Bio

My research interests lie at the intersection of fluid and plasma dynamics with climate modeling, maritime activities, propulsion, advanced manufacturing and sustainable energy technologies with a focus on multiphysics and multiscale analysis.

I am currently a postdoctoral associate in the Nonequilibrium Gas & Plasma Dynamics Laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder working on hybrid (kinetic/fluid) and direct kinetic simulations for electric spacecraft propulsion and precision materials processing applications under the supervision of Prof. Iain Boyd. Carefully coupled simulations enable a deeper understanding of applications with complex multiphysics. In addition, modern solution techniques for the Boltzmann equation, which is a higher-dimensional equation than the Navier-Stokes equations governing fluid motion, allow us to understand the behavior of energetic gases and plasmas of industrial and engineering relevance.

In 2020, I graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Stanford University. During my doctoral studies, I worked with Dr. Javier Urzay, Prof. Perry Johnson, Dr. Michael Dodd, Dr. Shahab Mirjalili, Prof. Adrián Lozano-Durán, Prof. Ali Mani and Prof. Parviz Moin at the Center for Turbulence Research (CTR) on various aspects of the development of a subgrid-scale (SGS) model for large eddy simulation (LES) of bubble breakup in oceanic breaking waves. Because the resolution of multiscale and multiphase phenomena remains computationally expensive to date, SGS models are necessary for predictive cost-effective simulations. Part of this work has been featured in Stanford News (The Dish) and in FYFD. I am extremely honored to receive the 2021 Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award in Fluid Dynamics for my dissertation work.

In 2019, I was also a graduate research assistant in the Computational Physics and Methods (CCS-2) group at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). I worked with Dr. Daniel Livescu on the development of SGS models for LES of generic turbulent flows based on coarse-graining methods in traditional statistical physics. Deriving a model form rooted in physics enables more effective and interpretable model development using acceleration techniques like data-driven machine learning.

In 2014 and 2015, I was also a member of the former Sense and Sense-abilities Programme in the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), as well as the Fluid Dynamics Department of the Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC). Both Institutes are part of the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore. My projects in I2R included the optimization of duty cycling operation for wireless sensor nodes with Dr. Ido Nevat, as well as an investigation of diffusion control in networks with Dr. Matthias Wildemeersch and Prof. Tony Q. S. Quek. Both projects are part of an ongoing endeavor to lay the theoretical foundations for the development of a Smart Nation in Singapore. In IHPC, I worked on cell sorting simulations and wake-induced phenomena in the Multiphase Flow (MF) and Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) Capability Groups with potential biomedical and marine applications. Part of this work was featured by A*STAR Research.

In 2014, I graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from the Department of Mechanical Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Course 2-A), as well as a Minor in Energy Studies. My undergraduate research project dealt with nonlinear electrophoresis, in particular the simulation of concentrated suspensions of conducting particles. I worked under the supervision of Prof. Cullen R. Buie in collaboration with Prof. Bruno M. Figliuzzi. A better understanding of these suspensions may aid in the development of particle separation techniques.

Outside of engineering, I also enjoy films, music, traveling, and swimming. In my undergraduate years, I was involved in the MIT Singapore Students Society, as well as the MIT Lion Dance troupe.

In my free time, I write for several media as well. I was fortunate to have an article featured by the Innovation Magazine of Singapore about my experiences in school.