Gregory Michna

Gregory Michna is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University (SDSU), part of the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering. He holds a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2001) and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2006). His academic responsibilities include teaching courses such as Fluid Mechanics, Heat Transfer, and Thermo-Fluid Energy Systems. Michna's research focuses on heat and mass transfer, convective heat transfer, and electronics cooling, with notable contributions to CFD analysis for the DUNE neutrino experiment and 3D-printed heat exchangers. He has received multiple teaching awards, including the 2015 Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering Teacher of the Year. His grants include leadership on CFD analysis projects for DUNE detectors and collaborations on CubeSat initiatives through the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium. Michna’s work bridges experimental physics, thermal systems engineering, and educational innovation.

Research Interests:

• Heat Transfer and Convective Phenomena
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Applications
• Electronics Cooling Solutions
• 3D-Printed Thermal Systems
• Neutrino Detector Engineering (DUNE Collaboration)

Grants and Awards:

• Lead PI: $244,079 for Phase 4 DUNE CFD Analysis (2021)
• Co-PI: $140,213 for In-Situ Resource Utilization NASA Design Challenges (2021)
• Recipient of 2018 Timothy J. Nichols Advising Award
• Multiple Students’ Choice Awards for Teaching Excellence

Labs and Teams: Active contributor to the DUNE collaboration and the SDSU CubeSat Club, emphasizing student-led projects in thermal systems and space technology.