focuses on computational fluid dynamics modeling of multiphase flow in unconventional reservoirs, hydrocarbon thermodynamics, and reservoir simulation. Education: Ph.D. (Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering), Penn State University M.S. (Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering), Penn State University Petroleum Engineering Degree, summa cum laude, Universidad de Oriente Chemical Engineering Degree, summa cum laude, Universidad de Oriente Research Interests: Advanced reservoir simulation, unconventional gas reservoir analysis (shale gas, tight sands), multiphase flow in porous media, hydrocarbon thermodynamics, and lattice Boltzmann methods. His work aims to improve predictive capabilities for unconventional reservoirs through quantitative modeling of multiphase transport dynamics. Key Awards: SPE Distinguished Member (2022) Fulbright-Colciencias Innovation Award (2016-2017) Howard B. Palmer Faculty Mentor Award (2022) Wilson Award for Excellence in Teaching (2008) Grants & Advising: He has led numerous research projects funded by industry and federal agencies, advising graduate students in energy systems and reservoir engineering. His administrative roles include service as executive editor for the SPE Journal and as an Administrative Fellow at Penn State’s Office of Research. Labs & Teams: His research group collaborates on projects involving advanced simulation tools for unconventional reservoirs, with a focus on multiphase flow dynamics and thermodynamic interplay in nano-pore systems.

Jan Martin NordbottenView profile

Professor

• Applied Mathematics
• Porous Media
• Geological CO2 Storage
• +4 more

Jan Martin Nordbotten is a full-time Professor at the Department of Mathematics, University of Bergen (UiB), with adjunct positions at Princeton University and NORCE. His research focuses on applied mathematics, particularly in porous media, CO2 storage, fluid dynamics, and interdisciplinary applications in hydrology, biomedicine, and ecology. He completed his PhD at UiB in 2004 and became Norway's third youngest professor in 2007. His work emphasizes numerical methods, multiscale modeling, and experimental validation. Affiliations: UiB (full-time), Princeton (adjunct), NORCE (adjunct) Research Group: Center for Sustainable Subsurface Resources Research interests span mathematical modeling of subsurface processes, including flow in fractured media, geomechanics, and phase-field fracture. Notable contributions include analytical and numerical solutions for CO2 leakage, multiphase flow, and development of tools like DarSIA for image processing in porous media. Publications highlight advancements in mixed-dimensional models, finite element methods, and experimental validation of CO2 storage forecasts. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical applications in energy and environmental systems.