Core & Research Faculty/Scientists/Engineers
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-4986
Email:Ali.Gordon@ucf.edu
Additional Details: Mechanics of Materials Research Group
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-2179
Email:jayanta.kapat@ucf.edu
Additional Details: Director, Center for Advanced Turbo-machinery & Energy Research (CATER)
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-0370
Email:JLKauffman@ucf.edu
Additional Details:
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-2155
Email:Jihua.Gou@ucf.edu
Additional Details:
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-5710
Email:Kareem.Ahmed@ucf.edu
Additional Details: Propulsion & Energy Research Laboratory (PERL)
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-2857
Email:Kevin.Mackie@ucf.edu
Additional Details:
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-3402
Email:Ranajay.Ghosh@ucf.edu
Additional Details: http://www.ranajayghosh.net/
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-4039
Email:Samik.Bhattacharya@ucf.edu
Additional Details: https://samikbhattacharya.wordpress.com/
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-1737
Email:seetha.raghavan@ucf.edu
Additional Details: Raghavan Research Group
Classification: faculty
Status: current
Telephone: 407-823-3468
Email:subith@ucf.edu
Additional Details: VASU Lab
Post-Doctoral Research Associates
Jonathan Reyes
Academic Level: Post-Doctoral.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Dissertation Topic: Development of New Optical Techniques for Aquiring Three-Dimensional Flow Field Information
Email: jonathanreyesucf@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Jonathan Sosa
Academic Level: Post-Doctoral.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Dissertation Topic: Characteristics of Reacting Hypersonic Flows
Email: sosaj3@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Peter Joo
Academic Level: Post-Doctoral.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Dissertation Topic:
Email: peter.joo@ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Ranjith Kumar
Academic Level: Post-Doctoral.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Dissertation Topic:
Email: a.k.ranjithkumar@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Doctoral Students
Abdurrahman Alenezi
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Cycle Innovation & Optimization
Tentative Thesis Topic: Solar Hybrid Energy for Poly Generation with Allam Cycle
Email: aaalenezi@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Ahmad Saleh
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Use of Heat Pipe in Efficient Air Cooled Condensers
Email: ahmads@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Akshay Khadse
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Cycle Innovation & Optimization
Tentative Thesis Topic: Investigation of Heat Transfer and Material Compatibility for Design of Heat Exchangers in sCO2 Cycles Coupled with Solar and Nuclear Power Plants
Email: akshaybkhadse@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Alok Minesh Shah
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Advanced Internal Cooling of Additively Manufactured Turbine Blisk for a Supercritical CO2 System
Email: alok.shah@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Andres Curbelo
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Fundamental Understanding of the Role of Target Surface Roughness in Impingement Heat Transfer
Email: acurbelo1@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Ankur Deshmukh
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Plant Dynamics and Transients
Tentative Thesis Topic: Transient Behavior of a sCO2 Power Cycle
Email: ankur.deshmukh@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Anthony Morales
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Lean Combustion Dynamics/Flame Extinction
Email: selaroma627@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Bernhard Stiehl
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Combustion And Emission Characteristics Of A Lean Axial-Stage Combustor
Email: bernhard.stiehl@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Bryan Kenneth Palogan
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: The Effect of Particle Size on the Turbidity and Flow Turbulence Around Coral Reefs
Email: bryanpa@Knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Samik Bhattacharya
Cal Rising
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Lean Combustion Dynamics/Flame Extinction
Email: calrisin@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Daniel Rosato
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Standing Detonations in Hypersonic Flows
Email: drosato@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Dibya Raj Adhikari
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: dibyarajadhikari@Knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Samik Bhattacharya
Gaurav Gupta
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Effect of Concavities and Convexities of Surface Heat Transfers
Email: gaurav.gupta@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Gerardo E. Barreda
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Cycle Innovation & Optimization
Tentative Thesis Topic: High Temperature Heat Exchangers for sCO2 Cycles
Email: gebarreda@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Hardeo Chin
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Turbulence Driven Deflagration-to-Detonation
Email: Hardeo28@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Husam Zawati
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Use of Passive and Active Flow Oscillation for Enhancement of Impingement cooling
Email: hzawati@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Ian Dunn
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Flow Dynamics of Rotating Detonation Engines
Email: IanDunn12@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Jessica Chambers
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Turbulence Driven Deflagration-to-Detonation
Email: jessica.chambers7@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Justin Hodges
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Use of Machine Learning for Predictive Algorithms for Various Internal Cooling Strategies
Email: justin.hodges@ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Kamlesh Joshi
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Flow Control Using Wing Morphing
Email: kamleshjoshi91@Knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Samik Bhattacharya
Katerina Chagoya
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Alternative Fuels
Tentative Thesis Topic: Catalytic Processes in Upgrading and Thermal Decomposition of Bio-Derived Fuels for use in Propulsion
Email: katerina.chagoya.5433@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Luisana Calderon
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Impact of AM Process Parameters on Material Micro-Structure, Mechanical Properties and Thermal Performance of Hot Gas Path Components
Email: luisana@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Manoj Prabakar Sargunaraj
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Unsteady Aerodynamics
Email: mano@Knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Samik Bhattacharya
Marcel Otto
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: The Effect of Vortical Structures on Heat Transfer in Pin Arrays for Trailing Edge Airfoil Cooling
Email: marcel.otto@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Michelle Otero
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Investigation of Lean Axial Stage Combustor at Elevated Pressures
Email: michelleotero@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Olamilekan Banjo
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Heat Transfer and Friction in Low-Aspect-Ratio, Rib-Turbulated Channels
Email: Banjo.David@Knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Sheikh Salauddin
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Alternative Fuels
Tentative Thesis Topic: Characterization and Prediction of Advanced Biofuel Properties
Email: sheikh_salauddin.ucf@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Shinjan Ghosh
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Gradient and Non-Gradient Based Optimization of Gas Turbine Blade Internal Cooling Channels
Email: shinjanJU.ucf.edu@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Tommy Genova
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Characteristics of a Reacting Jet in Crossflow at High Pressure
Email: tommy.genova@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Vipul Goyal
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Digital Twin and System Integration
Tentative Thesis Topic: Anomaly Detection and Failure Prediction in Field Data from Combined Cycle Power Plants
Email: vipulgoyal1211@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Wilmer Flores
Academic Level: Ph.D.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: Characterization of Acoustic Damping Devices
Email: wflo002@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Weston Olson
Academic Level: PhD
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: westono@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Alan Felix
Academic Level: MS
CATER Technical Area: Alternative Fuels
Tentative Thesis Topic: Thermal Decomposition of Alternative Fuels
Email: alanf2011@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Andre Woodard
Academic Level: MS.
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBD
Email: andrewoodard21@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Christian Anzalotta
Academic Level: MS
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Control of Tip-Leakage Vortices Using Plasma Actuators
Email: Canzalotta@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Samik Bhattacharya
Daniel Garcia
Academic Level: MS
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Dynamic Ground Effects on a Flat Plate
Email: dny1993@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Jorge Torres
Academic Level: MS
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Investigation of Leading Edge Impingement
Email: jst0825@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Nicholas Fernandez
Academic Level: MS
CATER Technical Area: Mechanical Integrity/Manufacturing
Tentative Thesis Topic: Fluid Structure Interaction Analysis of a Morphing Wing
Email: nicholas.fernandez@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Samik Bhattacharya
Patrick Tran
Academic Level: MS
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Investigation of Trailing Edge Cooling with Pin Fin Arrays
Email: PatrickTran@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Tyler Scofield
Academic Level: MS
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: Vorticity Transfer in a Leading-Edge-Vortex due to Controlled Span-wise Bending
Email: tyscof@Knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Samik Bhattacharya
Undergraduate Research Students
Yakym Khlyapov
Academic Level: Senior (Undergraduate)
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: akim.khlyapov@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
James Sherwood
Academic Level: Junior (Undergraduate)
CATER Technical Area: Cycle Innovation & Optimization
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: jamessherwood@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Jeffrey Peterson
Academic Level: Senior (Undergraduate)
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: jeffreypeterson1997@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Kenji Palavino
Academic Level: Undergraduate
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBD
Email: kpalavino@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Max Fortin
Academic Level: Undergraduate
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBD
Email: max.fortin@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Micheal Tonarely
Academic Level: Undergraduate
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBD
Email: max.fortin@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Research Support
Ben Stratford
Academic Level: Sophomore (Undergraduate)
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: benstratford@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Chaz Spirazza
Academic Level: Sophomore (Undergraduate)
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: chaz.spirazza@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Francisco Avila-Ortega
Academic Level: MS
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: avilaf@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Jonathan Martinez-Pacheco
Academic Level: MS
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: jmartinez23@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Kenan R. Ugucu
Academic Level: Sophomore (Undergraduate)
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email:kenan.ugucu@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Mitchell Caudill
Academic Level: Senior (Undergraduate)
CATER Technical Area: Aerodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Durability
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBA
Email: mitchcaudill131@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Jayanta Kapat
Rachel Hytovick
Academic Level: Undergraduate
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBD
Email: rhytovick@knights.ucf.edu
Advisor: Dr. Kareem Ahmed
Sydney Fusco
Academic Level: Undergraduate
CATER Technical Area: Combustion and Emissions
Tentative Thesis Topic: TBD
Email: sydfus19@knights.ucf.edu