Casey Allen

Dr. Casey Allen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Marquette University, serving as Director of Graduate Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (Michigan State University, 2012) and a B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering (University of Iowa, 2004).

• Research Focus: Ignition and combustion phenomena, alternative fuels, advanced engine chemistry, chemical kinetics, and laser diagnostics/spectroscopy.
• Students: Advised doctoral candidates David Wilson and Mark Carioscio, with the latter completing thesis research on fuel effects in cordless nail guns.
• Grants: Partnered with CFR Engines on a $465k, 4-year project for octane/cetane rating strategies.
• Labs: Leads the FIRE Lab (Fuel Ignition and Reaction Engineering) at Marquette, specializing in combustion science and exhaust pollutant modeling.

His 15 most recent publications (2014–2023) explore ignition behavior, soot formation, ethanol/gasoline blends, and advanced diagnostics in rapid compression machines (RCMs) and optical diesel engines. Key themes include transient combustion dynamics, alternative fuel impacts, and pollutant measurement/control techniques. Collaborations with David Wilson and Dylan Lehmier appear in Energy & Fuels and Fuel journals.

Dr. Allen’s work bridges experimental validation (e.g., Kalman filters for exhaust characterization) and computational modeling (surrogate fuels, soot prediction), emphasizing practical applications for automotive and jet fuel technologies.