Hessam Mirgolbabei

Hessam Mirgolbabei serves as Assistant Professor and Dr. Howard Higholt Endowed Professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth's Swenson College of Science and Engineering, specializing in Thermal Fluids within Mechanical Engineering disciplines.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
• M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering – Energy Conversion from K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran
• B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering – Thermal Fluids from University of Mazandaran, Babolsar

Dr. Mirgolbabei's research integrates computational fluid dynamics with combustion science, focusing on accelerating reactive flow simulations through advanced data analysis techniques. His work bridges theoretical modeling and practical energy conversion applications, emphasizing efficiency improvements in thermal systems while maintaining rigorous computational accuracy.

He actively recruits graduate researchers for projects at the intersection of data analytics and combustion engineering, while providing dedicated mentorship to LGBTQIA+ and female students navigating STEM academic pathways. Dr. Mirgolbabei champions inclusive departmental policies and advocates for systemic changes to support underrepresented groups in engineering education.

As a prominent DEI practitioner, he frequently delivers keynote addresses on minority stress mitigation in academic environments and promotes cultural competency through institutional workshops, viewing diversity as fundamental to engineering innovation.