People

Faculty

Matthias Ihme

Matthias is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering, of Photon Science and, by courtesy, of Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford University. Prof. Ihme is a leading researcher in combustion science and propulsion systems, with a focus on developing predictive models for turbulent combustion, energy conversion, and multi-physics simulations. His work aims to enhance understanding and innovation in sustainable energy technologies and high-efficiency propulsion systems.

email | stanford profile | google scholar

Ph.D. Students

Matthew Bonanni
Doctoral Candidate in Mechanical Engineering
M.S. Stanford University, 2021
B.S. Northeastern University, 2019

Matthew’s research interests include large eddy simulation of propulsion systems, reduced-order model development, and high-performance computing. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and watching Formula One.

email | google scholar

Arijit Majumdar
Doctoral Candidate in Mechanical Engineering
M.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, 2020
B.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, 2020

Arijit’s research interest include atomic scale simulations, statistical mechanics and ultrafast X-ray measurement techniques. In his free time, Arijit likes working out and gaming.

email | google scholar

Bassem Akoush
Doctoral Candidate in Mechanical Engineering
M.Sc. Cairo University, 2020
B.Sc. Cairo University, 2018

Bassem specializes in high-fidelity numerical modeling, physics-informed machine learning, and data-driven modeling for fluid mechanics and combustion.

email | google scholar

Khaled Younes
Doctoral Candidate in Mechanical Engineering
M.A.Sc. University of Waterloo, 2021
B.A.Sc. University of Waterloo, 2017

Khaled focuses on integrating machine learning approaches into X-ray scattering experiments to enhance the understanding of underlying chemistry.

email | google scholar

David D. Wu
Doctoral Candidate in Aeronautics & Astronautics
M.S. Stanford University, 2023

David’s research interests lie at the intersection of fluid mechanics and machine learning, with the objective of improving model performance while minimizing compute costs. His work leverages physical principles, fuses multi-modal data, and interprets models to effectively attend to this objective.

email | google scholar

James Hansen
Doctoral Candidate in Aeronautics & Astronautics
M.S. Stanford University, 2023
B.S.E. Arizona State University, 2021

James’ primary research interests include data assimilation, detonations, and high-speed propulsion systems. Outside of lab, he enjoys backpacking and watching single-seater racing.

email

Benyamin Krisna
Doctoral Candidate, Department of Mechanical Engineering
M.S. Stanford University, 2024
B.Sc. RWTH, RWTH Aachen University, 2021

Ben’s research interests revolve around numerical methods for turbulence, multiphase flows, and aeroacoustics. He spends his free time mostly cooking, exploring new food, and lifting weights.

email | google scholar

Beverley Yeo
Doctoral Student in Mechanical Engineering
M.Eng. Nanyang Technological University, 2022
B.Eng. Nanyang Technological University, 2021

Beverley’s research focuses on high-performance computing, aerospace engineering, and numerical methods for turbulent flows. Outside of lab, she enjoys watching soccer and tinkering with computer hardware.

email | google scholar

Blake Andersen
Doctoral Student in Mechanical Engineering
M.S. University of California San Diego, 2024
B.S. University of California San Diego, 2024

Blake’s primary research interests include computational fluid mechanics, reactive flows, and modeling for novel energy production and propulsion systems. In his free time, he enjoys finding new music and exploring the outdoors.

email | google scholar

Sho Wada
Doctoral Student in Mechanical Engineering
M.S. Kyoto University, 2024
B.S. Kyoto University, 2022

Sho’s primary research interests include the development of numerical algorithms for real fluid flows and higher-order numerical methods. Outside of lab, he plays golf and enjoys skiing and playing Call of Duty.

email | google scholar

Shivansh Chaturvedi
Doctoral Student in Mechanical Engineering
B.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi, 2023

Shivansh works on combustion diagnostics and ammonia-hydrogen blends. He loves photography and enjoys cooking.

email | google scholar

Yuxuan Li
Doctoral Student in Mechanical Engineering
B.S. Tsinghua University, 2024
B.E. Tsinghua University, 2024

Yuxuan’s research focuses on X-ray physics and data analysis. Outside of the lab, he enjoys soccer, classical music and movies.

email

Postdoctoral Fellows

Guillaume Vignat
Postdoctoral Scholar in Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D., Universite Paris-Saclay, 2020
Diplôme d’Ingénieur, Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, 2016

Guillaume focuses on developing novel combustor concepts for carbon-free fuels like ammonia and hydrogen, with a strong emphasis on fuel flexibility. His current research centers on two main areas: matrix-stabilized flames in open-cell ceramic foams and the active control of combustion using reinforcement learning. Additionally, Guillaume is engaged in fire safety research, specifically investigating fires caused by liquid fuel leaks in high-temperature enclosures.

email | google scholar

Haoyuan Li
Postdoctoral Scholar in Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D. Stanford University, 2022
B.S. Stanford University, 2016

Haoyuan’s research focuses on hard X-ray optics, nanoscale dynamics in disordered materials, and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy to advance the understanding of material behaviors.

email | google scholar

Karl Toepperwien
Postdoctoral Scholar in Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D. CentraleSupélec, Université Paris-Saclay 2022
M.S. RWTH Aachen University, 2017
B.S. RWTH Aachen University, 2015

Karl’s primary research interests include simulation and modeling of wildfires, multi-phase flows in jet-engine combustors, and reduced-order modeling and sampling of pollutant emissions in the atmosphere. Outside of lab, he enjoys surfing and playing beach volleyball .

email | google scholar

Jingcun Fan
Postdoctoral Scholar in Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D. University of Science and Technology of China, 2020
B.E. East China University of Science and Technology, 2015

Jingcun’s primary research interests include supercritical fluids and molecular dynamics simulations. Outside of lab, he enjoys exploring diverse cuisines.

email | google scholar

Jen Zen Ho
Postdoctoral Scholar in Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D. Melbourne, 2023
M.S. Melbourne, 2017
B.S. Melbourne, 2015

Jenzen’s primary research interests include sustainable fuels, computational reactive flows, and applying machine learning techniques in these areas. Outside of lab, he enjoys hiking and boardgames.

email | google scholar

Taekeun Yoon
Postdoctoral Scholar in Mechanical Engineering
Ph.D. Seoul National University, 2023
B.S. Seoul National University, 2017

Taekeun’s research focuses on using X-ray diagnostics to investigate molecular dynamics for sustainable energy applications. In his free time, he enjoys hiking in the mountains.

email | google scholar

Rotation, Visiting, and Undergraduate Students

Ryan Finley
Masters Student in Mechanical Engineering

Ryan works on direct combustion noise in premixed flames. He is interested in rocket and jet propulsion and works on the Stanford Space Initiative’s Propulsion team.

email

Elinor Tandberg
Undergraduate Researcher

Elinor works on porous media combustion of hydrogen and methane mixtures. Outside of lab, she enjoys running and painting.

email

Krissh Chawla
Undergraduate Researcher

Krissh is an undergraduate student studying computer science and mathematics. He is passionate about numerical methods and machine learning algorithms with applications to fluid dynamics and fire modeling. He spends his free time reading sci-fi and going on hikes.

email

Alumni

The first position after graduation is indicated.

2024

• Davy Brouzet, Post-Doc
• Pushan Sharma, Post-Doc, Principal Product Engineer at Cadence Design Systems
• Priyanka Muhunthan, PhD
  • Investigating the structure and dynamics of supercritical fluids using X-ray techniques and atomistic-scale simulations
• Nguyen Ly, PhD
  • Modeling and analyses of complex high-pressure multispecies phase-exchange phenomena
• Wai Tong Chung, PhD
  • Overcoming small datasets in machine learning studies of multi-physics flows in propulsion
• Yichi Ma, M. Sc.
• Ryan Chen, M. Sc.
• Parker Mayhew, M. Sc.

2023

• Filip Simeski, PhD, Thermal Engineer at Apple
  • Molecular simulations of adsorption, phase behavior, and reactivity in subsurface fluid-solid systems
• Jack Guo, PhD, Post-Doc at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • Study of wall-bounded turbulent heat transfer and flow dynamics at transcritical conditions

2022

• Emeric Boigne, PhD
  • Study of wildfire and biomass combustion physics using X-ray computed tomography
• Thorsten Zirwes, Post-Doc
• Steven Brill, PhD, Post-Doc at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • An enriched-basis high-order method for wall-modeled large eddy simulation
• Narendra Singh, Post-Doc, Post-Doc at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Danyal Mohaddes, PhD, Senior Research Scientist at FM Global
  • Numerical simulation of hot surface ignition and combustion of fuel sprays

2021

• Alexander Späh, Post-Doc
• Eric Ching, PhD, Researcher at Naval Research Laboratory
  • Development of high-order discontinuous Galerkin methods for simulations of high-speed particle-laden fluid flows
• Changxiao Shao, Post-Doc, Assistant Professor at Harbin Institute of Technology

2020

• Quentin Douasbin, Post-Doc, Postdoctoral Fellow at CERFACS

2019

• Alireza Ostadhossein, Post-Doc, Battery Cell Engineer at Rivian
• Sadaf Sobhani, PhD, Post-Doc at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • Computational and experimental investigation of flow and combustion physics in porous media
• Dong Li, Post-Doc
• Michael Dodd, Post-Doc, Physics Software Engineer at Private Division

2018

• Qing Wang, PhD, Software Engineer at Google
  • A regularized deconvolution method for large-eddy simulations of multiphase reacting flows
• Pavan Govindaraju, M. Sc.
• Jeff Labahn, Post-Doc, Simulation Development Engineer at Avametric
• Thomas Jaravel, Post-Doc, Researcher at CERFACS
• Hao Wu, PhD, Senior Software Engineering at Cruise Automation
  • Numerical simulations of turbulent reacting flows with finite-rate chemistry and combustion-model adaptation
• Peter Ma, PhD, Software Engineer at Google
  • Modeling of turbulent mixing and combustion at transcritical conditions

2017

• Kevin Grogan, PhD, Project Engineer at ATA Engineering
  • Modeling and simulation of non-ideal combustion
• Muralikrishna Raju, Post-Doc
• Daniel Thomas Banuti, Post-Doc, Senior Research Scientist at Cascade Technologies Inc.
• Jared Dunnmon, PhD, Post-Doc in Computer Science at Stanford University
  • Development of X-ray absorption diagnostics for gas-phase reacting flows
• Jeffrey O’Brien, PhD, Research Scientist at Cascade Technologies Inc.
  • Hybrid modeling of engine core noise
• Jeonglae Kim, Post-Doc, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University

2016

• Luca Magri, Post-Doc, Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow at University of Cambridge
• Lucas Esclapez, Post-Doc, Researcher at CERFACS
• Wai Lee Chan, PhD, Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University
  • A higher-order flamelet model for turbulent combustion simulations
• Yu Lv, PhD, Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University
  • Embedded entropy concept for fluid dynamic simulations with discontinuous Galerkin scheme

2015

• Benedetta Giulia Franzelli, Post-Doc, CNRS researcher at Laboratoire EM2C, École Centrale Paris
• Aymeric Vié, Post-Doc, Assistant Professor at École Centrale Paris
• Mehdi B. Nik, Post-Doc, Data Scientist at Omniscience
• Yuntao Chen, PhD, Combustion Technology Engineer at Siemens Power and Gas
  • Investigation of partially premixed combustion instabilities through experimental, theoretical, and computational methods

2014

• Jean-Pierre Hickey, Post-Doc, Assistant Professor at University of Waterloo
• Yee Chee See, PhD, Research Engineer at Convergent Science Inc.
  • Analysis of hydrodynamic instabilities and combustion dynamics in turbulent reacting flows

2012

• Sean Torrez, co-advised PhD, Principal Engineer at Physical Sciences Inc.
  • Design refinement and modeling methods for highly-integrated hypersonic vehicles

2009

• Emre Sozer, co-advised PhD, Principal Engineer at Siemens
  • Modeling of gaseous reacting flow and thermal environment of liquid rocket injectors

Past visitors

• Abhishek Pillai, Kyoto University (2024)
• Timoteo Dinelli, Politecnico di Milano (2024)
• Younghwa Cho, Hokkaido University (2024)
• Nozomu Hashimoto, Hokkaido University (2023)
• Hiroshi Terashima, Hokkaido University (2023)
• Alvin Lee, Stanford University (2022)
• Ethan Li, Stanford University (2020)
• Haiyue Li, Peking University (2019)
• Jili Wei, Tsinghua University (2019)
• Nikolaos Perakis, Technical University of Munich (2019)
• Wenwen Xie, Tsinghua University (2019)
• Zhilong Cheng, Xi’an Jiaotong University (2018)
• Jackie Chan, Stanford University (2017)
• Xinyi Huang, Tsinghua University (2017)
• Alessandro Stagni, Politecnico di Milano (2015)
• Michael Evans, University of Adelaide (2015)
• Milan Pelletier, Ecole Centrale Paris (2014)
• Franziska Hunger, TU Freiberg (2013)