Paolo Luzzatto-Fegiz

Paolo Luzzatto-Fegiz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). His research focuses on fluid dynamics, thermal sciences, and materials science, with a particular emphasis on superhydrophobic surfaces, wind energy systems, and microgravity particle interactions. He integrates theoretical models, numerical simulations, and experimental methods to address challenges in environmental engineering and aerospace applications.

Education

• PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University
• MS in Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University
• MSc in Applied Mathematics, Imperial College London
• BEng in Aerospace Engineering, University of Southampton

Research Interests

His work explores:

• Superhydrophobic Surfaces: Investigating drag reduction mechanisms and surfactant contamination effects in laminar and turbulent flows.
• Wind Energy: Developing theoretical limits for wind farm performance and mitigating atmospheric stratification impacts.
• Microgravity Fluids: Studying particle aggregation and fluid dynamics in low-gravity environments.
• Laboratory Innovations: Designing affordable experimental tools like desktop wind tunnels and conductivity probes.

Awards & Recognition

• Early CAREER Award, National Science Foundation (2021)
• Excellence in Teaching Award, Northrop Grumman (2020)
• Invited Speaker, National Science Foundation (NSF) Panel (2022)

Advising & Grants

He leads projects funded by the NSF and CBET-EPSRC, focusing on surfactant impacts on superhydrophobic surfaces. While no advisees are listed, his work involves collaborative teams and grants for experimental setups.

Labs & Teams

He directs research initiatives involving open-source instruments, including microscale conductivity probes and affordable wind tunnel designs for academic use.