NAME department hires 3 new faculty

The department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering has added three new faculty to its ranks. The international search focused on candidates with research interests in any aspect(s) of naval architecture and marine engineering, including disciplines relevant to the blue economy such as ocean energy and marine-environmental engineering.

Of the successful faculty search, Department Chair David Dowling says, “I am really pleased with this outcome. We have recruited three outstanding new faculty members. I now want to make sure they are welcomed into NAME and provided the resources they need to be successful.”

The new faculty include:

Assistant Professor Anchal Sareen
Sareen was previously a Postdoctoral Researcher Associate in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics at the University of Minnesota. Sareen is a Fluid Dynamicist who combines the tools of experimental fluid mechanics and theoretical modeling to elucidate underlying physics of interesting problems ranging from fluid-structure interaction to multiphase flows. Her research work has been recognized with several accolades, including the Best Thesis of the Year Award and the Outstanding Research Presentation Award at a leading international conference. She obtained her master’s in Fluid Mechanics from École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France, and her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Monash University, Australia (Nov 2018).

Of her research, Sareen explains her aim is to, “leverage my expertise to help solve the most pressing societal problems related to energy and environment.“

Sareen will begin early January 2023.

Professor Krishnan Mahesh
Mahesh, like Sareen, comes to Michigan from the University of Minnesota, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics. His research focuses on the simulation of complex, multi-physics turbulent flows. Mahesh received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Mumbai), and in 1996 obtained his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. He is a 2018 Fulbright-Nehru Specialist, Fellow of the American Physical Society, Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Fellow of the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. Mahesh is a recipient of the CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation and the Francois N. Frenkiel Award from the American Physical Society.

Mahesh explains, “My overall vision is for my research program to transform the role of simulations in the design and optimization of future Navy platforms and enable the discovery of the fundamental science central to their multi-physics, turbulent flows.“

Mahesh will start late August 2022.

Professor Lei Zuo
Zuo joins NAME from Virginia Tech where he was the Robert E. Hord Jr. endowed professor in mechanical, ocean and electrical engineering, and the director of NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems. His research interest includes marine renewable energy (ocean waves, tidal currents, offshore wind), blue economy, energy harvesting, vibration/dynamics and control, mechatronics design, vehicles and transportation, and advanced manufacturing. His research has been funded with over 80 projects by NSF, DOE, ONR, DOT, EPA, USDA, USAID, US Army, NY/VA states, national labs, and industries. He has authored about 350 papers including over 10 with the best paper awards. He has supervised 16 Ph.D. and 52 master’s students to completion of their degrees, mentored over 17 postdocs, and advised about 200 undergraduates in senior designs or research.

“My vision,” says Zuo, “is to drive the research convergence of marine energy through multidisciplinary research collaboration, crosscutting academia-industry-community partnership, and multi-dimensional workforce training.”

Zuo will start late August 2022