Peter HamlingtonView profile
Professor
Peter Hamlington is a Professor and Vogel Faculty Fellow at the University of Colorado Boulder, serving as Department Chair of Mechanical Engineering. He holds a PhD in Aerospace Science from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and a BA in Physics from the University of Chicago. His research focuses on large-scale numerical simulations using high-performance computing, with expertise in turbulent flows, wildland fires, ocean biogeochemistry, geophysical fluid dynamics, and renewable energy systems. He teaches courses such as Methods of Engineering Analysis (MCEN 5020) and Reacting Flows (MCEN 6001). His honors include the NSF CAREER Award (2019), Woodward Outstanding Faculty Award (2017), and Herb and Karen Vogel Fellowship (2013–present). Research interests span combustion, turbulence modeling, and oceanic carbon dynamics. Recent publications explore adaptive mesh refinement techniques for fire simulations, wind energy optimization, and submesoscale ocean turbulence impacts. Hamlington collaborates extensively with graduate students on projects like turbulent plume dynamics and wildfire behavior. Education: PhD (Aerospace Science, U Michigan), MS (Aerospace Science, U Michigan), BA (Physics, U Chicago) Research Themes: High-performance computing simulations, renewable energy systems, combustion physics Key Projects: Wildfire dynamics, ocean biogeochemical models, turbulence optimization His work bridges fundamental fluid mechanics and applied engineering challenges, with grants supporting combustion diagnostics and climate-related ocean studies. Hamlington’s lab utilizes advanced computational tools and experimental setups like inclinable wind tunnels to study fire propagation and fluid dynamics.












