معرفی
Dr. Yan Zhang is an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at North Dakota State University (NDSU), where he joined in 2015 after completing his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University in 2013. His research spans multiple interdisciplinary areas within fluid dynamics, with a particular focus on experimental approaches to complex flow phenomena.
Dr. Zhang's educational background includes a B.S. in Energy and Power Engineering from Xi'an Jiaotong University, China (2008) and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University (2013). He completed postdoctoral research at Western Michigan University (2013-2015) before joining NDSU.
His primary research interests focus on cardiovascular fluid dynamics, particularly pulsatile flow in the human cardiovascular system with applications to heart disease understanding and medical device design. Additional research areas include wind engineering, aerodynamics of vertical axis wind turbines, microfluidics for three-dimensional cell culture, and multiphase flow experimentation. His work frequently employs advanced flow diagnostics such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), and ultrasound imaging techniques.
Dr. Zhang's recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward cardiovascular hemodynamics research, with particular emphasis on pulsatile flow in compliant vessels, aortic valve models, and cardiovascular adaptation to microgravity environments. His work combines experimental approaches with computational modeling to address complex fluid-structure interaction problems.
His notable scientific achievements include multiple awards and recognitions, such as the NDSU Research Development Travel Award, Honorable Mention at NDSU EXPLORE, and several student awards under his mentorship. His students have received recognition at the Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium, and one was a finalist in the NDSU Three-Minute-Thesis competition.
Dr. Zhang has successfully secured substantial research funding from diverse sources including the NIH, NSF, NASA, DoD, and American Heart Association. Current projects include NIH R01 funding for aortic valve research, NASA EPSCoR funding for space physiology studies, and NSF MRI funding for a research ultrasound system. His laboratory, the Applied Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, is well-equipped with advanced instrumentation for multidisciplinary flow research.
Dr. Zhang is actively involved in educational outreach, including delivering STEM lessons to Native American students at Cankdeska Cikana Community College as part of the NATURE Sunday Academy Program. He also serves as a technical judge for various student competitions and as a reviewer for multiple international journals and NSF grant panels.
