Join Us

Our Values 

We strive to

If these values resonate with you, please continue reading.

Our Expectations and Prerequisites

Everyone

Some tools and resources used in our group are listed here.  

Undergraduate researchers

UG students in our group are usually seniors but we are open to considering motivated and qualified students at earlier career stages.

 Graduate researchers

My Mentoring Philosophy

My general approach to mentoring is described below. However, I recognize that each person needs a different mentoring approach to reach their maximum potential and I try to adapt to individual needs within the boundaries of my mentoring philosophy and values.

Work ethic and honesty

I expect students to take their education and research VERY seriously. While some students are natural self-starters, I believe everyone can excel if they put sustained effort toward their academic and research goals. I understand that students may face difficulties in their path and am always willing to listen and work together to find solutions. However, I do not tolerate any form of dishonesty or lack of work ethic in my students (e.g., lying or omitting truth about academic and research progress). 

Work hours and locations

I believe that when students are not serious about their education and research, requiring them to spend specific hours in the laboratory will not improve the situation. Therefore, I don't enforce work hours or locations in my group. However, I expect students to make the most out of the flexibility that I grant them by being self-motivated, responsible, and professional in their commitments. I expect students to attend planned meetings, giving enough notice if we need to reschedule. I also expect students to respond to non-urgent requests within a business day. If we are approaching a hard deadline or I have an urgent request, I expect a faster response, but we will have an upfront communication about these occasions.

Group meetings

We hold weekly group meetings to discuss research updates and other topics. Graduate students should plan to regularly attend these meetings. 

Individual meetings

I meet with everyone weekly or biweekly (depending on career stage and project timeline). I am also available on Teams for quick questions or chats. 

Publishing

While students should not chase papers, I encourage them to publish. First, writing is thinking. Second, sharing our discoveries with the community is a way to advance our field. Third, publishing allows us to collect feedback, which leads to new and higher-quality ideas. Finally, attending conferences and publishing papers can help students secure their next position, and the ability to communicate complex information is critical for ANY post-graduation career. For these reasons, graduate students should plan one publication per year after their first year. I also encourage undergraduate students to get involved with publishing if they have time and interest in developing scientific writing skills. 

Funding

I don't expect students to bring funding (and being fully funded does not guarantee acceptance). That said, I encourage (and will support) students to identify and apply for funding opportunities they are eligible for, such as fellowships, travel grants, and student awards. Applying to obtain access to resources is a critical component of many post-graduation jobs. Therefore, getting experience with the process is, in my opinion, an important aspect of undergraduate and graduate training.

Career goals

I don't expect my students to stay in academia (I didn't want to be a Professor when I was a student). While I can provide first-hand advice on pursuing a faculty career, I will do my best to support students interested in any other career path (and the ones who don't know what they want to do next yet).

How to Reach Out

General instructions 

If you follow the instructions above, I will reply within 1-2 weeks unless it is a particularly busy time. 

Before sending me an email, please note

I will not reply if

Additional information

Additional information specific to undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars can be found below.

Additional information about the GT AE programs is below:

We can host visiting students, but they are expected to be funded by their institution or other external funding sources.  

Unfortunately, we may not always be able to accommodate all those who reach out due to a large number of requests.

Resources

Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

We are currently at capacity for Fall 2024. Please check back in Spring 2025 for additional undergraduate research opportunities.

Prerequisite skills

Prerequisite courses

UG students in our group are typically AE majors. If you are from another major, you can be considered as long as you have relevant background.

Funding

How undergraduate research works in my group

I will give you a list of potential topics. You are welcome to pick from the list or propose other topics of your interest and in my area. Once we have agreed on a topic, I will outline the activities for the semester and give you materials to get started. I meet with undergraduate students every other week for up to 30 min. Most of the meetings revolve around research but I also use time to talk about classes and professional opportunities. 

My approach to mentoring UG students is hands-on because undergrad was when I found my path within aerospace thanks to working closely with a professor. UG students joining our group can expect that I will be very invested in their project. For this reason, however, we can only accommodate a limited number of UG students.  

Resources

Scholarship opportunities

Opportunities for Graduate Students

MS and PhD applications for Spring and Fall 2025 will be due in October and December 2024, respectively.  

Please note

Prerequisite skills

Prerequisite courses

Graduate students in our group typically hold BS degrees in AE or ME. Students from other majors can be considered if they have relevant backgrounds.

Funding

Most of the funded opportunities are for PhD students, though funding for MS students may occasionally be available. 

Prospective students

If you are a prospective graduate student interested in our group, you should apply to the GT AE graduate program listing Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics as your primary research area and me as a faculty member you would like to work with. I am not able to advise prospective students on preparing applications. However, you are welcome to send me an email to let me know of your interests and background. I will look for your application if it passes our initial screening, there is a fit, and we have openings. Due to my limited bandwidth, I may not be able to schedule individual meetings with all prospective applicants, especially if the application deadline is close. 

You can find information about applying here (MS) and here (PhD). 

Current students

If you are a GT AE graduating senior or graduate student interested in our group, please reach out via email to inquire about potential opportunities. 

AE 8900 and MS thesis projects

If you are a current GT AE graduate student interested in conducting your AE 8900 project or MS thesis in our group, you must

I won't accept students who don't meet these requirements because I cannot define a meaningful research project without these pre-requisite skills. 

AE 8900 projects are assigned on a rolling basis until we reach maximum capacity. These projects are not associated with a funded position.

MS thesis projects also are assigned on a rolling basis until we reach maximum capacity. These projects may be associated with a GRA position.  

How AE 8900 MS research works in my group

AE8900 research will work as described for undergraduate students. The difference will be in the complexity and length of the project.  

How MS thesis and PhD research work in my group

Depending on the funding source, students may have a pre-assigned project. If a sponsored project funds the position, the research scope will be defined. While I am happy to leave students free to pursue their research directions, this will be possible only if the original project goals and deadlines are met. If a student brings their funding (e.g., fellowship), I can be flexible regarding research scope and timeline, as long as the research topic is in my area of expertise and interest. We will make a multi-year plan and a shorter-term plan. This will help us keep track of the big picture while making steps toward completing the degree. I meet with graduate students every week for one hour unless we agree to skip. Most of the meetings revolve around research but I often use some time to talk about academics or career-development topics. 

Resources

Graduate fellowship opportunities

Opportunities for Postdoctoral Researchers

We are open to considering motivated and qualified postdoctoral researchers.

Prerequisite skills

Prerequisite degrees

Funding

We do not currently have funded postdoctoral positions. If you are interested in joining our group, please check the fellowship opportunities below. 

If you are a recent/soon-to-be PhD graduate interested in our group, please reach out via email to discuss potential future opportunities. 

How postdoc research works in my group

Postdoc research will work as described above for PhD students. The main difference will be in the complexity and length of the project.  

Resources

Postdoctoral fellowship opportunities

Opportunities for Visiting Scholars

We are open to considering motivated and qualified visiting scholars.

Prerequisites

The prerequisites above for the appropriate career stage will apply.

Funding

Visiting scholars are expected to have their funding support either from their home institution or other external funding sources.

We only host visiting scholars at GT (no virtual visits). If you are interested, you are welcome to reach out via email to discuss potential opportunities. 

How research as a visiting scholar works in my group

Research will work as described for undergraduate and graduate students. The complexity and length of the project will vary depending on the visitor's career stage (MS student, PhD student, etc.) and the duration of the visit. 

Note for international visitors

We are not involved in the paperwork to obtain visas and cannot help resolve visa issues or delays. 

Note for all visitors

GT does not provide on-campus housing for visiting scholars. You are expected to find off-campus housing on your own. 

Opportunities for High-School Students

We are not accepting high-school researchers at this time.