Director
Noel T. Clemens
Clare Cockrell Williams Centennial Chair in Engineering
Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
clemens@mail.utexas.edu
Post Docs / Research Staff
Dr. Dan Fries, Research Associate
PhD, Georgia Tech
dan.fries@austin.utexas.edu
Research Topic: DOE PSAAP Plasma Torch Validation Experiments
Grad Students
Yoo-Jin Ahn
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Korea
yoojinahn@utexas.edu
Research Topic: Hypersonic Flow-Structure Interaction
Co-supervisor: Jayant Sirohi
Hayden Bilbo
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
University of Texas at San Antonio
haydenbilbo@utexas.edu
Brianna Blocher
B.S.E. Aerospace
Arizona State University
bblocher@utexas.edu
Co-supervisor: Jayant Sirohi
Ben Diaz-Villa
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
University of Houston
benji99@outlook.com
Co-supervisor: Jayant Sirohi
Dillon Ellender
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Louisiana State University
dillon.ellender@austin.utexas.edu
Research topic: ICP torch experimental validation
Hudson Finnamore
B.S. Aerospace Engineering
Letourneau University
finnamoreh@gmail.com
Research Topic: High-temperature materials response
Co-supervisor: Philip Varghese
Greyson Kale
B.S. Aerospace Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin and the von Karman Institute (Belgium)
gmlkale@gmail.com
Research Topic: High-temperature ablation
Isha Mukherjee
B.Tech. Aerospace Engineering
IIT Bombay
Research Topic: Turbulent ammonia/hydrogen flames
Spenser Stark
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
Rowan University
sstark@utexas.edu
Research Topic: Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy in a plasma torch
Co-supervisor: Philip Varghese
Alex Sterzing
B.S. Aerospace Engineering
Wichita State University
alexsterzing8@gmail.com
Research Topic: Plasma torch materials response
Co-supervisor: Philip Varghese
Technical Staff
Jeremy Jagodzinski, Ph.D.
Engineering Scientist Associate
jags@mail.utexas.edu
Chris Madden
Technical Staff Assistant IV
Current Collaborators
Prof. Fabrizio Bisetti, UT Austin
Prof. Carlos Cesnik, University of Michigan
Prof. Chris Combs, University of Texas at San Antonio
Prof. Datta Gaitonde, The Ohio State University
Dr. Joe Koo, UT Austin
Prof. Amanda Masino, Huston Tillotson University
Prof. Robert Moser, UT Austin
Prof. Jayant Sirohi, UT Austin
Prof. Engin Topkara, Huston Tillotson University
Prof. L. Raja, UT Austin
Prof. Philip Varghese, UT Austin
Prof. Karen Willcox, UT Austin
Alumni
PhD Students and Post Docs
Dr. John Murray (PhD student, graduated August 2024)
Dissertation title: “Laser-Induced Fluorescence Measurements of Gas-Phase Species, Density and Temperature for Plasma-Torch Ablation of Graphite”
Currently Post doctoral fellow at Sandia National Labs
Dr. Sina Rafati (PhD student, graduated 2021)
Dissertation title: “Experimental Study of Turbulent Jet and lifted Jet Flame Unsteadiness from a Non-Linear Dynamics Perspective”
Currently Artificial Intelligence R&D Technologist at The Boeing Company
Dr. Leon Vanstone (post doc / research associate, 2014-2020)
Research topics: 3D shock/boundary layer interactions, scramjet isolator control, high-speed diagnostics
Currently CEO, VerdeCode
Dr. Benton Greene (PhD student, graduated 2018)
Dissertation title: “Simulation of Pyrolysis Gas in a Charring Ablative Thermal Protection Material Using Gas Injection through a Porous Graphite Sample”
Currently at Jacobs, NASA Johnson Space Center
Dr. Rakesh Ranjan (PhD student, graduated 2018)
Dissertation title: ““Flame-flow interaction during premixed and stratified swirl flame flashback in an annular swirl combustor”
Currently at Esgee Technologies, Austin, TX
Dr. Heath Reising (PhD student, graduated 2017)
Dissertation title: “Application of Spontaneous Raman Scattering for Measurements of Thermal Non-equilibrium in High-Speed Mixing and Combustion”
Currently at HX5, LLC
Dr. Dominik Ebi (PhD student, graduated 2016)
Dissertation title: “Boundary Layer Flashback of Swirl Flames”
Currently at the Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland
Dr. Okjoo Park (Post doc, 2014-2016)
Research topic: Kr PLIF, LII, PIV diagnostics in sooting flames
Currently at California Air Resources Board, Sacramento, CA
Prof. Chris Combs (PhD student, graduated 2015)
Dissertation Title: “Quantitative Measurements of Ablation-Products Transport in Supersonic Turbulent Flows Using Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence”
Currently, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at San Antonio
Dr. Ross Burns (PhD student, graduated 2014)
Dissertation Title: “Development of Scalar and Velocity Imaging Diagnostics for Supersonic Hypermixing Strut Injector Flowfields”
Currently at NASA Langley Research Center
Dr. Oliver Buxton (Post-doc 2011-2013)
Research topic: Kr PLIF in turbulent sooting flames
Currently, Senior Lecturer
Imperial College London, UK
Dr. Kevin Marr (PhD student, graduated 2011)
Dissertation Title: “Investigation of Acoustically Forced Non-Premixed Jet Flames in Crossflow”
Currently Research Scientist at The University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Zachary Murphree (PhD student, graduated 2010)
Dissertation Title: “Physics of Unsteady Cylinder-Induced Transitional Shock Wave / Boundary Layer Interactions”
Currently at Concept Laser, Inc.
Prof. Venkateswaran Narayanaswamy (PhD student, graduated 2010)
Dissertation Title: “Investigation of a Pulsed Plasma Jet for Separation Shock / Boundary Layer Interaction Control
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Dr. Justin Wagner (PhD student, graduated 2009)
Dissertation Title: “Experimental Studies of Unstart Dynamics in Inlet/Isolator Configurations in a Mach 5 Flow”
Currently at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Dr. Mirko Gamba (PhD student, graduated 2009)
Dissertation title: “Volumetric PIV and OH PLIF Imaging in the Far-Field of Nonpremixed Jet Flames”
Currently, Associate Professor, Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Dr. Bharathram Ganapathisubramani (Post doc, 2004-2006)
Currently, Professor
University of Southampton, UK
Dr. Pablo Bueno (PhD student, graduated 2006)
Dissertation title: “The Effects of Upstream Mass Injection by Vortex Generator Jets on Shock-Induced Turbulent Boundary Layer Separation”
Currently Southwest Research Institute
San Antonio, TX
Dr. Michael Ryan (PhD student, graduated 2006)
Dissertation title: “The Interaction of an Electrothermal Plasma with JA2 Solid Propellant”
Currently Airbreathing Propulsion Technology Manager
Aerojet-Rocketdyne, West Palm Beach Florida
Dr. Lakshminarasimhan, Krishna (PhD in ME, graduated 2006)
Co-Supervised with Prof. O.A. Ezekoye, ME
Dissertation title: “Characterization of strongly forced non-premixed methane jet flames”
Currently Research Engineer – Applied Combustion lab
GE Global Research, Bangalore, India
Dr. Isaac Boxx (PhD student, graduated 2005)
Dissertation title: “The Effects of Buoyancy on Turbulent Nonpremixed Jet Flames in Crossflow”
Currently at DLR-German Aerospace Center, Stuttgart, Germany
Dr. Guanghua Wang (PhD student, graduated 2004)
Dissertation title: “Two-Point High Repetition Rate Measurements of Temperature and Thermal Dissipation in a Turbulent Non-premixed Jet Flame”
Currently Post at General Electric Global Research Center
Niskayuna, New York
Cherian A. Idicheria (PhD student, graduated 2003)
Dissertation title: “Investigation of Buoyancy Effects on Turbulent Nonpremixed Jet Flames
by using Normal and Low-Gravity Conditions”
Currently at Diesel Engine Systems Group
Powertrain Systems Research Lab, Michigan
Yongxi Hou, (PhD student, 2003)
Dissertation title: “Particle Image Velocimetry Study of Shock Induced Turbulent Boundary Layer Separation”
Currently Aeroacoustics Engineer at Exa Corporation
O. Haldun Unalmis (Post doc, 1996-2002)
Currently Application Engineer – eProduction Solutions
22001 North Park Drive
Kingwood, Texas 77339, U.S.A.
Steve Beresh (PhD student, graduated 1999)
Dissertation title: “The Effect of the Incoming Turbulent Boundary Layer on a Shock-Induced Separated Flow Using
Particle Image Velocimetry”
Currently at Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM
Jason E. Rehm (PhD student, graduated 1999)
Dissertation title: “The Effects of Heat Release on Turbulent Nonpremixed Planar Jet Flames
Michael S. Tsurikov (PhD student, graduated 2002)
Dissertation title: “Experimental Investigation of the Fine Scale Structure in Turbulent Gas-Phase Jet Flows”
Currently at Freescale, Austin, TX
Jong-Uk Kim (Post doc, 1998-1999)
Research topic: Electrothermal pulsed plasma jets
Currently Research Professor
Sungkyunkwan University
Seoul, Korea
James M. Kohel (Post doc, 1997)
Research topic: Electrothermal pulsed plasma jets
Lester K. Su (Post Doc, 1995-1997)
Research topic: Fine-scale mixing in turbulent jet flows
Currently at Stanford University
MS Students
Blake Lisby, M.S. 2023
Serdar Seckin, M.S. 2018
Mohammad Saleem, M.S. student 2016-2018
Bryan Lochman, M.S. 2010
Sumeet Trehan, M.S. 2009
Agustin Valdivia, M.S. 2008
David Liu, M.S. 2004
Joe Whiteaker, M.S. 2003
Egbert Hood II, M.S. 2003
Prashanth S. Kothnur, M.S. 2002
Roderick Austin, M.S. 2001
Mark Comninos, M.S. 1998
Rebecca L. Martin, M.S. 1997
Stephen C. Chan, M.S. 1996
Eric R. Lachney, M.S. 1995
Thomas Sanders, M.S. 1995
Michael F. Smith, M.S. 1995