Vigor Yang

Vigor Yang is a Regents’ Professor and Ralph N. Read Endowed Chair in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His work bridges fundamental and applied research in propulsion systems, combustion science, and machine learning.

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University
• B.S., Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Dr. Yang’s research spans supersonic combustion, neural networks for fluid dynamics, supercritical fluid mixing, and energetic materials. His work integrates experimental diagnostics, high-fidelity simulations, and data-driven modeling to advance aerospace propulsion and energy systems.

Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends in machine learning for CFD, detonation dynamics, and multi-scale combustion modeling. Articles emphasize turbulent flow prediction, surrogate modeling, and thermodynamic property evaluation under extreme conditions.

• AIAA Air-Breathing Propulsion Award (2005)
• Pendray Aerospace Literature Award (2008)
• Propellants and Combustion Award (2009)
• Worcester Reed Warner Medal (2014) by ASME
• Lifetime Achievement Award (2014) by JANNAF
• Reed Aeronautics Award (2025)
• Honorary doctorate (2019) by Cheng Kung University

Dr. Yang leads the Ben T. Zinn Combustion Laboratory and contributes to the Strategic Energy Institute. He has served as editor-in-chief for journals in propulsion and machine learning, and his Yang Aero Maker Space fosters hands-on aerospace education.