Hi, I’m Kayde! I’m a PhD student who spends a lot of time thinking about how air moves — from tiny micro jets that can be used for unusual applications (like cleaning dust off solar panels on Mars) to experimental propeller designs that might make aircraft quieter and more efficient. I love using different flow visualization techniques like schlieren, background-oriented schlieren (BOS), and particle image velocimetry (PIV) to actually see what the air is doing. Lately, I’ve been diving into toroidal propellers, playing with how changing their geometry affects performance, noise, and even icing.

When I’m not in the lab running experiments or staring at velocity fields, you’ll probably find me training for a triathlon or hanging out with my two cats, Migi and Meimei, who keep life entertaining. 

This site is where I’ll share my research updates, publications, random experiments, and the occasional cat photo.