Olivier FARGES is a Senior Lecturer and HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches) holder at the University of Lorraine, affiliated with ENSGSI (École Nationale Supérieure de Géologie et Sciences Industrielles) within the Groupe INP. He serves as Director of Industrial Partnerships at ENSGSI and is part of the LEMTA Laboratory (CNRS-University of Lorraine), focusing on multiphysics and multiscale modeling of heat transfer in complex environments. His academic roles include teaching courses such as Heat and Mass Transfer, Fluid Mechanics, Scientific Computing Modeling, and Renewable Energy. Dr. FARGES holds a Ph.D. in Energy and New R&D (2014) and an Engineering degree in Energy Engineering (2010), both from the École de Mines Albi. His research emphasizes coupled conductive-radiative heat transfer in porous media, thermal property characterization of heterogeneous materials, and Monte Carlo-based computational methods for energy systems. He has contributed to advancements in photovoltaic system modeling, solar thermal power optimization, and urban climate studies. His work bridges theoretical and applied thermal engineering, with applications in sustainable energy systems, material science, and industrial partnerships. Key research themes include radiative transfer modeling, multiphysics simulation frameworks, and the development of innovative tools for thermal property measurement and energy performance assessment.
Dr. Jingjing Qiu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University (TAMU), leading the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing (AM²) Lab. Her research focuses on advanced manufacturing, nanomaterials, multifunctional composites, sustainable materials, energy harvesting, and healthcare applications. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering from Florida State University (2008), and M.S./B.S. degrees in Materials Science from Beihang University (2004/2001). Prior to academia, she gained 1 year of industrial experience as a Quality Engineer at SAIC Motor. Research interests include AI-driven nanomaterials synthesis, low-carbon manufacturing processes, and biomedical innovations such as drug delivery systems for brain tumors. The AM² Lab emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration in materials science, data science, and sensor integration for energy and medical devices. Recent work highlights include AI-assisted microplastics removal, thermoelectric energy harvesting via graphene aerogels, and neuromorphic computing systems. Her team actively pursues postdoctoral and PhD candidates for research in energy/healthcare materials, requiring expertise in nanomaterials characterization (e.g., SEM, XPS, electrochemical techniques) and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Lab facilities support cutting-edge fabrication and testing of functional materials. Publications span over 15 years, with recent trends in sustainable manufacturing, soft robotics, and bio-inspired materials. Ongoing projects include DOE-funded initiatives on rare earth recycling and low-carbon ceramic production. No scientific awards are explicitly listed in the provided texts.
Georges FOKOUA is a Lecturer-Researcher at ESTACA (École Supérieure des Techniques Aéronautiques et de Construction Automobile), Paris-Saclay Campus, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France. He serves as the Training Manager for the 5A Specialty in New Energies and Environment. His academic career spans multiple institutions, including IRSTEA Rennes as a Research Engineer (2014-2016) and the Naval School in Brest as a Teaching and Research Assistant (2009-2014). Dr. FOKOUA's research focuses on experimental and numerical fluid mechanics with particular interest in multiphase flows, turbulence, wake flows, and the characterization of spatio-temporal dynamics of particulate and gaseous pollutants. His work bridges fundamental fluid mechanics with practical applications in transportation systems, naval propulsion, and environmental engineering. He has developed expertise in advanced measurement techniques including PIV, LDV, Ombroscopy, hot wire, optical probes, PTV, and both mono- and biphasic CFD using Ansys-Fluent, Comsol Multiphysics, and Matlab. His publication record demonstrates strong expertise in particle dispersion in transportation systems, with recent work focusing on brake particle dispersion in underground train stations, vehicle wake flows, and ultrafine particle dispersion. His earlier work investigated bubble effects in Taylor-Couette flow for naval propulsion applications. His research consistently combines experimental work with numerical modeling to address complex fluid dynamics problems. Dr. FOKOUA actively supervises doctoral and master's students, with current PhD candidates working on topics related to air quality in vehicle cabins, particulate pollutant dispersion in vehicle wakes, and navigation emissions. He has also contributed significantly to major research projects including CEPARER (2022-2025), AmCoAir (2020-2023), and CAPNAV (2019-2022), all funded by ADEME with various industrial partners. As an educator, he teaches Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Thermal Engineering, and Energy Conversion and Transfer courses across all undergraduate and graduate levels at ESTACA. He has also led the Euroglider project (2016-2019), developing a two-seat electric propulsion glider for pilot training.
Thijs Defraeye is a Senior Scientist at Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) and Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University. He holds a PhD in Building Physics from KU Leuven (2011) and a Master's in Civil Engineering (2006). His work focuses on optimizing food supply chains through multiphysics simulations and digital twins, addressing challenges in refrigerated transport, postharvest quality preservation, and energy-efficient food processing. He leads the SimBioSys group, developing solutions for perishable goods logistics and electrohydrodynamic technologies. Research interests include: Biophysics of food systems Digital twin applications in agriculture Electrohydrodynamic drying Thermal management in cold chains Sustainable food technologies Recent work emphasizes reducing food loss through physics-based modeling of refrigerated containers, ventilated packaging optimization, and scalable evaporative cooling systems. His studies bridge engineering principles with biological processes, aiming to enhance global food security and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Xinying Liu is a Researcher at the University of Sydney's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, specializing in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), and biomedical engineering applications. She is a member of the University of Sydney Nano Institute and holds a PhD (2023) and bachelor's degree (2017) from the same institution. Education: Bachelor's Degree: The University of Sydney (2017) PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: The University of Sydney (2023) Research Focus: Dr. Liu's work addresses biomedical challenges through advanced modeling techniques, including cardiovascular hydrodynamics, gastric flow systems, and bioinspired polymeric heart valve design. She bridges engineering and medicine to develop personalized healthcare solutions and non-thermal plasma technologies for PFAS remediation. Her projects emphasize multiphysics simulation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Current Projects: Polymeric heart valve replacements with growth capability Non-Thermal Plasma applications for PFAS remediation Advising & Collaborations: Dr. Liu advises Parham VATANKHAH on flow dynamics in human aortas. Her collaborations span computational modeling, experimental validation, and industry partnerships for healthcare innovation. Labs & Affiliations: Member of the University of Sydney Nano Institute, actively contributing to bioengineering and materials science research.
Professor Jihong Wang is a faculty member at the University of Warwick's School of Engineering, where she has held the position since January 2011. She previously served as a Professor of Control and Electrical Power at the University of Birmingham and held academic roles at the University of Liverpool from 1998 to 2007. As the Head of the Power and Control Systems Research Laboratory, her research focuses on power system modeling and control, energy storage integration, and energy-efficient actuators. Her work has led to over 100 journal publications and several industry collaborations, including a smart voltage controller and a clean pneumatic UPS. She led the EPSRC-funded IMAGES project, developing an open-source software tool for energy storage systems. Professor Wang actively contributes to energy storage initiatives, including co-leading the Supergen Energy Storage Hub and the Joint UK-India Clean Energy Centre (JUICE). Her funded projects span compressed air energy storage (CAES), grid-tied photovoltaic inverters, and net-zero engineering innovation. She advises on energy policy and has pioneered innovations in thermal storage, grid decarbonization, and renewable energy integration. Her research bridges academic rigor and practical applications, addressing critical challenges in sustainable energy systems. Her professional engagement includes roles like Deputy Director of the Supergen Energy Storage Network+ and collaborations with global institutions. Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to energy challenges, combining control systems, thermal engineering, and policy analysis. Professor Wang’s contributions have been recognized through best paper awards and leadership in major energy storage consortia.
Christopher Bailey is a Professor of Advanced Semiconductor Packaging and Director of the Centre for Advanced Semiconductor Packaging at Arizona State University (ASU). He previously served as Professor of Computational Mechanics & Reliability and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Greenwich, UK. At ASU, he leads research on advanced semiconductor packaging, including roles as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigator (Co-I) on major projects such as the SRC-funded Thermo-Mechanical Modelling and US Chips Act initiatives (e.g., SWAP-Hub, SHIELD, ITSI). His research focuses on semiconductor packaging reliability, thermal management, co-design methodologies, and multiphysics modeling. Education: MBA (Technology Management), Open University, UK PhD, Thames Polytechnic, UK Research Interests: Advanced Semiconductor Packaging Thermal Management Solutions Co-Design and Multiphysics Modeling Reliability of Electronic Components His work integrates computational mechanics, materials science, and engineering to address challenges in high-reliability electronics. Recent projects emphasize predictive modeling for semiconductor packaging failures under thermal-mechanical stress. Awards: IEEE Region 8 Europe Award (2024) IEEE David Feldman Award (2022) Visiting Professorships at IIT Kharagpur (2018/2022) and Hong Kong (2018) Service & Leadership: Former President of IEEE Electronics Packaging Society (2020–2021) Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging, and Manufacturing Technology Conference Leadership (e.g., Program Chair for IEEE PAINE 2024) He has secured over $40M in research funding and authored 400+ archival papers, with expertise spanning industry collaborations (e.g., BAe Systems, Rolls Royce) and government advisory roles (EPSRC Peer Review College, UK Research Excellence Framework).
Taco Niet is an Associate Professor in the School of Sustainable Energy Engineering at Simon Fraser University. His research focuses on energy systems modelling, energy storage technologies, and climate change mitigation strategies. He holds a Ph.D. (2018), M.A.Sc. (2002), and B.Eng. (1998) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria. His work bridges technical innovation with societal implications, particularly in renewable energy integration and policy design. Teaching specialties include instrumentation systems, control systems, and the intersection of technology and society. Courses taught span undergraduate and graduate levels, including energy policy frameworks and engineering laboratory practices. He actively contributes to open-source energy modelling tools like OSeMOSYS and CLEWs Global, emphasizing transparency and interdisciplinary collaboration. Recent research emphasizes grid flexibility, decarbonization pathways, and equity in energy transitions. Notable projects include analyzing Canadian consumer preferences for zero-emission vehicles and evaluating hydrogen's role in energy storage. His work often involves international collaboration, addressing challenges in both developed and developing regions. Professional affiliations include leadership roles in sustainable energy education and engagement with industry partners. The Delta-E Research Group under his direction focuses on applied energy solutions. Current initiatives explore multiphysics energy systems and policy impacts on land-use patterns.
Rainald Loehner is a Distinguished Professor of Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University's Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics. Since 2003, he has led the Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University. He is currently a Hans Fischer Senior Fellow at the Technical University of Munich's Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS) for 2023, hosted by Professors Kai-Uwe Bletzinger and Roland Wüchner in the 'Adjoint-Based System Identification of Large-Scale Structures' Focus Group. Loehner received his Diplom Ingenieur (Maschinenbau) degree from the Technical University of Braunschweig, and his PhD and a DSc in civil engineering from the University College of Swansea, Wales. After teaching at Swansea for a year, he worked at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC, followed by a research professorship at George Washington University. He joined George Mason University as an associate professor and was promoted to full professor in 1995 and distinguished professor in 2004. With over 35 years of experience, Professor Loehner's research spans the complete pipeline of numerical solvers and simulation tools. His expertise includes pre-processing, grid generation, numerical methods, field solvers, parallel computing, adaptive mesh refinement, fluid-structure interaction, shape optimization, system identification, and computational crowd dynamics. His current work focuses on developing advanced field solvers for compressible and incompressible flows, acoustics, electromagnetic wave propagation, heat and mass transfer, structural mechanics, and fluid-structure interaction. Key application areas include blast mitigation, ship hydrodynamics, blood flow, contaminant transport, and pedestrian safety. Loehner's recent research output (2020-2024) shows a strong trend toward digital twin technology and adjoint-based methods for structural analysis and optimization. His publications focus on high-fidelity digital twins for detecting structural weaknesses, risk assessment in engineering systems, and optimization of sensor placement. His work bridges computational mechanics with machine learning approaches, particularly in system identification and inverse problems, demonstrating how computational methods can solve complex real-world engineering challenges. 2020: Ranked #15119 in the Stanford List of Most Influential Scientists of the World; #8 in Aerospace and Aeronautics 2010: Distinguished International Career Award, Argentine Association of Computational Mechanics 2008: Fellow, International Association for Computational Mechanics 2006: Associate Fellow, AIAA 2005: Honorary Professor, University of Wales Swansea 2005: Advisory Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University 2004: Distinguished Professor of Fluid Dynamics, George Mason University 1999: Computational Mechanics Achievements Award, Japan Society of Mechanical Engineering 1993: Doctor of Science in Civil Engineering, University College of Swansea 1979-1983: Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (Top 1% of German Students) Professor Loehner has mentored numerous students through his work at George Mason University and has supervised research in computational fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, and related fields. His research has been supported by various grants from government agencies and industry partners, enabling the development of advanced simulation tools applied in aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, shock-structure interaction, and medical applications. His codes and methods have been widely adopted in industry and academia for applications ranging from aircraft and ship design to medical simulations and urban pathogen transmission modeling. Loehner leads the Center for Computational Fluid Dynamics at George Mason University, which focuses on developing cutting-edge computational methods for fluid dynamics and related multiphysics problems. The center works on strategic application areas including blast mitigation, ship hydrodynamics, blood flow simulation, and pedestrian movement modeling. As a TUM-IAS Fellow, he collaborates with the Chair of Computational Modeling and Simulation at TUM on adjoint-based system identification of large-scale structures, bringing together expertise in computational mechanics and digital twin technology to address complex engineering challenges.
Arash Nemati is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Energy Conversion and Storage, Technical University of Denmark (DTU). His research focuses on sustainable energy technologies, particularly solid oxide fuel cells, ammonia-fueled systems, and multiphysics modeling of energy conversion processes. He leads and participates in EU-funded projects such as RESCUE and X-SEED, aiming to advance renewable energy storage and green hydrogen production. His work addresses challenges in electrochemical systems, including durability, efficiency, and integration of renewable energy sources. He has received notable recognition, including a Highly-cited Paper award (Web of Science, 2022) and the DAAD Green Hydrogen Research Tour Scholarship (2024). Nemati actively supervises PhD students in areas like co-electrolysis and solid oxide electrolysis cell modeling. His expertise spans thermochemical processes, numerical simulations, and techno-economic evaluations of energy systems. Key projects include developing ammonia-driven reversible solid oxide cells for grid storage and optimizing pyrolysis-electrolysis systems for methanol and char production. His research aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing clean energy and climate action.
Domenico Ferrero is a Fixed-term Tenure-track Assistant Professor at the Department of Energy (DENERG), Politecnico di Torino. His primary role involves advancing research in renewable energy systems, particularly focusing on hydrogen technologies, energy storage, and thermochemical cycles. He contributes to the College of Electrical and Energy Engineering, teaching courses such as Hydrogen Laboratory and Sistemi di accumulo dell'energia elettrica . His research emphasizes experimental and modeling studies on hydrogen production via electrolysis, solar-driven thermochemical cycles, and CO₂ utilization. Key projects include H2SHIFT, HyAcademy.EU, and IMAGHyNE, funded by EU initiatives. Ferrero collaborates internationally on material characterization for protonic ceramic electrolysis cells and sealant development. He supervises multiple PhD students in energy systems and leads the M3ES research group. Publications highlight innovations in solar fuels, redox cycles, and hydrogen-battery hybrid systems. His work bridges fundamental science with applied engineering, targeting sustainable energy solutions for remote and urban environments.
Dr. Markus Piro is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University, specializing in Nuclear Engineering and Energy Systems. He teaches ENG PHYS 3D04, focusing on fission/fusion energy systems, reactor design, and radiation interactions. His research emphasizes thermodynamic modeling of nuclear fuels, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and severe accident analysis in reactors like CANDU and molten salt systems. Key projects include phase equilibrium studies of advanced fuels, corrosion mechanisms, and coupling CFD with thermodynamic simulations for reactor safety. He leads the Nuclear Fuels And Materials Group, developing tools like Thermochimica and collaborating on fuel design, cladding interactions, and accident mitigation strategies. Recent work includes investigations into Nd-C/Ce-C TRISO coatings, molten salt reactor chemistry, and FeCrAl cladding behavior under accident conditions. Dr. Piro’s computational expertise spans reactor hydraulics, thermal-hydraulic modeling, and material compatibility studies. He actively contributes to international initiatives like the TAF-ID database and engages in experimental validation of corium behavior. Current activities include accepting graduate students and advancing multiphysics simulation frameworks for next-gen reactors.
Dr. Srishti Banerji is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Utah State University and Director of the Systems, Materials, and Structural Health (SMASH) Lab. She leads research on advanced construction materials, structural resilience under extreme loads (particularly fire), sustainable infrastructure, and structural health monitoring. Her group focuses on experimental testing, numerical simulations, and developing design solutions for civil infrastructure. Education: PhD in Civil (Structural) Engineering, Michigan State University (2021) MS in Civil (Structural) Engineering, Concordia University (2016) BS in Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Silchar (2013) Research Focus: Her work spans: 1) Characterization of high-performance/sustainable materials (e.g., UHPC, recycled glass pozzolan), 2) Structural behavior under fire exposure, 3) Integration of electric charging systems in concrete pavements, 4) Non-destructive testing and structural health monitoring, and 5) Retrofitting techniques for infrastructure strengthening. She employs machine learning, thermo-mechanical modeling, and full-scale experimentation. Publication Trends: Her 13+ journal articles primarily analyze fire resistance of concrete/timber structures, UHPC material properties at high temperatures, sensor-based infrastructure monitoring, and sustainable material development. Recent works increasingly incorporate machine learning and electrification concepts. Awards & Honors: Teacher of the Year (USU, 2025) ASCE ExCEEd Faculty Teaching Fellowship (2023) Top Cited Article Award, Fire and Materials Journal (2023) SHMII-11 Early Career Grant (2022) NSERC Scholarship (2015) Best Conference Paper (SEC 2016) Current Projects & Teams: She leads 5+ funded projects including fire performance of polymer concrete, self-healing concrete for bridges, and Utah-sourced UHPC development. Mentees include 3 PhD students (Abdullah Al Sarfin, Mehrnoosh Nazari, Mahmoud Ali) and alumni working on sustainable materials and additive manufacturing.
Professor Ahmed F. Ghoniem is the Ronald C. Crane (1972) Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, directing the Center for Energy and Propulsion Research and the Reacting Gas Dynamics Laboratory. He holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. from Cairo University and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on computational methods in fluid-thermal sciences, turbulent combustion, energy conversion systems, and CO2 capture technologies. He has authored over 500 publications and mentored over 100 students, many of whom are leaders in academia and industry. His research interests include multiscale simulations of turbulent reactive flows, clean energy systems, and advanced combustion technologies. He has pioneered work on oxy-fuel combustion, gasification processes, and ion transport membrane reactors. Ghoniem’s contributions span fundamental science and applied engineering, addressing challenges in sustainable energy and environmental sustainability. Honors: ASME James Harry Potter Gold Medal (2015), AIAA Propellant and Combustion Award (2016), Fellowships from ASME, APS, and The Combustion Institute. Service: Leadership roles in MIT’s Energy initiatives, KAUST collaborations, and advisory boards for energy research centers. Extensive contributions to curriculum development and graduate education in mechanical engineering. Labs/Teams: Directs the Reacting Gas Dynamics Lab and leads the Center for Energy and Propulsion Research, focusing on integrated energy systems and CO2 capture innovations.
Dr. Xinyu Huang researches mechanics and durability of functional composites in energy systems at University of South Carolina. Work focuses on PEM/SOFC materials, structural composites, and coatings using experimental and modeling approaches.
