Ralph Aldredge

Ralph Aldredge is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Davis, and serves as Executive Associate Dean for the College of Engineering, overseeing undergraduate studies and facilities planning. His leadership encompasses enrollment management, academic advising, retention programs, ABET accreditation, and strategic capital projects for engineering facilities.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and French from Carnegie-Mellon University (1985), a Master of Arts in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University (1988), and a Doctor of Philosophy in the same field from Princeton University (1990).

Dr. Aldredge's research focuses on combustion, fluid dynamics, and bio-transport, with dual emphases on bio-fluid dynamics (vascular blood flow) and front propagation in biological tissues (avascular-tumor dynamics) and reacting gases (flame propagation). His work integrates computational modeling to solve complex problems in energy and biomedical systems, including the development of the Level-Set app for flame propagation simulation.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent interdisciplinary trajectory bridging combustion engineering and biomedical applications. Key themes include flame propagation modeling in complex flows, tumor growth dynamics influenced by extracellular matrix components, and optimization of medical devices for drug delivery and cancer treatment. His research demonstrates how fluid dynamics principles can be applied across energy systems and healthcare innovation.

No scientific awards were explicitly documented in the source materials.

Dr. Aldredge advises graduate students in combustion and bio-fluid dynamics while driving systemic improvements in engineering education. His administrative leadership has shaped holistic-review undergraduate admissions policies adopted system-wide across the University of California, significantly impacting enrollment management and academic support structures.

As Associate Dean for Facilities and Capital Planning, he directs strategic development of engineering spaces and resources, ensuring alignment with academic priorities while maintaining safety compliance and operational efficiency for the College of Engineering.