Xiaojing Fu

Xiaojing (Ruby) Fu is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering at Caltech, holding the William H. Hurt Scholar title since 2024. She leads the Fu Research Group, focusing on multiphase flow physics in porous media and their applications in geoscience, cryosphere dynamics, and subsurface engineering. Her work integrates mathematical theory, computational modeling, laboratory experiments, and field observations to advance predictive capabilities for large-scale environmental systems.

• Education:
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Clarkson University, 2011
  • M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015
  • Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, MIT, 2017

Her research interests span multiphase flow in porous media, phase-field modeling, reactive transport, fluid-solid coupling, and cryosphere processes. Key applications include dryland hydrology, gas hydrate systems, geothermal systems, and geologic carbon sequestration. Recent work includes groundbreaking studies on freezing infiltration patterns in porous media, fiber-optic soil moisture sensing, and seismic-induced earthquake forecasting models.

Awards:

• William H. Hurt Scholar (2024–present)

Teaching: Courses include ME/CE/Ge/ESE 146 (Computational Methods for Flow in Porous Media) and ME 11/12 (Thermal Science/Mechanics).

Labs/Teams: The Fu Research Group collaborates on projects involving pore-scale modeling, field experiments, and computational simulations. Recent breakthroughs include developing phase-field models for wet snow metamorphism and analyzing permafrost thaw dynamics under climate change.