Students look to the stars for space navigation 21
Wind tunnel labs 23
Alumni spotlight 27
Applying fluid mechanics to stream banks 29
Impact in the community 31
University of Minnesota
110 Union St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455
Email: aem-department@umn.edu
Phone: 612-625-8000
cse.umn.edu/aem
Department Head
Perry Leo
Associate Department Head
Graham Candler
Director of Graduate Studies
Ryan S. Elliott
Interim Director of Graduate Studies
Tom Schwartzentruber
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Yohannes Ketema
Senior Administrative Director
Hongna Byström
Editorial Staff
Andrew Carman
Questions about the magazine? aem-comm@umn.edu
Welcome to the latest edition of the AEM Magazine.
As we head into summer, I’m excited to share several updates that reflect the continued growth and impact of our department. First, we celebrate the promotion and tenure of Professor Ryan Caverly, whose outstanding contributions to aerospace systems and controls have helped strengthen our academic and research profile.
We look forward to welcoming Dr. Damennick Henry and Dr. Kshitiz Upadhyay to our faculty this coming fall. Dr. Henry’s work on cis-lunar orbital dynamics will enhance our space systems expertise, while Dr. Upadhyay’s work on the mechanics of soft materials will expand the department’s expertise in novel materials and structures. Their presence, along with the addition of two outstanding staff members (Drew Carman, Marketing and Communications Coordinator and Erin Carter, Grad Program Coordinator) will give AEM the capacity to better serve students in both the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Our Community Impact section highlights some of the inspiring outreach and engagement taking place, including the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium (MnGSC) partnership and Professor Ellad Tadmor’s participation in the 3DEAP program and data science initiatives in the College of Science and Engineering. These efforts underscore our department’s commitment to innovation that reaches beyond campus.
Our students continue to work with our faculty on important research projects, building their skills and addressing important issues in the aerospace world. Several highlights are included in this magazine, ranging from a project exploring stream bank erosion and invasive species to research focusing on advancing the materials used in space exploration through atomistic simulations. In our Wind Tunnel Laboratory, undergraduates continue to gain valuable hands-on experience through a series of experiments studying airfoil performance, drag reduction, and flow visualization.
Last, but certainly not least, we congratulate each and every one of our students graduating this year. We look forward to seeing the great things that they will accomplish.
Finally, I want to thank all of you for being part of our community. We need your support more than ever as we continue to improve and grow our department. You are a vital part of the equation that enables us to support the work, people, and progress that makes AEM thrive.
Perry Leo, Department Head
Perry H. Leo Professor & Department Head
Ellen K. Longmire Professor
Joseph W. Nichols Associate Professor
Suraj Ravindran Assistant Professor
Tom Schwartzentruber Professor & Interim Director of Graduate Studies
Kirsten Strandjord Assistant Professor
Ellad B. Tadmor Professor, Russell J. Penrose Professor
Yue Yu Assistant Professor
Teaching & Research Faculty
Travis W. Drayna Research Professor in Hypersonics
James A. Flaten Associate Director of the MN Space Grant Consortium & Contract Professor
Todd Helsa Contract Assistant Professor
Anthony Knutson Research Associate Professor
Joseph Mueller Industrial Professor of Design
Everett Wenzel Research Associate Professor
Wasim Akram Adjunct Faculty
Diganta Bhattacharjee Adjunct Faculty
Keegan Bunker Adjunct Faculty
Philanthropy plays a vital role in advancing the mission of the Department of Aerospace Engineering & Mechanics. Gifts from alumni and friends help us attract and retain exceptional faculty, enrich our academic programs, and provide critical support to students — from financial aid to hands-on learning opportunities that prepare them for impactful careers. Thank you for helping us foster excellence, innovation, and opportunity at every level.
For any questions regarding charitable giving, please contact Lexi Thompson, Associate Director of Advancement at lexi@umn.edu.
Individual Donors
A. Arda Ozdemir
Abdulaziz N Alnomas
Achilleas Thomas
Adam T Konicek
Aiden Fergus
Alexa Bartels
Mr Alford J Hanson Jr
Amber C Salo
Andrew & Denise Cockcroft
Andrew & Sally Vano
Andrew M Miler
Aniketh Subash
Anita C Westberg
Avantika Adhikari
Avyukt Raghuvanshi
Barbara Lundgren
Mr Benjamin M Koch
Bonnie Sondrol
Boris Dayter
Brealyn M Damm
Brenda A & Mark Haven
Mr Brian G Lundquist
Britta J Bergdahl
Caidron J Skerbitz
Caitlyn Lor
Carl Anderson
Carolyn L Peterson
Chehan Liao
Chema Alvarez Noche
Christopher J Gosch
Clinton V & Theodora A Eckstrom
Cody Kufrin
Conner M Salmon
Craig M Lewandowski
Mr Daniel Baseman
Daniel Tiemens
David & Donna Sippel
David & Joan Selvig
Mr David D Lindeman
David J & Beth M Myren
Dr David K & Willa R Holger
David M & Linda B Anderson
Della Curtis
Denise Bedoya
Denny Wollan
Dipesh Patel
Doug Smith
Douglas J & Tracey A Petesch
Duncan C Fallstrom
Edward J Holmbeck
Dr Ellen K Longmire
Eric J & Mary J Snustad
Erik B Tylczak
Erika Bowe
Erin Saylor
Ethan Polcyn
Felicia Kedrowski
Gage S Privett
Gary D & Paulette G Malecek
Mr Gary R Stroick
Mr Gary T Chapman
Gaven D House
George R & Sandra J Ceman
Mr Glenn H Dalman
Grant Redelsheimer
Greg Reierson
Mr Gregory D Happ
Mr Gregory D Ohrt
Gregory Drazkowski
Griffin M Austin
Harold Carpenter
Drs Harwood A & Helen R Hegna
Dr Heming Chen
Drs James & Carol Flaten
James Clausen
Dr James G Malone
Janet L Fransen
Jennifer Beyl-Lee
Jessica Albrecht
Joe Aarre
Mr John C Virnig
Dr John I & Nancy A Erdos
Dr John M Girard
Jonathan D Reed
Dr Jong Y Shin
Mr Joseph W Manthey
Joshua Roesner
Judith A Gaskell
Julianne C Lavin
Julie Knee
Kathy Smith
Keith E Hogie
Kenneth E & Jill Ewald
Kim Rexford
Kosei Yamashita
Kristen Gerzina
Ms Kristen J Riley
Kristina Dayter
Kristofor Normand
Kurt A. Banaszynski & Gina Lynch
Kurt J & Sandra A Niederluecke
Lakshya Gupta
Dr Leva O Hartwell
Linda Normand
Luth M Khairulhuda
Macy Bauers
Ms Maggie Conway
Marcine & John Forrette
Matthew L Ziebarth
Michele & Kelles Veneri
Ms Michele A Brekke
Dr Mike & Lorinda Jackson
Mohamed-Dek A Mohamed
Mykhail B. Sandacz
Nasteho A Ali
Nathan A Bellefeuille
Nathan A Gall
Nathaniel M Johnson
Olga Gerasimchuk
Owen J Peterson
Mr Patrick J Rygh
Paul M Freeman
Paulo Gabriel Cito Accioly Dietrich
Peter J & Patricia Torvik
Priyanka Adhikari
Dr Raktim Bhattacharya
Renee M Fischer
Robert A & Lucia Bell
Robert D Halverson
Robert J & Marilyn J Bateman
Rohan Rammanohar
Ross M Wagnild
Sally Wagner & Kent Severson
Sam Cardwell
Samuel Edlund
Sean & Susan Boll
Sean Ky
Shashwat Anand
Soliyana D Shikur
Stephanie D Castillo
Steven Anschutz
Dr Stuart S & Wilma G Antman
Susan Brown
Susan M Green & Roger A Engdahl
Susan V Parsons & Michael D Brunson
Taif Zarban
Thomas D Weber
Thomas D. Douma & Kristina EngelDouma
Thomas Sonderman
Tony Liu
Tyson P Farley
Dr V Gregory Weirs
Dr Vibhor L Bageshwar & Hina
Bennett
Wesley Chan
Drs William & Judith Garrard Jr
Yusuf Khairulhuda
Zoey A Berghorst
Corporate & Foundation Gifts
Bateman Family Fund
The Boeing Company
Clifton B & Anne Stuart Batchelder
Foundation
The Donaldson Foundation
Gary T and Marion G Chapman Trust
Honeywell International
Linde
Medtronic Foundation
Northrop Grumman Fdn
Off We Go Rocketry
Raytheon Technologies (RTX)
Roger Engdahl & Susan Green Charitable Fund
Faculty Updates
Assistant Professor Caverly Tenured
The department is proud to announce Professor Ryan Caverly’s tenure and promotion from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor, effective at the beginning of Fall Semester 2025.
Professor Caverly joined the department in 2018 after completing his PhD in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan. From the beginning, Caverly has been an invaluable addition to the department, inspiring students while also focusing on novel research. His research aims to develop theory and practical control techniques that enable new capabilities for real-world, uncertain dynamic systems with certifiable stability and performance guarantees. Professor Caverly focuses on aerospace, mechanical, and robotic applications and makes use of linear, nonlinear, and robust control theory, as well as multi-body dynamic modeling methods.
For Professor Caverly, the upcoming tenure represents both a moment to celebrate past achievements and a chance to look forward to new opportunities. “It’s exciting, but it also makes me reflect on all the great students I’ve worked with and the support I’ve received,” Caverly shared. With tenure, the academic freedom to think longterm opens new possibilities, such as working on theoretical research that may take years to show its impact, as well as engaging in applied work that could lead to practical breakthroughs in fields like space technology.
“It’s exciting to think about working on projects that have a huge impact down the road,” Caverly explained, particularly when working on complex theoretical problems or exploring cutting-edge technologies like his current research endeavors in solar sails.
“Watching PhD students evolve from beginners to independent researchers is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career.”
What inspired you to pursue a career in academia, and more specifically in your field of study?
“So the thing that made me want to pursue a career in academia was a combination of undergraduate experiences. I had the opportunity to do undergraduate research while I was at the University of Minnesota, and that played a big role in me wanting to pursue some sort of researchoriented career. I also had the opportunity to be a TA, and I just really loved holding the office hours and helping students work through problems, so I knew that teaching was something that I definitely wanted to do as well. There’s really no better way to do that than to become a professor, so that’s what I set out to do.
As far as specifically pursuing aerospace engineering, I think the thing that sort of inspired me was the idea of contributing to a lot of our goals in outer space, whether that be developing a sustainable human presence on the moon, getting out to Mars, and more. I remember I went to a space center on a spring break trip, and at the time everything was about getting people to Mars. There was just a ton of stuff going on there that really got me interested. I said, ‘Oh, I’ll do controls, but I’ll do it in aerospace engineering and specifically apply it to space,’ and then a year or two in, my advisor tricked me into doing astrodynamics. I’ve loved it ever since.”
What are the main areas of research you’re currently focused on?
“So right now, the backbone of my research is astrodynamics and a field of mathematics known as dynamical systems theory. I also take from a lot of other fields, like differential geometry, to take very theoretical dynamical systems theory things and transition them through computational techniques all the way to practical spacecraft guidance, navigation and control solutions. So that’s sort of the overall picture.
Right now, as I’ve been doing this postdoc, I’ve been heavily focused on optimization. I’ve been coming up with some new techniques for optimizing spacecraft trajectories that I’m pretty excited about. This is, again, sort of fusing all the things that I really like, the differential geometry piece, the dynamical systems theory piece, and all of those things. I’m also working on developing ways of efficiently understanding the spacecraft dynamics in high fidelity systems. The key challenge there is in these high fidelity systems, things become really high dimensional, and we have to have some kind of efficient numerical techniques to deal with that. I’m also currently working on this idea of graduating phase-based transport, which is this tool for understanding dynamics of very complicated systems on a macro scale. What I’m doing there
is really trying to take some theory that’s been developed for lower dimensional cases and lift them up to higher dimensional, more realistic systems.”
What do you hope to achieve with your research here at the University of Minnesota?
“All of these things that I’m trying to track out now are the things that I want to do while I’m there. I think there’s a lot of opportunity to grow these things. For example, Minnesota has really outstanding hypersonics faculty and there’s a lot of opportunities to do that. There’s a lot of applications of hypersonics and reentry vehicles, so that could be really cool to grow some of this optimization stuff, or some of this dynamical systems theory stuff, when you’re dealing with the very complicated physics of hypersonics.”
What do you see as the most important skills or qualities for students to develop while pursuing their education?
“That’s a great question. So the first thing I’ll say is it’s going to be very, very important to have a fundamental understanding from first principles thinking; how things work and how things fit together. There’s problem solving skills, but I think more and more it’s going to become important that you really understand things from a first principles perspective. You might have some intuition about how to solve the problem, or you might be able to look something up online or use AI to solve it for you, but if you don’t understand things at the first principle levels, then you’re not going to be able to do that check to say, ‘Okay, this is correct’ or ‘This is wrong, and here’s why it’s wrong.’
When it comes to outside the classroom, I think it’s becoming more and more important to learn how to utilize your time. Finding ways to organize yourself is becoming more and more important, especially as we have all of these companies trying to keep us on their apps for ten seconds longer. Finding ways to combat that by organizing yourself is really important.”
What’s something surprising about you that your students or colleagues may not know?
“I really like to go backpacking. I recently got into backcountry skiing, which is essentially climbing up the mountain with your skis on. I also make my own pasta from scratch. My base noodle is fettuccine because it’s easy to cut with a knife. In terms of sauce, I like a butter and rosemary sauce. I think that’s my favorite.”
Recent Events
The department recently had the opportunity to host the Twin Cities Aerospace Network (TCAN) Guest Speaker Series.
TCAN is a group of over 400 professionals, educators, and students across the Twin Cities aerospace community that meet monthly to network and share knowledge with one another.
Members of TCAN had the opportunity to learn about current research from three of our grad students and tour some of AEM’s facilities. Graduate students Robert Halverson, Raphael Ribeiro, and Mouliswar Ramapuram Ramakumaresan presented their research in aerospace systems, fluid mechanics, and solid mechanics to those who attended.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what I can include in my setup to make it more robust, accessible, and human-friendly.”
The primary objective of Ramakumaresan’s research is to automate the process, which in turn will help assess the impact strength of various materials more accurately and efficiently.
“I’m working on developing an automated Hopkinson bar setup. If you want to directly have a realistic estimate of how well a material behaves, you use these kinds of experiments,” said Ramakumaresan. “What they have done in the lab is put in the specimen, test it, and analyze the damage it creates. My objective is to automate it, and then, with all the data I collect, study how well optimization and machine learning can be applied to the material so that we can create materials that have better impact strength.”
Once the setup is constructed, the real challenge is modifying it as necessary to address different research questions without needing to build entirely new experimental setups each time. These obstacles are common in experimental research but require a balance of engineering skills and creative thinking to overcome, skills that Ramakumaresan has honed through his research.
“I’m more comfortable and more involved with building setups, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can include in my setup to make it more robust, accessible, and human-friendly. I think that’s where my setup begins, to make it more accessible so that anyone can get much more data than the conventional setup.”
As he continues to work on his research, Ramakumaresan is excited about the prospect of refining his experimental setups and incorporating machine learning into his work, with consistent feedback from his peers and colleagues playing a key role in shaping the way he looks at the project.
“The AEM department has an excellent level of diversity with people from different areas and thought processes, which has helped me look at my research from a holistic perspective and from different angles.”
Student Achievement
Chloe Zeller
As a third-year PhD student focusing on solid mechanics, Chloe Zeller’s research focuses on advancing the materials used in space exploration. Building on the skills from her undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering, Zeller began working with Professor Ellad Tadmor, which sparked her interest in materials research. This led to an internship at NASA, where she was introduced to new opportunities in the field. That summer internship culminated in receiving a NASA fellowship, a pivotal moment that helped propel Zeller into graduate school and set the course for doctoral research.
Zeller’s research primarily involves atomistic simulations of materials, specifically refractory high entropy alloys (HEAs). These alloys, made up of multiple elements, are highly valued for their ability to perform in extreme environments — an area of interest for NASA, particularly in heat shielding and rocket nozzle applications.
HEAs are distinct in that they contain a variety of constituent elements, offering a combination of properties that make them particularly resistant to heat and stress. Zeller’s work aims to understand how the local atomic arrangement, or “ordering,” within these materials influences their overall properties.
By examining how elements interact and position themselves at the atomic level, the goal is to improve the design of these alloys for use in space technology.
During Zeller’s undergraduate studies, there was a clear inclination toward solid mechanics and aerospace structures. These subjects felt intuitive and engaging, leading to an interest in high-entropy alloys. Coupled with a fascination for space exploration, this research direction became a natural choice. The combination of a personal interest in materials science and the growing need for advanced materials for space applications laid the foundation for Zeller’s current research trajectory.
“We have the theory now, but we want to see how that applies to an actual material that we’d want to be testing.”
The overarching goal of Zeller’s research is to improve refractory high entropy alloys to make them more suitable for critical aerospace applications, such as thermal protection systems, rocket nozzles, and heat shielding. By enhancing the alloys’ strength, fracture resistance, and heat tolerance, the research aims to contribute to the improvement of space technology, making it safer and more efficient.
The research relies heavily on coding, utilizing specialized software for molecular dynamics simulations. LAMMPS, a software suite that stands for Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator, is used for simulating atomic behavior in materials and has been a useful tool in Zeller’s work.
“We’ve started out by looking at a simple binary system and performing simulations like stress-strain testing to see how the material behaves under stress,” said Zeller. “Then we’ll be looking at more scaled up fracture simulations, like using a quasicontinuum method and looking at a larger scale fracture simulation.”
As the research advances, the focus will shift to more complex simulations, enabling the simulations to become more realistic and applicable to realworld materials. “We have the theory now, but we want to see how that applies to an actual material that we’d want to be testing,” Zeller explained.
Recently, Zeller found a derivation for this method that has allowed her research group to capture the local ordering within a material and specifically tune what parameters are used in their simulation to how the actual material and the local ordering will react to the material.
“I think it would be really interesting to eventually look at a real material in an experiment and see how it compares to the simulation so that we can have a long-term goal,” Zeller said. “Even after I graduate, that’s something I could look into if I worked at NASA, for example.”
As the research approaches completion, Zeller is looking forward to reaching the goals that she had set three years ago when she began the project.
“It’s just a matter of finding what you’re interested in and going after it.”
Of the numerous applications from across the country, Blinnikov was one of three applicants selected to join the Launch Services team.
He would spend eight months from January to August of 2024 in Merritt Island, Florida, working on the GNC aspects of launch vehicles—specifically, the Falcon second stage at Kennedy Space Center.
“I had the opportunity to write a simulation for the coast attitude control of a Falcon second stage. I got to see all the actual flight software and algorithms that they use,” Blinnikov said.
His task was to take those algorithms and write them in Julia, a programming language similar to Python. He also built a mass property simulation tool that is still in use today, enabling engineers to quickly check if components are in spec rather than running large simulations that consume significant time and resources.
The NASA co-op experience also helped expand Blinnikov’s horizons to a new world of possibilities. “It definitely opened my mind to a lot of different opportunities I wouldn’t have necessarily known were available to me,” he said. “It was surreal to be a part of something so big, and it was because of the different opportunities I had through the AEM department.”
Blinnikov hopes to return to NASA once he graduates and continue to work on the aspects of aerospace that interest him.
Beyond his technical achievements, his involvement in the AEM department stands as a testament to how supportive the community can be.
“One of the benefits of being here is that there are a lot of things going on, both on and off campus,” he said. “It’s just a matter of finding what you’re interested in and going after it. There are definitely a lot of opportunities that are there for the taking. That’s definitely advice I would have given myself in the past.”
Students Look to the Stars for the Future of Space Navigation
Currently, spacecraft and satellites near Earth use GPS, similar to how phones and cars navigate. However, GPS does not work in deep space. Instead, spacecraft rely on a system of large antennas on Earth called the Deep Space Network (DSN). The DSN has been supporting space missions since the Apollo era. As more spacecraft travel into deep space, the demand for the DSN is increasing, and it may eventually be unable to support all missions. Students from the University of Minnesota’s Small Satellite Research Lab (SSRL) are working on a solution by developing a sensor that uses signals from a type of star called a pulsar. Pulsars emit X-ray beams in a very regular pattern, similar to how lighthouses shine beams of light. The SSRL team aims to use these pulsars as natural navigation markers, similar to a GPS system, to help spacecraft determine their location in space.
“I like to think that what our team is working on will ultimately become the main way humans navigate through the cosmos on interplanetary, deep space, and interstellar missions.”
For the past six years, the SSRL team has been focusing on advancing pulsar navigation by creating a much smaller pulsar navigation sensor that will still be able to get a strong lock on a position, impacting future endeavors into space. “When we are sending out probes and [space] ships carrying people out to the Moon, Mars, or asteroid belt, we are going to need better solutions for navigation. I like to think that what our team is working on will ultimately become the main way humans navigate through the cosmos on interplanetary, deep space, and interstellar missions,” said Simeon Shaffar, senior in the AEM department and one of the chief engineers on the team.
The project includes two “sister” space experiments, EXACT and IMPRESS. Both projects will fly the same payload in space, an X-ray spectrometer designed by a collaboration of Professor Lindsay Glesener from the School of Physics and Astronomy and the Montana State University (MSU). In the case of EXACT, the payload will be used for deep space navigation. Students from across the College of Science and Engineering have been working hands-on developing both satellites. Projects like these are made possible through grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) University Nanosatellite Program, which provides funding to university students and programs to design, build, launch, and operate small satellites.
Having passed the latest program review with their AFRL sponsors, the next few months will be spent conforming the current design that the team has built to fit the host specifications. The final stretch for the students involved in the project will be building the flight model out and preparing for their next review in the fall, the culmination of an exciting journey for the SSRL team and all of those who played a role in the project.
Photo
Photo credit: Valerie Bertsch
Additional Wind Tunnel Experiments
In addition to the current wind tunnel experiment, students in their undergraduate aerospace engineering curriculum will participate in two more major wind tunnel experiments
During their senior year, students take AEM 4602, where they conduct two experiments. The first experiment involves a rigorous analysis of lift and drag on a wing. Students use the wind tunnel to test a specific wing design and collect aerodynamic data. They have the freedom to design their own experiment, exploring various wing shapes, configurations, and air velocities.
The second experiment in AEM 4602 uses hot wire anemometry to measure turbulence in airflow. By observing the temperature changes of a heated wire in the airflow, students can assess the turbulence in the wake of a wing at different angles of attack. This experiment complements the first by focusing on how the wing impacts the surrounding airflow.
Real-World Applications
Wind tunnel testing at the University of Minnesota is not limited to coursework. Various student organizations, including CanSat, Rocket Club, SmallSat, and Gopher Motorsports, use the wind tunnel for their own aerodynamic testing. For example, CanSat recently tested parachute designs, and the Gopher Motorsports team uses the tunnel to test aerodynamics for their race car.
Additionally, AEM 4333: Senior Design projects often require students to conduct wind tunnel tests. These students might be testing aircraft they’ve designed or examining specific aerodynamic characteristics, such as turbulence or stall behavior. Wind tunnel testing provides essential data that guides their designs, helping to bring their projects from concept to reality.
AEM junior and Student Lab Assistant Nicholas Evenden built the model aircraft used in the lab to be modular, allowing for students to swap out control surface deflection components.
The Significance of Wind Tunnel Testing
Wind tunnel testing is a core aspect of aerospace engineering education. The primary advantage of using a wind tunnel is the controlled, uniform airflow it provides. Unlike testing in the real world, where airflow may be turbulent due to gusts and variable conditions, a wind tunnel delivers steady, predictable flow. This allows for more accurate measurements and data collection.
The aircraft model used in the experiment is mounted on a “sting,” a horizontal support with embedded strain gauges. These sensors measure the aerodynamic forces and moments acting on the model, allowing students to quantify how the varying control surface deflections affect aircraft performance.
Wind tunnel experiments play a critical role in shaping the education of future aerospace engineers. From the flight dynamics and control experiment in the junior year to the aeromechanics tests in the senior year, students gain hands-on experience that is integral to their understanding of aerodynamics.
Beyond the classroom, wind tunnel testing supports student research in a variety of engineering disciplines, contributing to the development of innovative technologies in aerospace and other fields.
A Local Connection
When most people think of aerospace engineering, they picture jet engines, spacecraft, or flight simulations—not eroding streambanks. For AEM senior Justin Bunting, a passion for the outdoors and a lucky research opportunity led to a project that bridges environmental science and engineering in an unexpected way.
Bunting works on his research in one of the department’s labratories dedicated to the experimental study of turbulent and multiphase flows.
Bunting’s research began when his faculty advisor, Associate Professor Melissa Green, initiated a collaboration with the renowned St. Anthony Falls Laboratory. Through conversations with Jessica Kozarek, who leads the Outdoor Stream Lab, an idea emerged: use the aerospace study of fluid mechanics to investigate how reed canary grass, an aggressive invasive species native to Minnesota, contributes to streambank erosion. Bunting was intrigued. “The more I delved into it, the more I thought that this could actually be something really interesting,” he said.
The core of the research involves modeling a streambank in a controlled lab setting, using simulated vegetation to understand how the presence—or absence—of reed canary grass alters water flow and erosion patterns. It’s a unique approach in a space that typically relies on largescale fieldwork.
Designing the testing apparatus was a major undertaking. “That took me a long time,” Bunting explained. “I had a couple different iterations, built a CAD model, and worked out how to make it modular—adjustable angles, insertable vegetation, and even curved sections.” Funding initially looked uncertain, but then came a surprise boost: the George Oswald Research Scholarship, which allowed the team to bring the design to life.
“We don’t want natural stream mechanics altered by an invasive.”
With the setup complete, Bunting began experimentation using two sophisticated techniques: acoustic Doppler velocimetry (ADV) and particle image velocimetry (PIV). An underwater view
Photo credit: Amy Rager
Early tests have already revealed intriguing trends. Without vegetation, the flow behaves predictably, circulating toward the bank and most likely eroding it. However, when reed canary grass is introduced the water is forced outward, curling in ways that suggest the invasive may actually accelerate erosion—and prevent the bank from naturally recovering its shape.
Long-term, the research could have significant environmental impact. Reed canary grass is spreading rapidly across North America, aided by waterborne transmission and human activity. Understanding how it interacts with stream systems could inform better conservation practices and erosion control strategies. “We don’t want natural stream mechanics altered by an invasive,” Bunting noted. “Protecting these systems matters.”
The project highlights applications of aerospace engineering that can be used to solve problems outside the typical field of study. “I’ve always loved the outdoors,” Bunting said. “I never expected my aerospace degree would put me on a project like this, but it ended up being the perfect blend.”
Beyond the science, the project has also been a crash course in hands-on experimentation, CAD modeling, field research, and academic writing. “Experimentation is a beast,” Bunting remarked. “But I’ve learned so much—about design, about precision, and about how to tackle real-world problems.”
The project has set the stage for more long-term research to be conducted, and Bunting looks forward to seeing what the future holds.
Bunting and lab partner Raphael Ribeiro positioning the ADV device to collect flow measurements.
Close-up of the metal prongs used to simulate the invasive vegetation.
The stories speak for themselves. From a freshman seminar student in the College of Liberal Arts who eventually earned a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, to apparel design majors now developing wearable technologies for space applications, the MnSGC has helped chart many unexpected career trajectories.
Through required “open” programming by affiliates, MnSGC ensures that students from all majors—not just STEM majors—have the chance to participate in NASA-related activities. A standout example? Students in the College of Housing and Apparel Design collaborating on space-ready apparel with embedded sensors, in partnership with Johnson Space Center.
MnSGC also plays a critical role in helping students secure summer internships, both in Minnesota and at NASA research centers such as Langley and Ames. Once students are accepted for internships, the MnSGC provides them with vital financial and logistical support.
The MnSGC also serves critical industry needs in Minnesota. “The state has a strong aerospace sector,” Flaten notes, “but it’s often easier to hire someone local than to convince someone from outof-state to move to Minneapolis in January. We’re helping to grow homegrown talent.”
“We’re here to help people—wherever they’re from, whatever their background—find their way into aerospace.”
With input from an industry advisory board, the MnSGC is exploring emerging state needs—like drone assembly, programming, and operations— reflecting Minnesota’s growing interest in unmanned aerial systems across public and private sectors.
Ultimately, the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium isn’t just about funding projects or facilitating internships—it’s about sparking curiosity and creating pathways. Whether it’s helping a tribal college start a rocketry program, guiding a freshman
into a lifelong career in aerospace, or bringing middle school students face-to-face with near-space experiments, the impact is deeply human.
“It’s about opportunity,” Gebre-Egziabher says. “We’re here to help people—wherever they’re from, whatever their background—find their way into aerospace.”
To learn more about the MnSGC, visit https://www.mnspacegrant.org/.
Engineering the Future: Data-Driven Discovery
The importance of data science continues to grow across disciplines, especially with the rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). At the University of Minnesota, the Data Science Initiative (DSI) serves as a hub for fostering collaboration and communication on campus around all things data science. As part of this broader effort, the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) helped launch a new initiative— funded by the National Science Foundation’s prestigious National Research Traineeship (NRT) program—to integrate data science more deeply into engineering disciplines.
This new program, called Data-Driven Discovery and Engineering from Atoms to Processes (3DEAP), aims to bridge the gap between traditional engineering fields and modern data science. Through cuttingedge research and industry collaboration, the program connects chemical, biological, and materials engineering with systems engineering and data science.
Led by Prodromos Daoutidis, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS) and Director of the Master of Science in Data Science program, 3DEAP includes faculty from across the CSE. Among them is Ellad Tadmor, the Russell J. Penrose Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, who plays a key role in advancing the initiative.
Tadmor brings valuable experience to the program. He is on the Executive Committee of the CSE DSI and serves as the AEM department’s ambassador for the DSI. Tadmor has worked closely with the CEMS department to support their M.S. in Data Science program. He also teaches Data-Driven Molecular Simulation, a core course for both the M.S. and the new 3DEAP PhD programs, which covers the fundamentals of molecular simulation for materials and chemistry with a focus on ML and uncertainty quantification (UQ) techniques.
“It’s like being in a kitchen.”
Now that the 3DEAP program has secured funding, its primary mission is to prepare the next generation of PhD students with both technical and soft skills in data science and engineering. A key focus is on designing materials at the atomic level for specific applications—a shift from the traditional, slower trial-and-error experimentation method in materials science.
Tadmor’s own research focuses on multi-scale modeling, spanning the scales from an atomic level all the way up to the scales at which everyday materials behave. The 3DEAP program expands this idea to processes.
“Traditional materials science is empirical,” Tadmor explains, “It’s like being in a kitchen where ingredients are mixed and processed until desired properties are obtained. This is slow and limits the ability to innovate.”
