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Dissertation, doctoral advising awards conferred

Xiaoyi Li won the Allan P. Colburn Prize in Engineering and Mathematical Sciences for his dissertation “Computational Study of Fluid Particles: Dynamics of Drops, Rheology of Emulsions and Mechanics of Biological Cells” and was awarded a doctorate in mechanical engineering. His adviser is Kausik Sarkar, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.

“ Li is now a senior research scientist in the Thermal and Fluid Sciences Department at United Technologies Research Center (UTRC). His thesis describes a detailed computational investigation of the dynamics of drops, the rheology of emulsions, and the mechanics of biological cells subjected to fluid flow.

Li presented the Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Talk at the 62nd annual meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics, held Nov. 22-24 in Minneapolis.

Established in 2000 to honor the outstanding contributions in fluid mechanics of Prof. Andreas Acrivos, the award recognizes exceptional young scientists who have performed original doctoral thesis work in the area of fluid dynamics. The annual award consists of $1,000, a certificate citing the accomplishments of the recipient, and an allowance of up to $1,500 for travel to attend the meeting.

“This is a very important award,” says Kausik Sarkar, associate professor and Li’s dissertation adviser. “The Division of Fluid Dynamics is the most prestigious organization of fluid dynamicists working on fundamental and applied problems related to fluid flows all over the world. Members come from physics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, aeronautical engineering, environmental engineering, and ocean and atmospheric sciences. Therefore, every major university in the world has fluid mechanists in not just one but all of these departments.” – UDaily.