Ragini Acharya

Ragini Acharya is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Tennessee. Her research focuses on hypersonic propulsion systems, uncertainty quantification, and combustion dynamics. She holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University (2008), an MS from the same institution (2004), and a BS (Honors) from the Indian Institute of Technology (2000).

• Education:
• PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2008
• MS, Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, 2004
• BS (Honors), Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, 2000

Her research interests include hypersonic propulsion, advanced propulsion systems, and combustion modeling. She has authored/co-authored books on turbulent and multiphase combustion and contributed to studies on scramjet unstart challenges and rocket nozzle erosion.

Key awards include the AIAA Associate Fellow designation and Best Paper Awards at international propulsion symposia. She actively serves on the AIAA Technical Committee and as STEM Outreach Director for the AIAA Huntsville Section.

Her professional experience includes roles at CFD Research Corporation and Raytheon Missiles & Defense, where she led hypersonic technology initiatives and served as a Senior Principal Engineer. She collaborates with institutions like the University of Michigan and Oak Ridge National Laboratory through her research and advisory roles.