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Research Interests:
Effect of instantaneous turbulent processes on the transport of scalars in physical, ecological, and chemical environments.
My interest in understanding interactions between biological or chemical systems and the physical environment emerges from an interdisciplinary background in engineering, hydrology, and environmental science. My research incorporates biology, ecology, and fluid mechanics in the context of the stirring and mixing of reactive scalars. An exciting aspect of studying the interaction between physics and ecology is that each of the two disciplines informs the other. Generally, fluid mechanics is used to understand the details of ecological processes; however, ecology can lend significant insight into the workings of fluid mechanics.
Stirring and mixing of initially distinct, reactive scalars in the context of broadcast spawning.
My current research involves reactive flow problems whereby stirring and mixing processes influence reaction rates between multiple reactive scalars. My interest lies in the dynamic interplay and eventual reactions between initially distinct species. The motivation to study stirring-induced coalescence and reaction of initially sparse scalars extends from a reproductive process called broadcast spawning. Many benthic invertebrates (e.g. corals, anemones, and sea urchins) reproduce via this process, whereby gametes (unfertilized egg and sperm) are extruded from male and female adults at separate locations on the sea bed. The reproductive strategy relies on turbulent stirring at the macroscopic scales, and molecular diffusion at the microscopic scales to bring gametes together.
Dynamics of contaminants in turbulent environments: implications for healthy, sustainable building design.
Buildings can be designed to be healthier and contain more environmentally sensitive materials, while still being economical, with the proper application of sustainable design principles. Through my research I plan to provide insight into aspects of building design such as building thermal performance, indoor and outdoor environmental quality, and occupant comfort. I will model advective processes such as natural ventilation, energy conduction/radiation/convection, and chemical out-gassing from building materials using instantaneous quantities (i.e. chemical concentrations). This research will have health and environmental implications for building design and the future of sustainable technologies.
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