Biofluids & Flow Diagnostics Laboratory

North Dakota State University

Welcome

Thanks for visiting the webpage of the BIOFLOW Lab at North Dakota State University. The PI is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering.

Our research interests include experimental fluid dynamics and advanced optical flow diagnostics with multidisciplinary applications. Our current research focuses are 1) cardiovascular flow and mathematical modeling; 2) wind turbine aerodynamics; 3) microfluidics for three-dimensional cell culture and drug screening; 4) multiphase flow experimentation.

Please visit the research page for more details

If you are interested in using our new Research Ultrasound System for biomedical, fluid flow, and material NDE research, please click here

Contact

Office: Dolve 101E

Mailing Address:

Dept 2490, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Phone : (701)231-9217

Fax: (701)231-8913

Email: yan.zhang.4@ndsu.edu

Yan Zhang, Ph.D.

Curriculum Vitae

PhD Position

Our lab is recruiting one PhD student in experimental fluid dynamics, advanced flow diagnostics (optical measurements, PIV, ultrasound), and biofluid mechanics with emphasis on cardiovascular flow research.

Candidates must hold at least a B.S. in Mechanical, Aerospace, Biomedical Engineering, or a related field; preference will be given to applicants with an M.S. degree and hands-on experience with experimental fluid measurement equipment (PIV systems, lasers/optics, flow loops, sensors, or ultrasound).

To apply, please email a single PDF with your CV, (unofficial) transcripts, a brief statement of research interests, and contact information for 2–3 references to Dr. Yan Zhang at yan.zhang.4@ndsu.edu.

(Updated on July 15, 2026)

RECENT NEWS & UPDATES

07/2026 [Grant] Our lab has received funding through the NSF INTERN program to support M.S. student Colten Alme in an industry research internship at CorVent Medical. Colten’s internship will place our work in cardiovascular and respiratory flows directly alongside cutting-edge ventilator technology, reflecting our lab’s commitment to student-centered research, industry collaboration, and robust career development. We are proud of Colten for earning this opportunity and grateful to NSF and CorVent for investing in the next generation of fluid mechanics and biomedical engineering talent!
06/2026 [Graduation] Congratulations, Nafis Saad Resan, for his successful M.S. Thesis defense, titled "INVESTIGATION OF MULTIPHASE DROP FORMATION AND TRANSPORT IN DEFORMABLE VESSELS". Congrats, Mr. Resan!
06/2026 [Graduation] Congratulations, Sifat Karim Chowdhury, for his successful Ph.D. dissertation defense, titled "EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF FLOW CHARACTERISTICS AND TURBULENCE TRANSITION IN PHYSIOLOGICALLY RELEVANT HELICAL VESSELS". It has been an incredible academic journey and this is a significant milestone. Congrats, Dr. Chowdhury!
06/2026 [Publication] Our recent work, “Experimental Analysis of Particle-Laden Flow and Erosion Mitigation in a 90-Degree Elbow Using Guide Vanes” has been published and selected as a featured article (Scilight) in International Journal of Fluid Engineering.
05/2026 [Publication] Our recent work, "Experimental investigation of laminar-to-turbulent transition in helical tubes under steady and pulsatile flow" has been published in Physics of Fluids. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0316833
05/2026 [Award] Dr. Yan Zhang has been selected as the as the recipient of the 2026 College of Engineering's Schoessow Excellence in Teaching Award!
03/2026 [Grant] Our proposal "Acquisition of a Portable High-Speed PIV System for Interdisciplinary Research at NDSU" has been awarded by the NDSU RCA Small Equipment Program. We appreciate the University's support for acquiring this important equipment to facilitate interdisciplinary research and cross-department collaborations!
01/2026 [Publication] Our recent work, "On the correlation between particle dynamics and erosion pattern in pipe bends: Insights via numerical simulation" has been published in AIP Advances. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0308264
12/2026 [Graduation] Mr. William Fish has completed his M.S. research paper and graduated with a M.S. in BME. Congratulations and best of luck for your future career!
11/2026 [Presentation] Mr. Sifat Karim Chowdhury, Nafis Saad Resan, and Colten Alme presented our research findings from ongoing NSF, NASA, and NIH projects in the APS DFD 2026 Annual Conference. Well done!
11/2025 [Publication] Our recent work, "Experimental Analysis of Collapsible Tube Dynamics in Pulsatile Flow Conditions " has been accepted for publication in Journal of Fluids and Structures. https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1m4zN3AMrTOU8s
07/2025 [Presentation] Our recent research "Experimental Investigation of Neutrally Buoyant Immiscible Drop Dynamics in Collapsible Vessel," Technical Paper Publication: FEDSM2025-158577 has been presented in ASME FEDSM 2025, in Philadelphia, PA, July 27-30, 2025
07/2025 [Presentation] Our recent research "Experimental Study of Turbulence Transition Thresholds in Physiologically Relevant Helical Flows," Technical Paper Publication: FEDSM2025-158696 has been presented in ASME FEDSM 2025, in Philadelphia, PA, July 27-30, 2025
01/2025 [Grant] In collaboration with the Vanderbilt University and The California Medical Innovations Institute (CalMI2), our project "The pulmonary visceral pleura (PVP) aortic valve" has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The project aims to investigate the characteristics of material, hemodynamics, fluid-structure interaction, and biocompatibility of a novel PVP tissue-based aortic valve, which will potentially benefit tens of thousands of patients who need Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedures. [Project# 1R01HL171506-01A1]
12/2024 [Grant] In collaboration with Dr. Yechun Wang, our project "Multiphase Fluid Transport in Hyperelastic Tubes: A Combined Experimental-Computational Approach for Space Physiology" has been funded by the NASA EPSCoR Pilot Grants Program
11/2024 [Presentation] Our recent research "Experimental Investigation of Immiscible Liquid Drop Dynamics in a Collapsible Tube", first authored by Nafis Resan, has been presented at APS DFD 77th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
11/2024 [Presentation] Our NSF-sponsored study "Characterization and Scaling of Pulsatile Helical Flow: An Experimental Investigation" has been presented by Sifat Chowdhury at APS DFD 77th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
08/2024 [Grant] We received grants from the National Science Foundation "MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of A Research Ultrasound System for Multidisciplinary Flow and Fluid-Structure Interaction Studies". The project funds the acquisition of an advanced ultrasound platform for collaborative research in fluid and material science at North Dakota State University (NDSU). [Award# 2407388]
07/2024 [Presentation] Our study, "An Experimental Study of Pulsatile Flow and Structural Dynamics in a Thin-Walled Collapsible Vessel," has been presented in the ASME 2024 Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting (FEDSM2024), Anaheim, CA, July 15-17, 2024
06/2024 [Defense] Mr. Imtiaj Nahin Ahmed has successfully defended his M.S. thesis "EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF EROSION AND SOLID PARTICLE DYNAMICS IN GAS GATHERING PIPELINE ELBOWS" and will be graduating the summer of 2024. Congratulations, Imtiaj!
06/2024 [Publication] Our recent work, "An experimental study of fluid–structure interaction and self-excited oscillation in thin-walled collapsible tube." has been accepted for publication in Physics of Fluids. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0211227
03/2024 [Defense] Mr. Sifat Karim Chowdhury has successfully defended his M.S. thesis "FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTION OF STEADY AND PULSATING FLOW THROUGH A COLLAPSIBLE THIN-WALLED VESSEL " and will be obtaining his M.S. degree by in May, 2024 and continuing his Ph.D. journey. Congratulations, Sifat!
01/2024 [Grant] Our group received grants from the National Science Foundation (CBET) to conduct a three-year research project "Understanding Pulsatile Helical Flow: Scaling, Turbulence, and Helicity Control". The project aims to investigate scaling laws, turbulence onset thresholds, and novel helicity control for pulsatile flow with broad applications in biomedical flows [Award# 2342571]
01/2024 [Outreach] The PI (Zhang) and graduate student Sifat Chowdhury delivered a lesson and hands-on activities, "Harvesting Energy from the Wind", for middle-/high-school tribal students at Cankdeska Cikana Community College, as part of the NATURE Sunday Academy outreach program. [More Details].
11/2023 [Presentation] Our research, "Experimental Investigation of Solid Particle Dynamics and Erosion in Gas Gathering Pipeline Elbows," has been presented in the 76th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, Washington D.C., November 20, 2023
11/2023 [Presentation] Our research, "Investigating Self-Excited Oscillation in Pulsating Thin-Walled Elastic Vessels," has been presented in the 76th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, Washington D.C., November 21, 2023
02/2023 [Presentation] Sifat Chowdhury is one of the six finalists in the NDSU 2023 Three-Minute-Thesis competition. Congratulations, Sifat! The video of the final competition will be updated here.

Archived News

11/2022 [Presentation] Our research, "Fluid-Structure Interaction of a Collapsible Thin-Walled Vessel under Steady and Pulsatile Flow Conditions," has been presented in the 75th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, Indianapolis, IN, November 20, 2022
08/2022 [Publication] Our research paper, "Evolution of Vortex Structures in An Open Deep Cavity under Pulsatile Flow Conditions: An Experimental Study" has been accepted for publication in Physics of Fluids. You may download the online before-proof version here https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0111653
06/2022 [Graduation] Jennifer Schmeling successfully defended her Master's Thesis. Congratulations, Jennifer!
03/2022 [Publication] Our research paper, "Experimental and Computational Study of Pulsatile Flow Characteristics in Romanesque and Gothic Aortic Arch Models" has been published in Medical Engineering & Physics. You may download our paper at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1350453322000340?dgcid=author
02/2022 [Grant] Our DURIP project, "High-Speed Volumetric Measurement System for Spatially and Temporally Resolved Flow and Surface Measurements” by Jordi Estevadeordal (PI), Yildirim Bora Suzen (Co-PI), Yan Zhang (Co-PI), has been selected for funding by US Office of Naval Research (ONR), $521,340, for the period of 3/2022 – 2/2023.
11/2021 [Invited Talk] An invited talk, entitled "Multiscale Studies of Cardiovascular Hemodynamics: System-Level Modeling and In Vitro Quantitative Flow Visualizations" was given to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University.
11/2021 [Presentation] Our research, "Fluid Dynamics of the Human Left Atrium under Simulated Normal and Atrial Fibrillation Conditions: A in vitro Tomographic PIV Study," has been presented in the 74th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, Phoenix, AZ, November 22, 2021
11/2021 [Funding] Our DoD equipment project, "SCIENTIFIC-GRADE WIND TUNNEL FOR NDSU ADVANCED UNSTEADY AERODYNAMICS RESEARCH ", by Jordi Estevadeordal (PI), Yildirim Bora Suzen (Co-PI), Yan Zhang (Co-PI), William John Refling (Co-PI) has been selected for funding by US AFOSR, $171,753, for the period of 2/2022 – 1/2024.
10/2021 [Funding] Our project, "Development of corrosion/erosion threat assessment methodologies and enriched preventive and mitigative measures to promote safety of gas gathering pipelines ", by Dr. Zhibin Lin (PI), Dr. Trung Le (Co-PI), and Dr. Yan Zhang(Co-PI), has been selected for funding by US DOT, $377,830, for the period of 10/2021 – 09/2023.
09/2021 [Invited Talk] An invited seminar, entitled "Numerical Modeling and In Vitro Experimental Studies of Cardiovascular Hemodynamics" was given to the Department of Engineering, East Carolina University.
09/2021 [Publication] Our Paper "Experimental study of a newly developed dual-purpose solar thermal collector for heat and cold collection”co-authored by Rui Miao, Xiaoou Hu, Yan Zhang, Mark Wood, Gaylord Olson, Yao Yu. “ has been accepted for publication Building and Environment, 252, 1 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111370
06/2021 [Graduation] Ruihang Zhang successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation. Congratulations, Dr. Ruihang Zhang
11/2020 [Presentation] Our research, "Characteristics of Pulsatile Flow Through Deformed Aortic Arch Models: A Tomographic PIV and CFD Study," has been presented in the 73rd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, Virtual, November 22-24, 2020
11/2020 [Presentation] Our research, "Pulsatile Flow Characteristics in Left Atrial Appendage under Normal and Atrial Fibrillation Flow Conditions: An Experimental Study" has been presented in the 2020 Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Virtual, October 14-17, 2020
10/2020 [Funding] Our project, "Jugular Venous Blood Stasis in Microgravity: An integrated study of Pulsatile flow-vein-valve interaction", has been selected for NASA EPSCoR awards for the period of 10/2020 – 09/2021.
10/2020 [Funding] Our Equipment Acquisition Project, "Acquisition of A Portable Laser Doppler Velocimetry System for Multidisciplinary Research and Teaching Activities at NDSU", has been selected for ND EPSCoR awards for the period of 10/2020 – 05/2021.
10/2020 [Funding] Our project, "Development of Synchronous and Asynchronous Interactive Virtual Lab Modules for Thermal Systems Laboratory at NDSU", has been selected for ND EPSCoR awards to improve the virtual labs during the pandemic for the period of 10/2020 – 06/2021.
07/2020 [Presentation] Our research, "Diversion of pulsatile flow over a rectangular sidewall cavity using superhydrophobic mesh" has been presented in the ASME 2020 Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting (FEDSM 2020) and its proceedings, Virtual, July 13-15, 2020
04/2020 [Publication] Our paper "Dynamics of a viscous droplet in return bends of microfluidic channels" co-authored by John-Luke Singh, Yechun Wang, Yan Zhang, Julie Melbye, Amanda Brooks, Benjamin Brooks, has been accepted for publication in Journal of Fluids Engineering.
03/2020 [Publication] Our paper "Experimental analysis of pulsatile flow characteristics in prosthetic aortic valve models with stenosis." has recently been accepted for publication in Medical Engineering & Physics.
11/2019 [Presentation] Our research, "An Experimental Study of Pulsatile Flow over Rectangular Sidewall Cavities," has been presented in the 72nd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, Seattle, WA, 2019
09/2019 [Presentation] Our research, "Fluid Dynamics of Gothic and Romanesque Aortic Arch Models using Particle Image Velocimetry," has been presented in the Third Annual Joint NDSU-UND Biomedical Engineering Symposium
09/2019 [Funding] Our project, "Enhancement of Left Atrial Appendage Flow using Artificial Superhydrophobic Surface", has been selected for the 2019 American Heart Association Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA) of $150,887 from 07/2019 – 06/2021.
07/2019 [Funding] Our project (Co-PI), "High Power Laser For NDSU Advanced Research Measurements", has been selected for the 2019 NDSU EPSCoR Equipment Award.
07/2019 [Presentation] Our Paper "Pulsatile flow characteristics in a stenotic aortic valve model: an in vitro experimental study", has been presented in the ASME-JSME-KSME Joint Fluids Engineering Conference 2019 (AJKFluids), San Francisco, CA.
04/2019 [Graduation] John-Luke Sign, co-advised by Dr. Yan Zhang and Dr. Yechun Wang, has successfully defended his master thesis research, titled DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF MICRO-CHANNELS AND NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF DROPLET MOTION NEAR MICROFLUIDIC RETURN BENDS. Congratulations!
04/2019 [Award] Benjamin Eichholz's presentation titled An Experimental Study of Pulsatile Flow Diversion using Superhydrophobic Mesh, was selected as an Honorable Mention oral presentation at NDSU EXPLORE. Congratulations!
03/2019 [Award] Our group has received the NDSU RCA Research Development Travel Award.
10/2018 [Publication] Our paper, "An Experimental Study of Pulsatile Flow in a Compliant Aortic Root Model under Varied Cardiac Outputs", has been accepted for publication in Fluids, Special Issue Cardiovascular Flows.
09/2018 [Publication] Our paper, "A computer simulation of short-term adaptations of cardiovascular hemodynamics in microgravity", has been accepted for publication in Computers in Biology and Medicine.
09/2018 [Funding] Our project, "Effects of Superhydrophobic Coatings on Pulsatile Flow and Wall Shear Stress in Cardiovascular Cavities", has been selected for funding by ND EPSCoR Seed Award.
04/2018 [Publication] Our paper, "Dynamic Response of Three Floaters Supporting Vertical Axis Wind Turbines due to Wind Excitation ", has been accepted by the Journal of Fluids and Structures.
03/2018 [Award] Ms. Ruihang Zhang received the 3rd Place in Written Awards in the 55th annual Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium. Congratulations!
03/2018 [Award] Mr. John-Luke Singh received the Contest Chairman’s Award in the 55th annual Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium. Congratulations!
03/2018 [Funding] Our collaborative project (Co-PI, PI. Dr. Yao Yu), "A Novel Dual Purpose Solar Collector Design", has been selected for U.S Environmental Protection Agency – P3 Awards
02/2018 [Publication] Our four manuscripts have been accepted for presentation in the 55th annual Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium and publication in the Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation journal.
01/2018 [Funding] Our project, "Digital Astronaut: A Computer Simulation of Cardiovascular Hemodynamics in Microgravity" has been selected for ND NASA EPSCoR funding.
11/2017 [Presentation] Our research, "An in vitro experimental study of flow past aortic valve under varied pulsatile conditions", has been presented at the 70th Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics.
11/2017 [Funding] Our project, "Experimental Study of Turbulent Characteristics of Novel Polymeric Heart Valves", has been selected for NDSU RCA Seed Award.
11/2017 [Award] Dr. Yan Zhang received the Research Development Travel Award from the NDSU Research and Creativity Office.
08/2017 [Recruiting] Mr. Jiaming Zhao joined our group as a Master student. Welcome!
08/2017 [Recruiting] Mr. John-Luke Sign joined our group as a Master student. Welcome!
01/2017 [Funding] Our collaborative project, "Manufacturing pancreatic cancer tissue microarrays using 3D tumor", has been selected for NIH NDSU COBRE pilot project award.
01/2017 [Presentation] Our collaborate research, " A tomographic PIV and TSP Study of Leading-Edge Structures on Stall Behaviors of NACA0015", has been presented in the 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, in Grapevine, Texas.
08/2016 [Recruiting] Ms. Ruihang Zhang joined our group as a Ph.D. student. Welcome!
06/2016 [Publication] Our collaborate research, " Effects of Leading-Edge Structures on Stall Behaviors of a NACA0015 Airfoil: A Multi-plane PIV Study", has been presented in the 34th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, in Washington D.C.
12/2016 [Funding] Our project, "Development of a Cardiovascular Flow Emulator for Aortic Hemodynamics Research", has been selected for NDSU RCA seed Award.

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