Jonathan Winghong Luk is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Stanford University. His research focuses on nonlinear partial differential equations, general relativity, and mathematical physics, with a particular emphasis on gravitational wave dynamics, shock formation, and high-frequency spacetime solutions. Contact: Email: jluk@stanford.edu Office: 382-Z, Building 380, Stanford, CA 94305 Research Trends: His recent publications examine nonlinear wave equations on dynamic spacetimes, gravitational phase mixing, impulsive gravitational wave interactions, and stability of black hole interiors. He frequently collaborates with experts like C. Huneau, S.-J. Oh, and J. Speck. Academic Activities: Luk organizes the Analysis and PDE seminar at Stanford with Eugenia Malinnikova and Ryan Unger. He has developed lecture notes on nonlinear wave equations and Fourier analysis, complemented by example sheets.
Mauro Bambi is an Associate Professor at Durham University Business School and an Associate Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies. His research focuses on Macroeconomic Theory, Endogenous Growth, Habit Formation, and Behavioral Economics. He earned his PhD from the European University Institute (2007) and held positions at ETH Zurich and the University of York. He directs the Centre for Macroeconomic Policy (CEMAP) and has been recognized with the 2008 Italian Association of Applied Mathematics award for his PhD thesis. Education: PhD in Economics (European University Institute, 2007); Postdoctoral Fellowships at Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium) and ETH Zurich (Switzerland). Research Interests: Macroeconomic Theory and Policy Design Endogenous Growth and Fluctuations Habit Formation in Economic Models Behavioral Economic Preferences Mathematical Methods in Macroeconomics Key Contributions: His work on habit formation models, time-to-build frameworks, and policy design has influenced macroeconomic theory. Recent studies analyze post-COVID demand shifts and pandemic economic impacts. Awards: 2008 Graduate Prize for Best PhD Thesis (Italian Association of Applied Mathematics). Advising and Leadership: Supervised PhD students like Federico Bertoni and Xinyi Xu. Directed CEMAP from 2019–2022, fostering macroeconomic policy research. Active in interdisciplinary collaborations at the Institute of Advanced Studies. Labs/Teams: Leader of CEMAP, collaborating with global institutions on macroeconomic policy analysis.
Dr. Krishnan Mahesh is a Professor at the University of Michigan with joint appointments in Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. He serves as Director of the Center for Naval Research and Education and leads the Computational Fluids Laboratory, where he develops advanced numerical methods for simulating multi-physics turbulent flows. Education: Ph.D. (1996), M.S. (1990) from Stanford University, B.Tech (1989) from IIT Bombay Leadership: Director, Center for Naval Research and Education (2022-present) His research focuses on high-fidelity simulations of turbulent flows with applications in marine propulsors, multiphase systems, cavitation, hydroacoustics, superhydrophobic surfaces, biofouling, fluid-structure interaction, and flow stability. His group develops the MPCUGLES software for unstructured grid simulations on parallel computing platforms. Recent work examines cavitation dynamics , tip vortex flows , and roughness-induced transition in complex marine and aerospace systems. His 15 most recent articles demonstrate expertise in LES/DNS of multi-physics flows, with emphasis on marine propulsion, bubble collapse, and turbulent noise prediction. Scientific Honors: 2021 AIAA Best Paper Award 2018 Fulbright Scholar 2017 Marine Propulsors Symposium Best Paper 2011 APS Fellow 2010 Taylor Award for Distinguished Research He mentors numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, with collaborative projects spanning jet in crossflow analysis, gas turbine simulations, and shock-turbulence interactions. His research receives funding from ONR, NSF, and international naval programs.
Prof. Dr. Nikolaus A. Adams is a full professor and Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Engineering and Design. Born in 1963, he holds a doctorate from TUM (1993) and habilitation from ETH Zurich (1999). His research focuses on numerical methods, turbulent flows, microfluidics, and multiphase systems. He has held leadership roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering since 2023 and Vice Dean (2015–2016). Education: PhD from TUM (1993), habilitation from ETH Zurich (1999) Research interests include aerodynamics, fluid-structure interaction, and numerical techniques for compressible flows. His work spans high-speed aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Awards include ERC Advanced Grants (GENUFASD 2023, NANOSHOCK 2015), the Gordon Bell Prize (2013), and Fellow of the American Physical Society (2011). Grants and leadership: Spokesperson of DFG SFB/TRR 40 (2008–2020), co-author of 'Large-Eddy Simulation for Compressible Flows' (2009), and editorial roles in J. Comput. Phys.
Kenneth McLaughlin is the Evelyn and John G. Phillips Distinguished Chair in Mathematics at Tulane University's School of Science & Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. and B.A. in Mathematics from New York University (1994 and 1989). Prior to Tulane, he served as faculty at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, the University of Arizona, Universidade Federal de Brasília, and Colorado State University, where he also held leadership roles as Department Head and Chair. His research focuses on integrability, applying techniques across mathematics to study complex systems and phenomena. He has held visiting positions at institutions worldwide, including France, Italy, Brazil, Belgium, and the UK. McLaughlin’s research spans integrable systems, nonlinear dynamics, and asymptotic analysis. His work often involves the Riemann-Hilbert problem approach, orthogonal polynomials, and random matrix theory. Notable contributions include studies on soliton gases, the KdV equation, and universality in quantum operator dynamics. His recent articles explore topics such as asymptotic behavior of polynomials, soliton gas condensation, and hydrodynamic limits in integrable systems. McLaughlin’s academic career is marked by interdisciplinary collaboration and international research engagement.
Joseph Bentsman is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Grainger College of Engineering. He also holds affiliate appointments in the Department of Aerospace Engineering (since 2015) and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (since 2018). His academic journey began with an M.S. from Byelorussian Polytechnic Institute in Minsk, USSR (1979), followed by a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (1984). Professor Bentsman's research focuses on control of nonlinear and distributed parameter systems, nonlinear oscillations, network control, stability theory, and stochastic multiscale methods. He pioneered a new class of dynamical systems with active singularities that admit control actions during singular phases of motion, which represent a novel category of hybrid systems characterized by impulsively controlled discrete transitions. His recent work has expanded into biomedical applications, particularly thermophysical modeling of tissue during electrosurgery and control of phase change processes. His recent publications (2021-2024) reveal a strong trend toward biomedical applications of control theory, particularly in modeling heat conduction in biological tissues, electrosurgical processes, and phase change phenomena. Approximately 60% of his recent work focuses on biomedical applications, while the remainder continues his foundational work on nonlinear control systems, distributed parameter systems, and systems with active singularities. Key subfields include Stefan problems, enthalpy-based control, telegraph equation modeling, and PDE-based control of complex physical processes. NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award (1989) Life Fellow of American Society of Mechanical Engineers Life Senior Member of IEEE IEEE Control Systems Society Technical Committee Chair on Power Generation (2015-2019) International Society of Automation POWID Achievement Award (2014) 2018 AIST Computer Applications Best Paper Award Featured in 'People in Control', IEEE Control Systems Magazine (2018) Professor Bentsman has been instrumental in developing educational approaches that integrate signal processing, instrumentation, control, and machine learning, as evidenced by his two textbooks. His work on the steel continuous casting process, particularly the mold oscillation system, has led to practical industrial applications. He has also made significant contributions to power plant control systems and boiler/turbine control. His research group appears to focus on both theoretical control systems development and practical implementation in industrial and biomedical settings, with strong connections to steel manufacturing, power generation, and medical device industries.
Professor Omar Matar is a Professor of Fluid Mechanics and RAEng/PETRONAS Research Chair in Multiphase Fluid Dynamics at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. He leads the Matar Fluids Group, focusing on interfacial fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and applications in energy, manufacturing, and nanotechnology. His roles include Head of Department of Chemical Engineering, Director of the PETRONAS Centre for Engineering of Multiphase Systems (PETCEMS), and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Engineering Mathematics. Education: PhD in Chemical Engineering, Princeton University (1993) MEng Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London (1989) Research Interests: Interfacial fluid mechanics, multiphase flows, CFD, and machine learning 2D materials exfoliation and scale-up, immersive technologies (AR/VR) Applications in energy systems, nanotechnology, and personalized education Awards: Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (2020) Recipient of the Imperial College President’s Medal (2020) EPSRC Programme Grant Principal Investigator (MEMPHIS, PREMIERE) Grants & Projects: MEMPHIS: £5M EPSRC-funded Programme Grant (2012–2017) PREMIERE: EPSRC Programme Grant (2019–present) PETCEMS: PETRONAS-funded Centre for Multiphase Systems Engineering Labs & Collaborations: Leads the Matar Fluids Group, collaborating with institutions like UCL, University of Edinburgh, and industry partners such as BP and First Light Fusion. Active in developing high-performance CFD codes (e.g., BLUE) and machine learning-driven models for multiphase systems.
Nuno Loureiro is an Associate Professor at the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT, with a secondary appointment in the Physics Department. He obtained his PhD in Physics from Imperial College London in 2005 and held postdoctoral positions at Princeton University and the UK’s Culham Centre for Fusion Energy before joining MIT in 2016. His research focuses on plasma physics , particularly theory and simulations of astrophysical and laboratory plasmas , including magnetic reconnection, turbulence, and kinetic effects. His work bridges classical plasma dynamics with emerging quantum computing applications. The 15 most recent publications highlight advancements in quantum algorithms for plasma simulations , magnetic reconnection mechanisms , and turbulence dynamics across relativistic and non-relativistic plasmas. Topics include plasmoid-mediated inverse energy transfer, data-driven fluid closures, and ion-acoustic instability impacts. 2015 Thomas H. Stix Award (American Physical Society) NSF CAREER Award
Paul D. Asimow is the Eleanor and John R. McMillan Professor of Geology and Geochemistry at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), part of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University (1991), an M.S. (1993), and a Ph.D. (1997) from Caltech. His career progression includes roles as Assistant Professor (1999–2005), Associate Professor (2005–2010), and Professor (2010–present), with the McMillan Professorship since 2016. Education: A.B. in Geology, Harvard University, 1991 M.S. in Geology, Caltech, 1993 Ph.D. in Geology, Caltech, 1997 Research Interests: Focuses on computational, experimental, and observational approaches to igneous petrology and mineral physics. Key areas include adiabatic mantle melting, water's role in mantle dynamics, high-pressure mineral physics, and processes at mid-ocean ridges. His research utilizes advanced facilities like the Lindhurst Laboratory of Experimental Geophysics and the alphaMELTS software package for thermodynamic modeling. Articles Overview: Recent work spans planetary crust formation, Martian petrogenesis, and high-pressure mineral behavior. Themes include experimental techniques, computational modeling, and cosmochemical studies of meteorites. Awards and Honors: James B. Macelwane Medal (AGU) Frank Wigglesworth Clarke Medal (Geochemical Society) Richard P. Feynman Prize for Teaching Excellence (Caltech) Fellow of the American Geophysical Union Fellow of the Mineralogical Society of America Grants and Labs: Received NSF funding for developing an interactive phase equilibria curriculum. Leads the Lindhurst Laboratory, focusing on shock-wave experiments and high-pressure mineral physics. Collaborates on software tools like alphaMELTS and MAGMASOURCE. Labs and Teams: Active in the Caltech Shock Wave Laboratory, advancing experimental methods for planetary material studies. Engages in interdisciplinary projects on Mars geology and terrestrial planet formation.
Oscar P. Bruno is a Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He holds a Licenciado from the University of Buenos Aires (1982) and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from New York University's Courant Institute (1989). Since 1998, he has been a Professor at Caltech, previously serving as Associate Professor (1995–98) and Executive Officer for Applied Mathematics (1998–2000). His research focuses on developing high-performance numerical methods for solving partial differential equations (PDEs), addressing challenges in complex geometries, singularities, and high-frequency phenomena. Key contributions include the Fourier Continuation (FC) method and integral-equation techniques, enabling solutions to previously intractable PDE problems in science and engineering. Prof. Bruno's expertise spans computational electromagnetics, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), solid mechanics, and mathematical physics. His work integrates numerical analysis, multiphysics modeling, and computational science to solve real-world problems in geophysics, optics, and fluid dynamics. He has received numerous awards, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences of Argentina (2020), the Vannevar Bush National Security Science and Engineering Fellowship (2016), and SIAM Fellow (2013). Bruno serves on editorial boards for journals like SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing and SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics, and participates in national science advisory roles. His teaching includes advanced courses on applied mathematics methods (ACM/IDS 101 ab), emphasizing theoretical foundations and numerical techniques for PDEs. His research group develops cutting-edge solvers with applications in shock dynamics, optical tomography, and geophysical fluid dynamics.
Naresh N. Thadhani is a Professor and Chair of Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech, with an adjunct role in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on shock-induced material changes, high-strain-rate mechanics, and dynamic compaction of powders. He leads a lab equipped with advanced facilities like gas guns and laser-accelerated systems for studying impacts up to 1200 m/s. Education: Ph.D., New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (1984); M.S., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (1981); B.E., University of Rajasthan, India (1980). Research interests include shock compression of metals/ceramics, phase transformations in metallic glasses, and structural energetic materials. His work combines experimental diagnostics (e.g., VISAR, photonic Doppler velocimetry) with computational modeling (CTH/ALE3D codes). Key awards: APS Fellow (2007), ASM International Fellow (2000). Editorial roles include Associate Editor of Shock Waves and Key Reader for Metallurgical and Materials Transactions . Lab & Group: A team of 1 postdoctoral fellow, 11 PhD students, and 3 undergraduates. Over 30 graduates to date. Active in advisory roles for national/international conferences and industrial consultancies. Future work emphasizes nanocomposite magnets and meso-scale modeling of heterogeneous materials under shock.
Guglielmo Scovazzi is a Professor at Duke University with appointments across multiple departments including the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, and as Professor of Mathematics. His interdisciplinary research bridges computational mechanics, scientific computing, and engineering applications. Dr. Scovazzi earned his B.S/M.S. in aerospace engineering (summa cum laude) from Politecnico di Torino (Italy), followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. Prior to joining Duke, he was a Senior Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories' Computer Science Research Institute. His research focuses on developing advanced numerical methods for computational mechanics, particularly finite element methods for fluid and solid mechanics. Key areas include multiphase porous media flows, computational methods for materials under extreme conditions, turbulent flow computations, and instability phenomena. His work emphasizes creating accurate computational approaches that reduce design/analysis costs for complex engineering problems involving fluid-structure interactions and transient phenomena in complex geometries. Dr. Scovazzi's most significant recent contribution is the development of the Shifted Boundary Method, an innovative computational framework that enables efficient simulations on complex geometries without requiring boundary-fitted meshes. This method has found applications in geomechanics, energy systems, and resilient infrastructure design. Kavli Fellow, National Academy of Sciences & Kavli Foundation (2018) Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), White House (2017) Early Career Award, U.S. Department of Energy, Advanced Scientific Computing Research Program (2014) Dr. Scovazzi teaches multiple courses in computational mechanics including Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis and Introduction to the Finite Element Method. His research has been supported by substantial federal funding, and he actively collaborates across disciplines to address challenging problems in energy, environment, and infrastructure resilience through advanced computational methods.
Yuri Bazilevs is the E. Paul Sorensen Professor of Engineering at Brown University's School of Engineering and Co-Director of the Mechanics of Undersea Science and Engineering Center. His research focuses on computational mechanics, isogeometric analysis, fluid-structure interaction, and high-performance computing. Prior to Brown, he held positions at UC San Diego, where he advanced to Full Professor in 2014 after a rapid tenure. He earned his PhD in 2006 and postdoc training in computational engineering at UT Austin's ICES. Research interests span computational fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and advanced discretization methods like isogeometric analysis (IGA) and meshfree approaches. He has developed novel formulations for complex phenomena such as underwater explosions, composite material failure, and hypersonic flow dynamics. His work integrates cutting-edge numerical methods with practical engineering applications in aerospace, energy, and biomedical systems. Recent publications highlight advancements in IGA for architected materials, RKPM-based crack modeling, and stabilized formulations for compressible flows. His contributions bridge theoretical mechanics with computational innovation, addressing challenges in multiphysics coupling and large-scale simulations. Collaborations span academia and industry, emphasizing practical validation and real-world impact. Bazilevs' expertise includes variational multiscale methods, peridynamics for fracture mechanics, and immersive particle methods for fluid-structure interaction. His work has been applied to wind turbine aerodynamics, gas turbine optimization, and cardiovascular flow analysis. He actively contributes to computational infrastructure development, such as the tIGAr software framework for IGA automation.
Prof. Dr. Beat Hintermann is a Professor of Public Finance at the University of Basel's Faculty of Business and Economics (WWZ). His research focuses on public sector economics with particular emphasis on climate policy and mobility behavior. Hintermann leads empirical research using GPS tracking data to study transportation choices and the effectiveness of pricing mechanisms to encourage sustainable mobility options. His research interests span several interconnected areas: public sector economics, climate policy design, transportation economics, and environmental economics. He investigates how pricing mechanisms can influence individual behavior to reduce environmental externalities, with special attention to sustainable mobility solutions like e-biking. His work often combines economic theory with rich empirical analysis of real-world data, particularly examining the intersection of environmental policy and individual decision-making. Hintermann's recent publications reveal a strong focus on empirical mobility studies, particularly through the MOBIS dataset that tracks mobility behavior in Switzerland. His research shows how transport pricing can effectively promote e-biking and reduce negative externalities. He has also conducted significant work on carbon pricing mechanisms, emissions trading systems, and the impacts of climate policies on economic behavior. His work during the pandemic period examining mobility changes provides valuable insights into how external shocks affect transportation choices. Hintermann's research methodology is characterized by rigorous empirical analysis, often employing field experiments and large-scale GPS tracking data to measure behavioral responses to policy interventions. His work on Pigovian transport pricing represents an important contribution to understanding how economic instruments can be designed to address environmental externalities in the transportation sector. As part of the University of Basel's Faculty of Business and Economics, Hintermann contributes to research centers focused on sustainable development and environmental economics. His work bridges academic research with practical policy applications, providing evidence-based insights for policymakers designing effective environmental and transportation policies.
Kareem Ahmed is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and a faculty member of the Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research. He leads research in advanced propulsion and energy systems, focusing on high-speed turbulent combustion, detonations, and hypersonic technologies. His work includes groundbreaking projects in detonation-based propulsion for hypersonic flight and power generation, supported by over $17 million in grants from NASA, AFOSR, and DOE. Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University at Buffalo (SUNY) B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University Research Interests: Ahmed’s expertise spans detonation dynamics, supersonic reacting flows, flow-flame control, and advanced laser diagnostics . His team explores innovations like rotating detonation engines (RDEs) and scramjet combustion systems, with applications in aerospace defense and space exploration. Awards and Recognition: AIAA Associate Fellow American Chemical Society Doctoral New Investigator Award AFOSR Summer Faculty Fellowship UCF Trustee Chair (2025–2030) Grants & Advising: PI of over $17M in research funding; mentors 145+ doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students. Collaborates with industry leaders like GE, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and Pratt & Whitney. Labs & Teams: Director of UCF’s Center of Excellence in Hypersonic and Space Propulsion, advancing technologies for 15-minute transcontinental flight and clean rocket fuels.
