Research

Applications of mathematical fluid dynamics to biological and industrial problems.

Motion of surfactant on thin glycerine films


NSF Focused Research Group: (from left) Karen Daniels (NCSU Physics), RL (HMC Math), Michael Shearer (NCSU Math), Robert Behringer (Duke Physics), Tom Witelski (Duke Math)
Star of surfactant spreading on glycerine (dashed shape shows initial area)

Research Students:
  • Chris Fox (HMC Math '09)
  • Georgi Dinolov (HMC Math '11)
  • Wynn Vonnegut (HMC Physics '11)
  • Jeffrey Wong (HMC Math '11)
  • Kali Alison (HMC Physics '12)
  • Cameron Conti (HMC Physics '13)
  • Matt Hin (HMC Math '13)
  • Richard Sayenagi (HMC Physics '13)

Research supported by NSF Focused Research Group and Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Single Investigator Award

Swarming algorithms for mini-submarines


Will, Alex, RL, Georgi, Paige
Rewired RC Submarine Control and Arduino

2010 Summer Research Students:
  • Georgi Dinolov (HMC Math '11)
  • Will Ferenc (HMC Eng '13)
  • Alex McAuley (HMC Eng '11)
  • Paige Pruitt (HMC Eng '11)


RL, AP, Matt, Dan, Eric, Ryan, SM
biased search strategies

DYNAR (Dynamic Navigation for Aquatic Robots) Students:
  • Matthew Keeter (HMC Eng '11)
  • Daniel Moore (HMC Math '11)
  • Ryan Muller (HMC Math '11)
  • Eric Nieters (HMC Eng '11)
  • Jennifer Flenner (CGU Math)
  • Stephanie Porter (HMC Math '13)
  • Dong-Hyeon Park (HMC Engineering '13)
  • Collaborating Faculty: Andrea Bertozzi, Allon Percus, Susan Martonosi

Research supported by the Office of Naval Research and the UCLA-HMC REU

Hydrodynamics of whale flukeprints


Flukeprint created in the lab
Humpback whale flukeprint (courtesy Kuanyin Moi)

Research Students:
  • Hendrik Orem (HMC Math '09)
  • Jennifer Lee (HMC Eng '11)
  • Mark Nurik (CMC Eng '11)
  • Alison Park (HMC Math Ed '11)
  • Dmitri Skjorshammer (HMC Math '11)
  • Oliver Ortlieb (HMC '12)

Research supported by HMC Center for Environmental Studies

Localized forcing of Marangoni-driven thin films


Numerical simulation of N-wave evolving in Marangoni and gravity-driven thin liquid film from localized forcing.

Research Students:
  • Stephen Rosenthal (HMC Physics '09)
  • Jeffrey Wong (HMC Math '11)

Research supported by NSF Research Training Group (UCLA-HMC REU)

Particle-laden thin film flow

Flow of glass beads in PDMS oil on incline with prewetted surface (left) and dry surface (right).

Research Students:
  • Patrick Foley (HMC Math '09)
  • Stephen Rosenthal (HMC Physics '09)
  • Vedika Khemani (HMC Physics '10)

Research supported by NSF Research Training Group (UCLA-HMC REU)