Zafer Dursunkaya

Zafer Dursunkaya is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Middle East Technical University (METU), serving in the Department of Mechanical Engineering under the Faculty of Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology (1988) and B.S./M.S. degrees from METU. His research focuses on thermal engineering, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and phase change phenomena, with notable contributions to heat pipe design and microscale thermophysics.

Prof. Dursunkaya has held administrative roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at METU (2006–2012) and Associate Dean (1997–2003). His teaching spans courses like Advanced Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, and Thermodynamics. His work bridges computational modeling (CFD) and experimental validation, addressing challenges in thermal management and energy systems.

Key research themes include optimizing heat pipe performance through groove design, analyzing evaporation/droplet dynamics, and investigating surface effects at micro/nanoscales. His interdisciplinary approach integrates fluid dynamics, materials science, and computational methods.