(6dh) Experimental Fluid Dynamics for Advanced Materials and Biological Systems

Experiments investigating fundamental transport phenomena are the foundation for my past and present research, and they are my primary interest and focus for future research. I have conducted experiments in fluid dynamics in different areas of science and technology including biological systems, advanced materials, and materials processing. During my doctoral work I investigated the properties of lignocellulosic biomass from a rheological perspective. The fluid and mechanical properties of biomass are still of great interest to those processing biomass to biofuels and other bioproducts, and much work remains to link the physiochemical structure of biomass to its rheological properties. My postdoctoral work has focused on transport phenomena in fluid-fluid interfaces like those found in foams, emulsions, and biological membranes. In this area there is enormous opportunity to advance knowledge in synthetic biology by characterizing the fluid and mechanical properties of synthetic cell membranes with microrheological techniques. Most recently I have investigated a novel processing technique for advanced materials called fractal structuring. The technique involves a confined, multi-component flow through a simple but uniquely designed mold of iterative baker’s transformations that results in highly structured composites of co-continuous phases with potential applications in photovoltaics, fuel cell membranes, and gas separations. Fluid dynamics simulations and experiments are required here to fully exploit the technique and design the next generation of fractal structuring molds. In this presentation I will highlight important results from my past and present research and indicate where additional investigations of fundamental transport phenomena in each area hold promise for future discoveries.