David Fletcher

David Fletcher is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He holds a BSc and PhD in Mathematics from the University of Exeter (UK) and a Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) from the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (France). His expertise spans computational fluid dynamics (CFD), fluid-structure interaction (FSI), and multiphase flow modeling with applications in biomedical systems, pharmaceutical inhalers, and chemical engineering.

Education:

• BSc Mathematics, University of Exeter (1979)
• PhD, University of Exeter (1982)
• HDR in Chemical Engineering, Université de Toulouse (2002)

Research Interests:

• Coupled systems simulation (e.g., combustion, micro-flows, biomedical applications)
• CFD education and software development
• Bioinspired heart valve design for pediatric use
• PFAS degradation via CFD-optimized reactors

Key Projects:

• Polymeric heart valve design collaboration with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
• CFD modeling of pharmaceutical inhalers with Macquarie University
• Bubble column optimization for energy-efficient bioreactors

Awards: Recognized among the Top 2% of global researchers in 2019, 2021, and 2023 (PLOS Biology ranking).

International Collaborations: France (INP Toulouse), Malaysia (Universiti Malaysia Pahang), UK (University of Birmingham), USA (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital).

Students: Supervised PhD graduates now in academia (China, Saudi Arabia) and industry (Australia, India).