Johnny Guzmán is a Professor of Applied Mathematics at Brown University, specializing in numerical analysis of partial differential equations and scientific computing. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Cornell University (2005) and a B.S. in Mathematics from California State University, Long Beach (1999). His research focuses on numerical methods for PDEs, including discontinuous Galerkin methods, mixed finite element methods, and fluid-structure interaction problems. Key contributions include work on hybridizable and mixed finite element methods, discontinuous Galerkin discretizations, and stability analysis of numerical schemes. He has been funded by multiple NSF grants, including a Postdoctoral Fellowship (2005–2008) and awards totaling over $1M in research support. Notable recognitions include the Comfort and Urry Family Fund Prize (2013). Guzmán collaborates with institutions globally and serves on editorial boards for journals like Journal of Numerical Mathematics and Calcolo . His teaching spans computational linear algebra, numerical methods for differential equations, and finite element analysis.
Ian Frigaard is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia (UBC), affiliated with the Faculty of Applied Science. He also holds an appointment in the Department of Mathematics. His research group operates in UBC's Complex Fluids Lab, focusing on interdisciplinary studies combining mathematical, experimental, and computational approaches. Education: B.Sc. (University of Wales) M.Sc. (University of Oxford) D.Phil. (University of Oxford) C.Math. (Certificate in Mathematics) Research Interests: Professor Frigaard specializes in non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, particularly the mechanics of visco-plastic (yield stress) fluids. His work addresses industrial challenges in petroleum engineering, including well cementing, leakage prevention, and abandonment techniques related to GHG emission control and environmental protection. Research methodologies span theoretical modeling, experimental validation, and computational simulations. Publication Trends: Recent work (2021–2023) emphasizes bubble dynamics in complex fluids, displacement flows in annular geometries, wellbore integrity modeling, and stochastic risk assessment for oil/gas operations. Publications frequently appear in top-tier journals like the Journal of Fluid Mechanics and Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics . Awards & Honors: CSME Fluid Mechanics Medal (2024) Stanley G. Mason Award, Canadian Society of Rheology (2022) Killam Research Prize, UBC (2019) Academic Leadership: Leads a research group of 10+ graduate students and postdocs. Provides summer internships and collaborates extensively with the petroleum industry. Research is supported by industrial partnerships and institutional grants. Facilities: Conducts experiments in UBC's Complex Fluids Lab, equipped for advanced rheological measurements and flow visualization.
Mohamed Amara is a full-time Professor at the University of Pau and the Pays de l'Adour (UPPA) since 1996, affiliated with the Laboratory of Mathematics and their Applications (CNRS-UMR 5142). He served as its director (1999-2007), Director of the Doctoral School of Exact Sciences (ED211, 2007-2008), and UPPA's Scientific Council Vice-President (2008-2012). He has been UPPA's President since 2012 (re-elected until 2020). Education: Mathematics from University of Algiers (1973), Pierre and Marie Curie University (DEA 1974, Doctorate 1978, State Doctorate 1983) Academic Roles: Research Associate at Ecole Polytechnique (1978-1982), Algerian Electricity and Gas Company (1983-1992), Professor in Algiers (1988-1994), Tunis (1994-1995), and Associate Professor at Paris 6 (1995-1996) His research focuses on numerical simulation of partial differential equations for environmental/energy applications, including mechanics in porous media (petroleum engineering, geoscience), fluid mechanics (aerodynamics, estuarine hydrodynamics), non-Newtonian flows, and wave propagation. Articles highlight expertise in discontinuous Galerkin methods, Helmholtz problems, finite element discretization, and multiphysics systems. He managed 20 doctoral theses and led national mathematics programs at ANR (2007-2011). He chairs the Cocktail association for higher education IT systems and collaborates with INRIA's Magique 3D team (since 2006).
Manuel Del Pino is Professor at the University of Bath's Department of Mathematical Sciences and Royal Society Professor specializing in nonlinear partial differential equations. His research focuses on singularity formation, geometric evolution equations, and asymptotic analysis in fluid dynamics and mathematical physics. His investigations encompass blow-up phenomena in heat equations, vortex dynamics in Euler flows, and minimal surface theory. Current projects examine infinite-time singularity formation in parabolic equations and asymptotic properties of vortex configurations. Del Pino has received the Royal Society Professorship and leads multiple grants including 'Asymptotic patterns in nonlinear evolution problems' (EPSRC). He maintains collaborations with researchers globally through projects on singularity formation in PDEs.
Freddy Bouchet is a Directeur de Recherche at CNRS and a Professeur attaché at École Normale Supérieure de Paris (ENS-PSL). His work bridges mathematical physics, climate science, data science, and statistical mechanics , focusing on turbulent flows, climate extremes, and large deviation theory . He will lead the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD) starting 2025. Research Themes : Statistical mechanics of geophysical flows (Jupiter's jets, ocean currents). Large deviation theory for rare events in turbulence and climate. Non-equilibrium phase transitions in atmospheric/oceanic systems. Ensemble inequivalence in systems with long-range interactions. Scientific Awards : Three Physicists Prize Collaborations : Tapio Schneider, Antoine Venaille, J. Laurie, O. Zaboronski, B. Dubrulle, A. Venaille. Labs & Teams : Climate and Statistical Mechanics group at ENS de Lyon Future director of Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (LMD/IPSL) Publications span climate dynamics, turbulence, statistical mechanics, and large deviation theory , with applications to Jupiter's atmosphere, ocean vortices, and non-equilibrium systems . His work often challenges paradigms like Tsallis non-extensive statistics.
Prof. Dr. Christian Breitsamter is a Professor at the Technische Universität München (TUM), leading the Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics within the TUM School of Engineering and Design. He has held this position since 2007 and has been a member of key committees such as the ICAS Programme Committee and STAB-Programmleitung. His research focuses on aerodynamics of aircraft and rotorcraft configurations, including vortex dynamics, aeroelasticity, and fluid-structure interaction. Education: PhD in Aerodynamics (1997) Master’s in Aerospace Engineering (1989) Research Interests: Prof. Breitsamter’s work spans experimental and numerical studies of high-agility aircraft, helicopter aerodynamics, and advanced wing designs. Key areas include leading-edge vortices, gust load mitigation using flexible wings, and flow control techniques. His group investigates cutting-edge topics like deep learning for buffet prediction and hybrid neural networks for aerodynamic modeling. Awards: Willy Messerschmitt Preis (1999) AIAA Associate Fellow (2007) Advising & Grants: While specific student names are not listed, his research involves collaborative projects with industry partners (e.g., RACER Compound Helicopter) and EU initiatives like the FURADO program. His team contributes to the NFDI4ING infrastructure for engineering data. Labs/Teams: Active in the Aerodynamics Wind Tunnel facilities (Windkanäle A/B/C) and leads the SAGITTA flying wing demonstrator project. His group also explores membrane wings and elasto-flexible morphing technologies.
Mikaela Iacobelli is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at ETH Zürich. During the 2024-25 academic year, she was a von Neumann Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Previously, she held faculty positions at Durham University and a research fellowship at the University of Cambridge. Her educational background includes: PhD in Mathematics from Sapienza University of Rome and École Polytechnique in Paris (2015) Master's degree from Sapienza University of Rome (2012) Bachelor's degree from Sapienza University of Rome (2009) Mikaela's research lies at the interface of analysis, kinetic theory, and statistical mechanics. She studies partial differential equations that model the collective behavior of many-particle systems, with a focus on Vlasov-type plasmas and gravitational dynamics. Her current projects range from quasineutral and singular-limit problems for Vlasov-type systems to quantization of measures, ultrafast diffusion, and gradient-flow structures that link microscopic particle models to macroscopic fluid descriptions. She makes extensive use of PDEs techniques, optimal transport, probability, calculus of variations, and Riemannian geometry in her work. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on Vlasov-type equations, particularly examining quasineutral limits, stability properties, and connections to other physical systems like Euler equations and magnetohydrodynamics. She has made significant contributions to understanding Landau damping, quantization problems on manifolds, and the mathematical foundations of plasma physics. Her notable scientific awards include: SNSF Starting Grant (Swiss ERC) Challenges and Breakthroughs in the Mathematics of Plasmas (2025-2030) von Neumann Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton (2024-2025) Invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematical Physics (2021) CO-PI of the Germaine de Staël Funding Program for French-Swiss cooperation (2021-2023) L'Oréal prize for Women in Science (2015) Mikaela actively mentors postdocs, PhD, Master's, and Bachelor's students. Her current mentees include postdocs Dennis Chemnitz, Rishabh Gvalani, Stefano Rossi, and Simon Becker, as well as PhD students Thérèse Moerschell, Ata Deniz Aydin, and Antoine Gagnebin. She has served as PI for the Starting Research Grant from the University of Rome Sapienza and is currently the PI for the SNSF Starting Grant. She co-organizes several academic seminars including the Zurich Colloquium in Mathematics, the PDE and Mathematical Physics seminar at ETH Zürich and UZH, and the Analysis Seminar. She also serves on various committees including as Chair of the European Mathematical Society Committee for Women in Mathematics.
Phillip J. Ansell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), affiliated with the Grainger College of Engineering. He directs the Center for Sustainable Aviation and the Center for High-Efficiency Electrical Technologies for Aircraft. His academic positions include Assistant Professor (2015–2021) and current role as Associate Professor since 2021. He teaches courses such as AE 416 (Applied Aerodynamics), AE 419 (Aircraft Flight Mechanics), and AE 515 (Wing Theory). Education: BS, The Pennsylvania State University, Aerospace Engineering, 2008 MS, UIUC, Aerospace Engineering, 2010 PhD, UIUC, Aerospace Engineering, 2013 Research Interests: Focuses on applied aerodynamics, sustainable aviation, distributed propulsion, flow control, and aircraft electrification. His work integrates experimental fluid mechanics and computational models to advance aviation sustainability. Key projects include hydrogen propulsion systems, cryogenics in aviation, and unsteady aerodynamics for rotorcraft. Research Contributions: Authored/co-authored books like Aircraft Cryogenics (Springer, 2024). His articles address sustainable aviation frameworks, hydrogen-electric propulsion, and high-lift aerodynamics. Recent trends emphasize decarbonization pathways and system-of-systems analysis. Awards & Honors: Dean's Award for Excellence in Research (2025) NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Fellow (2025) AIAA Associate Fellow (2024) Forbes 30 Under 30 (2016) Advising & Grants: Advises graduate students on propulsion and aerodynamics. Secured grants from AFOSR, ARO, and NASA. Active in AIAA committees, including Electrified Aircraft Technology Technical Committee (Chair, 2020–2023). Labs & Teams: Leads the Aerodynamics and Unsteady Flows Research Group, using UIUC’s wind tunnel facilities. Collaborates on projects like the Five Circles of Sustainable Aviation framework and cryogenic propulsion systems.
Thomas Yizhao Hou is the Charles Lee Powell Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology, where he has served as a faculty member since 1998 and as Executive Officer of Applied and Computational Mathematics from 2000-2006. His research spans fundamental mathematical problems with significant implications for fluid dynamics and computational science. Hou received his B.S. in Mathematics from South China University of Technology in 1982, followed by an M.S. in 1985 and Ph.D. in 1987 from UCLA under the supervision of Prof. Bjorn Engquist. His academic journey includes positions at the Courant Institute and the Institute for Advanced Study before joining Caltech. Hou's research focuses on multiscale analysis and computation, interfacial problems, stochastic PDEs and uncertainty quantification, and the Millennium Problem concerning global regularity of 3D incompressible Euler and Navier-Stokes equations. His work on adaptive data analysis has led to significant methodological innovations. His research is characterized by the integration of rigorous mathematical analysis with computational approaches to tackle problems that have resisted traditional methods. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on singularity formation in fluid equations, particularly the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations, with increasing sophistication in analyzing potential blowup scenarios. His work spans theoretical analysis, numerical verification, and the development of innovative mathematical frameworks for multiscale problems. Member of the National Academy of Sciences (2024) William Benter Prize in Applied Mathematics (2024) SIAM Ralph E. Kleinman Prize (2023) SIAM Outstanding Paper Prize (2018) Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (2012) Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2011) Hou has served in significant editorial roles including Founding Editor-in-Chief of the SIAM Journal on Multiscale Modeling and Simulation and Co-Editor-in-Chief of Research in Mathematical Sciences. His professional service includes membership on the SIAM Council and leadership roles at the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications. His research has been supported by numerous grants focusing on multiscale modeling, fluid dynamics, and computational mathematics.
Peter Schroeder is the Shaler Arthur Hanisch Professor of Computer Science and Applied and Computational Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He holds a B.S. from the Technical University of Berlin (1987), M.S. from MIT (1990), M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University (1992–1994). His academic roles at Caltech include Assistant Professor (1995–1998), Associate Professor (1998–2001), Professor (2001–2013), and Hanisch Professor since 2013. He served as Division Deputy Chair (2012–2015) and Acting Director of the Center for Advanced Computing Research (2013–2014). Schroeder’s research focuses on numerical algorithms for computer graphics, geometric modeling, and physical simulation. His work emphasizes Discrete Differential Geometry, rebuilding classical differential geometry for computational applications. Key areas include cloth deformation, fluid dynamics, and vortex simulations. Notable contributions include 'Schrödinger’s smoke' and fluid visualization techniques using Clebsch maps. His publications span ACM Transactions on Graphics and address topics like constrained Willmore surfaces, filament-based plasma models, and shape reconstruction from metrics. He has received the ACM Fellowship and Best Paper in Geometry Processing Award. His research often bridges computational mathematics with artistic and engineering challenges, such as simulating ink chandeliers and solar flares. Schroeder’s academic leadership includes co-founding the ACM SIGGRAPH Academy and mentoring students like James R. McLaughlin and Yanke Song, both recipients of the Henry Ford II Scholar Award.
Pascale Biron is a Professor in the Department of Geography, Urban Planning and Environment at Concordia University, Montreal. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from Université de Montréal (1995) and has been with Concordia since 1998. Her research focuses on river dynamics, stream restoration for fish habitat, flood modeling, and climate change impacts. She specializes in hydrogeomorphology, river management in agricultural watersheds, and numerical modeling of fluvial processes. Research Interests: Her work includes river restoration strategies, flood risk assessment using LiDAR technology, and the 'river freedom' concept promoting ecosystem resilience. She collaborates closely with government agencies to translate research into practical river management policies. Professional Affiliations: Canadian Geomorphology Research Group, Canadian Association of Geographers, American Geophysical Union, GRIL (Limnology Research Group), and RIISQ (Quebec Flood Risk Network). Publications & Research: Recent studies address global salmonid biomass patterns, fluvial hazard detection via machine learning, and large-scale flood modeling. She supervises 19 graduate students in Ph.D./M.Sc. programs in Geography and Environmental Studies, focusing on topics like river confluence hydraulics and agricultural stream restoration. Grants & Funding: Active projects include river dynamics in fish habitats, flood modeling for road infrastructure vulnerability, and computational fluid dynamics simulations of river flows. She also leads research on societal dimensions of river restoration and policy frameworks for flood resilience.
Jeffrey Guasto , Associate Professor at Tufts University, holds joint appointments in the School of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) and School of Arts and Sciences (Physics & Astronomy). His work bridges engineering, physics, and biology to study transport properties in complex systems. Ph.D., Engineering (2009), Brown University Sc.M., Engineering (2004), Brown University Dual B.S. in Physics and Mechanical Engineering (2003), Lehigh University Research Interests focus on: Biophysics : Flagellar mechanics, chemotaxis, cell-fluid interactions Soft Matter : Active suspensions, colloids, viscoelastic materials Microfluidics : Device design for cell motility studies and gradient generation Environmental Transport : Microbial ecology in porous systems Scientific Trends from his 77+ publications show emphasis on microscale fluid dynamics, bacterial transport mechanisms, and viscoelastic flow instabilities. His 2024 Nature Microbiology work reveals phage-infected bacteria driving marine chemotaxis, while 2023 PNAS research explores stress topology in viscoelastic flows. Scientific Awards : NSF CAREER Award (2016) for cell dispersal mechanisms Collaborative NSF grants (2015-2023) Advising includes mentoring 15+ students and postdocs. His grants portfolio features 9+ awards, notably NSF grants for viral-microbe interactions (2018) and flagellar mechanics (2020). Labs & Teams : Leads the Guasto Laboratory at Tufts, integrating microfluidics and high-speed imaging for studying microbial transport, while collaborating with MIT, Harvard, and international institutions.
Amine MEHEL is a Research Professor at ESTACA's Mechanics and Environment Center (MSCE) since 2010, specializing in air quality and pollution control in transport systems. His work bridges experimental and numerical studies of turbulent flow interactions with pollutants and nanoparticles. Research Axes : CQA (Characterization of Air Quality) and EDP (Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Pollutants) Key Projects : CEPARER (2022-2025), AmCoAir (2020-2023), CAPNAV (2019-2022), CAPTIHV (2015-2018) His expertise includes experimental facilities like wind tunnels, PIV/LDV measurements, and CFD simulations using Eulerian-Lagrangian approaches. He supervises PhD students and coordinates teaching projects like PIRATE and PRI. Recent publications focus on ultrafine particle dispersion in vehicle wakes, brake emissions in underground stations, and cabin air quality characterization.
Bo Zhu is an Assistant Professor in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on computational approaches for complex physical systems, including fluid dynamics, topology optimization, and robotics control. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and completed postdoctoral research at MIT CSAIL. He has been recognized with the NSF Career Award (2022) and multiple best paper awards at SIGGRAPH conferences. Education: B.E.-M.S., Software Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Ph.D., Computer Science, Stanford University Postdoc, EECS, MIT Research Interests: Develops numerical algorithms and machine learning techniques to simulate fluidic systems, soft materials, and multi-scale phenomena. His work emphasizes vorticity preservation, real-time simulation, and physics-based AI integration. Key Contributions: Pioneered Particle Flow Map (PFM) methods for fluid simulation, developed open-source libraries like SimpleX and PFM Hub, and contributed to projects like Genesis physics engine. Over 50 peer-reviewed publications in top venues (SIGGRAPH, NeurIPS, IEEE TVCG). Awards: NSF Career Award (2022) Best Paper Honorable Mention (SIGGRAPH 2025) Best Paper Award (SIGGRAPH Asia 2024) Grants & Projects: Leads NSF-funded research on Physical AI Design, collaborating with Sandia National Labs on real-time CFD solvers. Active in open-source software development for computational physics and graphics.
Dr. Sajjad Bigham is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University and serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Michigan Technological University. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and directs the Energy-X Lab (Energy eXploration Laboratory), which focuses on high-impact research in energy science and technology. His research interests encompass: Advanced thermal management solutions including microscale heat transfer, boiling/condensation phenomena, and interfacial transport Energy-efficient systems for HVAC&R, desalination, and clean water production Development of micro/nano-engineered materials and devices for energy conversion/storage Sorption-based gas management and multiphase systems under extreme conditions Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on thermal management innovations (45%), sustainable energy systems (30%), and advanced materials applications (25%). Dominant themes include heat transfer enhancement techniques, energy-efficient appliance design, desalination technologies, and microscale phase-change phenomena, with increasing emphasis on additive manufacturing approaches. Dr. Bigham leads the Energy-X Lab research group, which tackles high-risk, high-reward problems across four thrust areas: Terrestrial and space life support systems Advanced thermal management Clean energy production Clean water supply The lab's mission is to improve energy efficiency, reliability, and economy across defense, environmental, and energy sectors.
