Todd Lowe

Todd Lowe is a Professor in the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech. He holds leadership roles in several research centers, including Co-Director of the Virginia Tech Advanced Propulsion and Power Laboratory and Director of the Virginia Tech–Pratt & Whitney Center of Excellence. His expertise spans experimental fluid mechanics, propulsion systems, and aerodynamics, with a focus on flow diagnostics, supersonic jet noise reduction, and turbulence modeling.

• Education: Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech (2006, 2004, 2001).
• Professional Affiliations: Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, ASME, and AIAA (Associate Fellow).

Research interests include developing advanced measurement techniques (e.g., Laser Doppler Velocimetry, Filtered Rayleigh Scattering) for propulsion and energy systems. Key projects involve supersonic jet noise reduction for aircraft safety, turbulence modeling validation, and propulsion/airframe integration for hybrid-wing-body configurations.

Recent awards include the 2023 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2018 SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educator Award. He has advised numerous graduate students and leads initiatives like the English-to-Engineering (E2E) program, fostering undergraduate research in sustainable aerospace propulsion.

Lowe’s lab, the Vortical Flow and Diagnostics Lab, collaborates with industry partners like Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney. His work bridges fundamental research and practical applications, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications and contributions to CFD validation standards.