(6ew) Fluid Mechanics of Two-Phase Flows: Concentrated Suspension of Non-Spherical and Deformable Particles

Multiphase flows are present in many industrial, environmental, and biomedical applications including the flow of crude oil, the dispersion of smokestack plumes, and the movement of cells in the human body. The presence of the second phase has a marked effect on the fluid mechanical behavior of the mixture. The current understanding of multiphase flows is considerably less developed than their single-phase counterparts, and many phenomena still need to be studied. The focus of my research program is the investigation of the behavior of multiphase flows and the study of the underlying physics involved at different flow conditions. In particular, I am interested in the experimental study of suspensions in Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, mixtures with high solid concentrations, and flows of deformable and non-spherical particles.

My complementary research experience in pilot-scale equipment, microfluidics, and multiphase flows uniquely enables me to develop a research program at the macro and micro scale with applications ranging from biomedicine to environmental and industrial processes. Specific areas of interest include the characterization of blood flow, and its response to disease, which may aid in the development of mechanical valves used in heart surgery; measurements of the radial distribution and flow of red blood cells in capillaries, for the development of point-of-care diagnostic tools for diseases like malaria and sickle cell; and the determination of two-phase coupling of deformable particles in dense pipe flow for the development of mathematical models for fiber flow in industrial plants. The overarching goal is to provide further insight into the interaction between phases and how this affects the flow mechanics in different regimes. To develop this research program, I will leverage my work to date that includes solid-liquid and liquid-liquid flows in a wide variety of experimental configurations including turbulent pipe flows, fluidized beds, and droplet-based microfluidics.

Teaching Interests:

I have been inspired by great professors throughout my scientific education. It is my goal to encourage students in that same way. I have been involved in teaching and mentoring since my undergraduate years. During my graduate studies, I engaged in recitation responsibilities in addition to the required duties for teaching assistants. I have also taken formal training to teach in the STEM disciplines, including a course on “College Science Teaching” at University of Michigan, and the yearlong course “Institute for Development on Engineering Faculty” at University of Florida. Throughout my teaching and mentoring endeavors, I plan to incorporate inclusive teaching techniques to promote an effective learning environment. I am comfortable teaching any undergraduate course in the Chemical Engineering curriculum, and I am especially interested in the fluid and heat transport, transport phenomena, and introduction to chemical engineering courses. In addition, I hope to develop specialty courses on particulate flow, data analysis, and multiphase flow at both graduate and undergraduate level.