Francesca Bernardi

Francesca Bernardi serves as an Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute with cross-departmental affiliations in Physics, Mechanical & Materials Engineering, and Gender, Sexuality & Women's Studies.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2018
• Grad.Cert. in Women's and Gender Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2018
• M.Eng. in Nuclear Engineering, Politecnico di Milano (Italy), 2013
• B.Eng. in Engineering Physics, Politecnico di Milano (Italy), 2009

As an applied mathematician, Dr. Bernardi's research bridges small-scale fluid dynamics with practical applications in water filtration systems and microfluidics. Her work uniquely combines mathematical modeling with physical experimentation through her leadership of the FMNST Lab (Fluid Mechanics and Small-scale Transport Lab) hosted at LEAP. She applies an intersectional feminist lens to her secondary research focus on STEM education and science, technology and society studies.

Dr. Bernardi's research has gained significant recognition, including coverage in Inside Higher Ed for her study on syllabus inclusivity published in Nature's Humanities and Social Sciences Connections, and in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette regarding WPI's faculty appointments.

Dr. Bernardi is deeply committed to mentoring and outreach initiatives. She co-founded Girls Talk Math in 2016 and currently serves as Director of the WPI camp chapter, demonstrating her dedication to creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in STEM fields.

She actively advises students on Major Qualifying Projects (MQPs) and Interactive Qualifying Projects (IQPs) while teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in Applied Mathematics. Her laboratory work focuses on particle and solute transport in small-scale systems with practical applications in municipal water filtration facilities.