Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Ohio State

Congratulations to Lillien Heywood, who was awarded the prestigious 2026 Defense Associated Graduate Student Innovators Fellowship through the Ohio Air Force Research Laboratory. 🥳

Funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the fellowship will support her research in the design, fabrication and characterization of resonant micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices for position, navigation and timing applications.

Heywood’s work addresses key device limitations in state-of-the-art MEMS resonators, aiming to improve device stability using nonlinear dynamics for high sensitivity sensors and clocks. The research will be conducted at both Ohio State and the AFRL.

“My advisor, Hanna Cho, and I are looking forward to new collaboration opportunities with ARFL,” Heywood explained. “This fellowship connects us to ARFL researchers conducting exciting MEMS research in state-of-the-art labs. [Their] experimental capabilities combined with Ohio State’s will provide enhanced results for our devices and a more well-rounded project.”

🔗 Learn more about her MEMS research: https://bit.ly/4nYF5wO

We are elated to share that Kang Xu, a world-renowned scientist and expert in battery technology, has been named an Ohio Eminent Scholar and Howard D. Winbigler Chair in Engineering at The Ohio State University, effective August 15, 2026. 🥳

Xu is widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts in electrolyte materials and interface science, with more than 30 years of experience and a publication record that includes some of the most cited works in the field. His research has shaped modern understanding of advanced electrolytes, interphases and next‑generation battery chemistries.

“I’m thrilled that Kang Xu is joining our community of world-class scholars at Ohio State,” said university President Ravi V. Bellamkonda. “Our bold vision for excellence starts with our people – talented students, faculty and staff who create transformative impact across Ohio and beyond. With our Game Changer Scholars initiative, we will attract and retain even more top talent to Ohio State, and Dr. Xu’s appointment is an exciting step toward that goal. With Dr. Xu on board, I know we will continue to be a leader and innovator in the evolving field of battery technology.”

🔗 Learn more about Xu's career achievements, international recognition and record of scientific innovation: https://bit.ly/4tMcaNS

Last week, the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering faculty and staff came together to honor three remarkable colleagues whose collective impact will shape the department for years to come. Professors Tunc Aldemir, Jami Shah, and Jen-Ping Chen will retire this summer and officially conclude their roles. Their departures marked the end of an era defined by leadership, innovation and commitment to students and research.

The department extends its deepest gratitude for their many years of dedicated service and wishes them the best as they begin this new chapter of their lives.

🔗 Learn more about their impact and explore how they’ve shaped the fields of mechanical, aerospace and nuclear engineering: https://bit.ly/42OfNb4

Congratulations to Fariha Haque, mechanical engineering PhD candidate, who was selected as one of approximately 30 participants in the 2026 Rising Stars in Computational and Data Sciences Workshop held at the Santa Fe Institute. 🥳

The highly competitive workshop gathers some of the most promising early-career researchers in the field for two days of research presentations, career discussions and collaborative exchange.

As part of the program, Haque presented her dissertation research, “Beyond Performance: Designing Photonic Systems in Extreme Conditions,” which focuses on developing next-generation photonic and optical components while understanding how advanced materials behave under extreme conditions.

“It was truly a great experience for me, seeing talented researchers from so many different disciplines and realizing that the mathematical and data science foundations underlying all our work share a common thread,” Haque shared. “It showed me different ways of thinking and different perspectives of looking at things no matter what field you are working in. That was a new and very valuable insight for me.”

Link more about her recognition and research: https://bit.ly/4eLnExh

“On the tarmac outside the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force sits an F-15 Eagle. When it flies faster than the speed of sound, pressure forces generate lift, turbulence and shockwaves create drag, and their interaction fills the sky with thunder. My research at The Ohio State University involves studying similar aerodynamic phenomena with mathematical equations and understanding them with colorful plots on my computer screen. But here in Dayton, those abstractions take a physical form. For an international student pursuing aerospace engineering, it felt more than a museum visit. It was an academic pilgrimage," shares Varun Pant, a PhD student from India in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Ohio State.

America 250-Ohio | America250 | The Ohio State University College of Engineering
https://oia.osu.edu/news/2026/05/11/your-america-250-words-varun-pant?utm_campaign=oia_marketing-activity_fy26&utm_content=1778694541&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

We had a great time at this year's COSI Big Science Celebration! 🤗 Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booths and to our dedicated faculty, staff and students who are inspiring the next generation of engineers! 🧪

Early last month, MAE students and their faculty advisors traveled to the University of Michigan to compete in this year's AIAA Region III Conference.

Students from across the Midwest gathered to present technical papers, share research findings, and engage with peers and professionals in the aerospace community. Ohio State was represented by multiple student teams showcasing work in spacecraft propulsion, aerothermal analysis and liquid rocket engine development.

Congratulations to everyone on a successful weekend!

🔗 Learn more about the research students presented at the conference: https://bit.ly/4uFBWo1

Congratulations to Tom Davis, graduating senior in engineering physics with a minor in nuclear engineering, who won the Best Paper award at the ANS Student Conference earlier this April! 🥳

Tom's paper, titled "ANSYS Simulation of Hydrogen Bubbly Flow in a Rotating Centrifugal Fuel Element," highlights the research he has been involved with since his sophomore year.

His work focuses on high-fidelity, transient multiphase computational fluid dynamics simulations of hydrogen bubbly flow within a rotating centrifugal fuel element, which contributes directly to reducing technical risk in next-generation nuclear thermal propulsion systems for deep-space missions.

After graduating this spring, Tom will pursue his master's in nuclear engineering with Associate Professor Dean Wang. 🎓

We had a great time celebrating our graduating MAE seniors on Wednesday! In true Buckeye fashion, we commemorated the last four years with some Adriatico’s pizza 🍕

Thank you to our undergraduate advising team for hosting and to all the staff and faculty members who came to recognize the graduating class.

We are so proud of these incredible students even though they are taking a pizza our hearts when they leave us next week. 😉🎓

Glizzys to celebrate the end of the school year? Yes please! 🌭 This year's group of ME2900 undergraduate teaching assistants rounded out their hard work with a well-earned hot dog party after two semesters of keeping everything running smoothly.

We appreciate all your hard work and hope you relish in your summer break! 😉