Assistant Professor Radojica Pešić is affiliated with the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade. With expertise in chemical engineering and environmental applications, his work focuses on reactor design, mass transfer, and sustainable process optimization. Research spans environmental remediation , process design , and transport phenomena Active in bubble column reactors , CO2 capture , and industrial water treatment Supervised 10+ final theses in chemical engineering processes and environmental systems Recent publications highlight trends in electrochemical pollutant degradation , fluidized bed thermal dynamics , and sustainable material design . His teaching involvement includes Chemical Engineering Laboratory and Process Design courses. Advised research on distillation process optimization (2021), industrial water quality (2020), and PINCH methodology for mass integration (2018) Key methodologies: linear mass balance models , absorption column design , and quality control systems Contact: rpesic@tmf.bg.ac.rs | Office 37, TMF Building | Phone: +381 11/3303611
Frédéric Gibou is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Computer Science, and Department of Mathematics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is also a core faculty member in the Computational Science and Engineering program. His academic journey began with a PhD in Applied Mathematics from UCLA, followed by post-doctoral research in the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science at Stanford University. PhD in Applied Mathematics, UCLA Post-doctoral research, Stanford University (Mathematics and Computer Science) Professor Gibou's research sits at the interface between Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering Sciences, focusing on the design of high resolution computational methods for large scale computations. His work spans Computational Materials Science, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Computational Image Analysis. The common thread across these applications is that they involve complex/free boundaries and similar classes of nonlinear partial differential equations. His group develops computational strategies on spatially adaptive grids for massively parallel environments, increasingly incorporating Machine Learning algorithms to solve forward and inverse problems. His research output shows a clear trend toward integrating traditional numerical methods with machine learning approaches, particularly for solving partial differential equations with complex interfaces. The publications reveal a strong focus on developing sharp interface methods, adaptive grid techniques, and novel computational paradigms that can handle multiscale phenomena across various scientific domains. Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship in Mathematics Regent's Junior Faculty Fellowship NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship Robert Sorgenfrey Distinguished Teaching award Professor Gibou leads a multidisciplinary research group called Computational Applied Science Laboratory (CASL), which has strong collaborations with experimentalists at UCSB and worldwide. His group has received substantial funding from various agencies, enabling them to tackle challenging problems in computational science. CASL focuses on designing computational methods on Quad-/Oc-trees grids in the level-set formalism for solving previously intractable problems in science and engineering. The group's work spans Computational Materials Science (including nanostructured polymeric materials and high temperature multicomponent alloys), Computational Fluid Dynamics (including flow over superhydrophobic surfaces, flow in reactive porous media, and multiphase flows), and Computational Image Analysis (including image guided surgery and image segmentation).
Professor Andrew Hrymak is a distinguished academic in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Western University, where he has been a faculty member since 2009. Prior to his appointment at Western, he served as Professor and Department Chair at McMaster University from 1985-2009. During his tenure at Western, he held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from July 1, 2009 to July 31, 2018. He currently serves as Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer Project Centre for Composites Research at Western and has held significant editorial roles including Editor of Computers and Chemical Engineering (2002-2010) and Editor-in-Chief of International Polymer Processing (2004-2016). His educational background includes: PhD in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (1985) B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from McMaster University (1980) Professor Hrymak's research focuses on the modeling, design, and optimization of materials processing systems, with particular emphasis on composites processing, injection molding, compression molding, mixing liquid coating flows, and complex rheology. His work integrates computational methods with experimental approaches to address challenges in polymer processing operations. His research spans multiple scales, from microscopic fiber-matrix interactions to macroscopic process modeling. He has made significant contributions to understanding the behavior of complex fluids and multiphase systems, particularly in the context of polymer composites manufacturing. His work often combines computational fluid dynamics with experimental validation to develop predictive models for industrial applications. Professor Hrymak's extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on advancing the science and engineering of polymer processing, with recent work incorporating machine learning approaches to model complex material behaviors. His research has practical applications in automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries where composite materials play a critical role. His scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2010) Fellow of the Chemical Institute of Canada (2005) Excellence in Process Development Research Award by the Process Development Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (2005) As an academic advisor, Professor Hrymak has mentored numerous graduate students through their PhD and Master's research. His current research group includes students working on projects related to structural long-fiber thermoplastics for automotive applications, compression molding simulation, and dip coating processes. His research has been supported by various funding sources including NSERC, Greenfield Global Products, and the Chinese Scholarship Council. He has also served on important committees including the Fellowship Selection Committees of the Chemical Institute of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and was past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Chemical Institute of Canada. Professor Hrymak is actively involved with the Fraunhofer Project Centre for Composites Research at Western, where he serves as Deputy Director. His research group collaborates with industry partners on various projects related to composite materials processing and characterization. He has also been instrumental in developing the virtual process chain concept for sheet molding compound composites, which integrates multiple simulation tools to predict final part properties based on processing conditions.
Dr. Vatsal Sanjay is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Physics , Durham University. He leads the Computational Multiphase Physics (CoMPhy) Lab, focusing on fundamental fluid dynamics research with applications in energy, manufacturing, and natural systems. Education: PhD in Physics (University of Twente, 2022) Research Areas: Soft Matter Singularities, Non-Newtonian Flows, Viscous Free-Surface Flows His work explores topological transitions in fluid systems through continuum simulations , collaborative experiments , and theoretical analysis , addressing phenomena like droplet impact , bubble bursting , and sheet fragmentation . Recent studies span microgravity fluid mechanics , viscoelastic jet formation , and mycofluidic transport in fungal networks. Articles reveal interdisciplinary trends combining fluid dynamics , materials science , and applied physics , with subfields spanning from Worthington jet dynamics to yield-stress fluid rupture . His Ammodo Science Fellowship enables research into fungal internal transport systems , bridging physics and biology. Supervision: Mentors PGR student Sam Walker Labs: Founder of CoMPhy Lab (moving to Durham in 2025) Open Science: Advocates code sharing and transparent research practices
Weimin Han is a Professor and Collegiate Fellow in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Iowa. He holds additional appointments in the Applied Mathematical & Computational Sciences (AMCS) program and the Iowa Technology Institute. His research focuses on numerical analysis, computational mechanics, and variational/hemivariational inequalities, with applications in fluid and solid mechanics. Han earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Maryland (1991), following M.S. (1986) and B.S. (1983) degrees from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fudan University, respectively. He has served as Chair of the Department of Mathematics (2020–2022) and Director of AMCS (2007–2019). His honors include Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (2023), Simons Fellow (2012), and recognition as a top scholar in Numerical Analysis by Research.com and ScholarGPS. He has organized conferences like the Midwest Numerical Analysis Day 2024 and serves on editorial boards of journals such as Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation . Han’s research has led to groundbreaking work on nonsmooth problems, including contact mechanics and fluid dynamics governed by variational inequalities. His numerical methods address challenges in engineering and biomedical imaging.
Sheng Xu is Associate Professor at Southern Methodist University, specializing in computational fluid mechanics and aerodynamics. He holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University (2002) and previously worked at GE Energy on steam turbine aerodynamics, with postdoctoral research at Cornell and Princeton. Research develops computational methods for biological flows, supersonic turbulence, flow control, and insect/swimmer hydrodynamics. The immersed interface method—a core focus—models solids using singular forces and solves fluid flows with jump conditions. Current applications include dragonfly wing kinematics and particle collision dynamics. Publications in Journal of Computational Physics, SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing, and Journal of Fluid Mechanics address turbulent boundary layers, particle collisions, and biological flight mechanics. Recent work advances interface methods for non-smooth boundaries and manufactured solutions for code validation.
Yang Liu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the City College of New York (CUNY). Their research focuses on experimental fluid mechanics, multiphase flow and heat transfer, and aerospace engineering applications. Key areas include plasma-assisted 3D printing, icing mitigation for aerospace and energy systems, and sustainable energy harvesting through vortex-induced vibrations. Research interests span plasma actuation for aircraft safety, droplet dynamics in extreme conditions, and novel additive manufacturing techniques. Recent work explores sublimation-based deposition methods for colloidal particles and robotic wave morphing surfaces for unconventional aircraft aerodynamics. Publications emphasize cutting-edge topics like icephobic coatings, thermal effects of plasma discharges, and dynamic ice accretion processes on infrastructure. Collaborative efforts include wind turbine icing physics and experimental investigations into surface treatments for anti-/de-icing systems. Advances in thermal management, shockwave-droplet interactions, and energy harvesting systems highlight contributions to both theoretical and applied fluid mechanics. Ongoing projects address challenges in multiphase flow, plasma-liquid interfaces, and sustainable energy solutions.
Paul Stanwix is Associate Professor in the School of Engineering at the University of Western Australia, with joint appointments in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering. His research develops novel sensing technologies for fluid mixtures in energy applications, particularly hydrogen, natural gas, and cryogenic systems. Research focuses on: Hydrogen liquefaction and ortho-para conversion Microwave and NMR sensing technologies Thermophysical property measurement Gas hydrate formation and flow assurance Cryogenic fluid behavior Recent publications feature advanced sensor designs for industrial applications, including hydrogen purity monitoring and multiphase flow measurement. Research integrates experimental techniques with thermodynamic modeling. Significant recognition includes: WA Innovator of the Year Finalist (2019) ARC Discovery Early Career Award (2014) National Measurement Institute Prize (2008) Stanwix co-founded Jovian Tech commercializing hydrogen sensors and holds multiple patents. Current projects include developing hand-held skin cancer probes and optimizing hydrogen liquefaction processes.
Dr. Martin T. White is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sussex, part of the School of Engineering and Informatics and the Energy and Materials Engineering Research Centre (EMERC). He holds a PhD from City, University of London (2015) and an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southampton (2011). Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Lecturer (2022–2024) and Lecturer in Thermal Power (2019–2022) at City, University of London, and held postdoctoral roles at Imperial College London and City. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. His research focuses on novel thermal power systems, particularly organic Rankine cycles (ORC), supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) turbines, and waste-heat recovery. He leads the development of experimental test rigs and computational tools like pocketTHERM and pocketORC , which enhance education and design in thermodynamics. Key projects include the EU-funded SCARABEUS initiative, designing axial turbines for concentrated solar power, and optimizing turbine blades for CO₂ blends. Recent work includes advancing wet-to-dry expansion in ORC systems using non-equilibrium CFD simulations and experimental rigs. He has supervised PhD students (e.g., Charlie Westpfel, Pawel Ogrodniczak) and co-supervised Salma Salah, who successfully completed her viva in 2023. His research spans turbine aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, and educational technology, addressing global energy challenges through innovative thermal systems. Key achievements include the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship (2019–2024), which supported studies on two-phase expansion in ORC turbines. His work integrates academic and industrial collaboration, exemplified by the SCARABEUS turbine design with industrial partners. Future directions include experimental validation of two-phase expansion and exploring CO₂-blend applications in heat pumps and refrigeration systems. Awards and recognition include the IMechE awards for student projects supervised and the University of Sussex’s Brian Roberts Prize for academic excellence. His interdisciplinary approach bridges fundamental research, engineering design, and educational innovation in sustainable energy systems.
Marty Philippe is a Professor at Université Grenoble Alpes and a member of the Équipe Energétique within the LEGI (Laboratoire des Écoulements Géophysiques et Industriels). He collaborates extensively with the CEA-Grenoble on thermal energy intensification and hydrogen storage. His research focuses on heat storage, hydrogen storage in metal hydrides (in collaboration with the Institut Néel), and the influence of wettability on boiling heat transfer. He previously led the Master of Process Engineering at Université Joseph Fourier until 2015 and managed the Energy Team at LEGI until 2014. His work integrates Numerical simulations of boiling flows in concentrated solar plants, Hydrogen storage systems using magnesium hydride, Thermal energy storage with phase change materials (PCMs), and Experimental studies on heat transfer in microchannels and multiphase flows. Key research trends in his articles include advancements in thermal energy storage (e.g., LiBr/H₂O absorption systems), numerical modeling of phase change phenomena, and optimization of heat exchangers for industrial applications. His studies often bridge computational fluid dynamics with experimental validation, addressing challenges in renewable energy systems and thermal management. He has contributed to interdisciplinary projects, such as the development of a prototype for long-term solar heat storage and the design of hydrogen tanks with integrated heat management. His work also explores material science applications, including nanostructured MgH₂ for enhanced hydrogen absorption/desorption. Lab affiliations include the LEGI’s facilities like the tunnel hydrodynamique and soufflerie à bas niveau de turbulence , enabling experimental validation of his computational models.
Dr. Yi Li is a Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Sheffield. His research focuses on fluid mechanics, particularly turbulence, with emphases on flow optimization, simulation, and stochastic modeling. He explores topics such as downscaling in multi-scale systems, data assimilation for turbulence modeling, and chaos synchronization in turbulent flows. Research Themes: Downscaling: Explores self-similarity properties in turbulent flows to improve subgrid-scale modeling. Flow Optimization: Combines machine learning and data assimilation to enhance turbulence predictions, addressing challenges like pollution control and weather forecasting. Stochastic Modelling: Investigates particle and bubble dynamics in turbulent flows to understand mixing and dispersion processes. Teaching: Dr. Li teaches advanced modules including Operations Research, Magnetohydrodynamics, and Topics in Advanced Fluid Mechanics. Publications: His work spans fluid dynamics, computational methods, and signal processing, with notable contributions to turbulence modeling, ultrasonic applications, and data-driven approaches. Recent publications focus on machine learning applications in bubbly flows and 4DVAR data assimilation techniques. PhD Supervision: Offers supervision in fluid mechanics, turbulence, and interdisciplinary projects combining data science with fluid dynamics. Prospective students can contact him via email .
Dr. Ed Long is a Senior Lecturer in Fluids Engineering, focusing on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of fluid dynamics, combustion systems, and environmental applications. His work spans experimental and analytical studies in laser cutting gas dynamics, aerosol technology, and sustainable energy solutions. He has contributed to advancements in engine emissions reduction, battery thermal management, and soil erosion modeling. His research often involves cutting-edge diagnostic techniques such as particle imaging velocimetry and electrochemical analysis. Key research areas include combustion optimization in compression ignition engines, mitigation of hazardous fumes in industrial processes, and improving drug delivery systems through aerosol dynamics. His studies also address environmental challenges like pollution control and sustainable manufacturing. Dr. Long's experimental work frequently employs advanced imaging and sensor technologies to analyze fluid flow, particle behavior, and thermal interactions in complex systems. Though no specific awards are noted, his prolific publication record (over 30 articles from 2006–2024) demonstrates sustained contributions to mechanical, biomedical, and environmental engineering. His research bridges theoretical models with practical applications, such as low-cost turbidity sensors and novel designs for exhaust cleaning modules. Collaborations likely span academic and industrial partners, though specific affiliations are not detailed here.
Professor William Coombs is a Professor in the Department of Engineering at Durham University. He holds a first-class MEng in Civil Engineering (Durham University, 2008) and a PhD in Engineering (Durham University, 2011). His core research focuses on computational mechanics, particularly material constitutive models, finite-deformation mechanics, non-linear finite elements, and the Material Point Method (MPM). He leads projects in offshore geotechnical engineering for renewable energy applications, including cable burial and braced excavations. His work emphasizes open-source tools like the AMPLE MPM code. Grants & Collaborations: EPSRC-funded project EP/W000970/1 (Offshore Cable Burial Depth Analysis) EPSRC project EP/X024849/1 (Braced Excavation Modeling) Leadership in the Aura CDT for Offshore Wind Energy, training 130+ PhD students. Research Interests: Elasto-plasticity and fracture mechanics Non-mesh-based methods (MPM, DG-FEM) Offshore geotechnics and wind energy infrastructure Ice fracture and calving processes Students & Supervision: Supervises research on MPM applications, offshore socio-ecological systems, glacier modeling, and composite material optimization. Accepts new PhD students in aligned fields. Labs & Teams: Leads the Computational Mechanics Research Node within Durham's Engineering Department, fostering collaborations on numerical methods and industrial applications.
Kara Maki is a Professor in the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), serving as Director of the Applied and Computational Mathematics MS Program. She holds a BS from the University of New Hampshire and MS and PhD degrees from the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on mathematical modeling of fluid dynamics, particularly tear film dynamics, droplet evaporation, and interfacial phenomena. She has contributed to understanding biological systems like ocular surfaces and respiratory models, as well as engineering applications in microfluidics and materials science. Dr. Maki teaches advanced courses such as Mathematical Modeling I & II, Differential Equations, and supervises graduate research through capstone and thesis programs. Her work bridges applied mathematics with interdisciplinary fields, including collaborations on tear film mechanics, nanoparticle behavior, and viral infection modeling. She actively engages in educational outreach through programs like the SMASH Experience for Girls, promoting STEM education for underrepresented groups. Her publications span topics from evaporation-driven flows to contact lens mechanics, with notable contributions to the Journal of Engineering Mathematics, Journal of Aerosol Science, and Langmuir. While no formal awards are listed, her research has garnered attention for its practical implications in healthcare and engineering. Ongoing projects include computational modeling of biological systems and the development of low-cost microfluidic devices.
Joel Koplik is a Professor of Physics at the City College of New York (CCNY), affiliated with the Levich Institute. His research focuses on fluid dynamics, colloid science, and molecular dynamics simulations, particularly investigating interfacial phenomena, nanoparticle behavior, and thermocapillary migration. Recent work explores active colloids, Janus motors, and self-propulsion mechanisms at fluid interfaces. Key research areas include the dynamics of droplets under electric fields, surfactant effects on interfacial deformation, and the hydrodynamic interactions of colloids in confined geometries. His studies often bridge nanoscale and macroscopic fluid behaviors, with applications in materials science and nanotechnology. Publications highlight advancements in understanding capillary bridges, thermocapillary migration in particle-laden systems, and the design of self-propelled nanomotors. Collaborative projects, such as the 2007 proposal on nanoparticle separation using patterned surfaces, underscore his interest in experimental and computational fluid dynamics. Awards and grants are not explicitly listed, but his extensive publication record reflects sustained contributions to interdisciplinary fluid mechanics and soft matter physics.
