We strive to
Welcome qualified and motivated people from all nationalities, backgrounds, and identities
Provide everyone with a supportive and collaborative environment for professional and personal development
Keep a growth mindset: success is the result of sustained effort, embracing challenges, persisting through failure, and seeking feedback
Broaden participation in aerospace engineering by watching our blind spots, paying our opportunities forward, and lifting others as we advance
Every group member is expected to
Share our values
Have an excellent work ethic
Have an interest in computational research
Be proficient in coding in at least one programming language
Have an interest in topics related to structural dynamics and aeroelasticity
Some tools and resources used in our group are listed here.
Undergraduate researchers are expected to
Have completed at least one full academic year as an AE or ME major
Commit to at least two consecutive semesters of research (can be across different academic years)
Dedicate 3 to 9 hours a week (on average) to the assigned research tasks (consistent with the number of academic credits)
Graduate researchers are expected to
Have earned a BS or MS in AE or ME by the time of joining
Master the theory and practice of UG dynamics, structures, and aerodynamics
Dedicate 20 hours a week (on average) to the assigned research tasks, including scholarly writing
Dedicate 20 additional hours a week (on average) to academics and degree progression (classes, homework, etc.)
Postdoctoral researchers are expected to
Have earned a PhD in AE or ME by the time of joining
Be experts in structural dynamics, aeroelasticity, and related topics
Dedicate 40 hours a week (on average) to the assigned research tasks, including scholarly writing
Play an active role in mentoring graduate and undergraduate group members and in assisting with proposal writing
Visiting researchers are expected to
Meet the expectations for their appropriate career stage listed above
Secure funding from their home institution or other external sponsors to support their visit
Be responsible for the logistics of the visit (e.g., securing visas, finding housing, and transportation)
Work ethic and honesty
I expect group members to take their education and research VERY seriously. I know that difficulties are inherent to growth, and I am always willing to work with mentees to find solutions. However, I do not tolerate dishonesty or a lack of work ethic in our group.
Work hours and locations
I do not enforce work hours or locations because if one lacks work ethic, requiring them to spend hours in the lab will not help. However, I expect group members to make the most out of the flexibility granted by being self-driven, professional, and respectful of the time and financial resources I devote to them. I expect everyone to attend planned meetings, letting me know of any rescheduling in advance, and to respond to non-urgent requests within a business day. I expect faster responses if we are close to a deadline, but we will have an upfront conversation around these cases.
Group meetings
We hold weekly or biweekly group meetings. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are expected to attend regularly.
Individual meetings and communications
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.
Weekly updates
Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers (including visiting students) must provide me with a weekly update on what they did, which tasks are pending, and which topics we need to discuss. While most of these updates focus on research, they should also include any other items that require my input, such as course planning, applying for fellowships or awards, and other career-building topics. These updates should be given in a Word document in our Teams channel, unless we have agreed otherwise.
Undergraduate students should also provide me (or their graduate mentor) with a semi-regular weekly update, either verbally during our meetings or via Teams. However, they are encouraged and welcome to adopt the same format as graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Publishing
While we should not chase papers, I encourage group members to publish regularly. First, writing is thinking. Second, sharing our findings with the scientific community is the primary way we 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 one secure their next position, and effective communication skills are critical for ANY career path. For these reasons, graduate students should plan at least one publication per year after their first year. I also encourage UG students to get involved in publishing, particularly if interested in graduate research.
Funding
I do not expect mentees to bring funding, and being funded does not guarantee acceptance into the group if there is no fit. That said, group members are expected to apply for relevant opportunities such as awards, fellowships, and travel grants. Securing resources is a key component of many (if not all) career paths, and I consider the process of applying for opportunities an important aspect of professional development, regardless of the outcomes. I am happy to dedicate time to supporting application efforts.
Career goals
I do not push group members to stay in academia (I did not want to be a Professor myself when I was a student). While I can provide first-hand advice on pursuing a faculty career, I will do my best to support mentees interested in other paths (and those who don't know what they want to do next yet).
General instructions
Please reach out via email (not social media!)
Mention who you are and what you are looking for (PhD position, UG research, etc.)
If you are inquiring about a research opportunity
Describe your background and attach your CV
Mention if you are looking for a funded position
Mention your tentative start date and time commitment
Describe your interests in structural dynamics and aeroelasticity
If you follow the instructions above, I will generally reply within 1-2 weeks.
Before sending me an email, please note
I do not distance-advise UG, MS, or PhD students at other institutions (I only advise students affiliated with GT)
I cannot direct-admit graduate students to my group (all students must apply to one of our programs to be admitted to GT)
I do not tolerate emails with insincere rhetoric, hyperbolic language, copy-pasted words from this website, or stretched claims of fit
I will likely not reply if
The email gets my name, institution, or research area wrong
The email mentions background and interests that have nothing to do with my research area
We talked recently, and I have already said that I cannot offer an opportunity in the foreseeable future
The email addresses me inappropriately ("Hey Cristina", "Dear Madam", "Dear Sir", or other unprofessional salutations)
The email only mentions an interest in being funded, but does not provide any details about the specific background and interests
The email sounds like it was generated using ChatGPT or other similar artificial intelligence tools (yes, it is easy to recognize the tone)
Additional information
Additional information about the GT AE programs can be found below:
Some useful tips for emailing a potential advisor can be found below:
Undergraduate researchers
Please inquire about opportunities at least one semester in advance. Generally, students who have joined the group in the Spring and Fall semesters have reached out in the early Fall and late Spring, respectively. I do not take on students during the Summer aside from no more than one student under the Georgia Tech SURE program. Applications for this program are due in February. Students are encouraged to reach out early if interested in working with our group through this fully funded mechanism. See also here.
Graduate researchers
If you plan to apply for our MS or PhD programs, you are welcome to reach out. I am generally happy to set up meetings with interested students if my schedule allows. I evaluate applications for Spring and Fall admission in October (for Spring) and December or January (for Fall), respectively. I issue any funding offers in November (for Spring) and by the end of March (for Fall), respectively. If you are a current or admitted GT AE graduate student, you are welcome to reach out at any time. However, please understand that I may not be able to offer a funded opportunity on short notice.
I do not hold appointments in GT Schools other than AE. This means that I will not be able to serve as the main advisor and fund students outside AE.
Fall 2026 admission: due to the current funding uncertainty and delays in evaluating grant applications, I may not finalize funded admission decisions before early April. If you are interested in joining our group and have secured funding (such as through a fellowship), please do not hesitate to reach out.
Postdoctoral researchers
I do not currently have funded openings for postdoctoral researchers. However, I am open to considering prospective postdocs funded by or planning to apply for fellowships. You are also welcome to reach out to discuss potential future funded opportunities.
Visiting researchers
I evaluate inquiries for visiting positions on a rolling basis. Visiting researchers are expected to have funding support from their home institution.
Prerequisite skills
Programming experience in any language (required)
Experience with version control using Git (preferred)
Prerequisite courses
AE 3530 System Dynamics and Vibration (preferred, may be required for some projects)
AE 4220 Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity (preferred)
Funding
Undergraduate research opportunities are generally for academic credit, aside from potential Summer opportunities under the SURE program
I am happy to work with interested students to help them apply for salary awards under the PURA program or for relevant scholarships
How undergraduate research works in my group
I will propose a research topic based on ongoing efforts in the group. Once we have set the topic, I will outline the activities for the semester and provide readings to get started. I meet with undergraduates on a need basis, typically every 2 or 3 weeks for 15-30 minutes. Most meetings focus on research, but I also use some time to provide academic and career advice. In addition to meetings, I regularly interact with UG students via a Teams channel and chat. Some UG students may be paired with a graduate student as their primary mentor, depending on the project.
Fall 2026 admission: due to the current funding uncertainty and delays in evaluating grant applications, I may not finalize funded admission decisions before early April. If you are interested in joining our group and have secured funding (such as through a fellowship), please do not hesitate to reach out.
The Mentoring page lists relevant fellowship opportunities for graduate students in our field.
Some upcoming fellowship deadlines are listed below:
Please note
Prospective graduate students must go through the regular application process for a GT AE graduate program to be considered by our group
I can only offer a limited number of funded positions (Graduate Research Assistantships) per year, depending on the availability of funds
The Graduate Program Chair coordinates the assignment of funded teaching positions (Graduate Teaching Assistantships)
Prerequisite skills
Programming experience in any language (required)
Experience with version control using Git (preferred)
UG research or other technical experiences (preferred)
Prerequisite courses
Dynamics, structures, and aerodynamics (required)
Structural dynamics (preferred) and aeroelasticity (preferred)
Funding
Funded opportunities are generally for PhD students, though funding for MS students may occasionally be available
I am happy to advise students interested in joining our group on fellowship applications (see the Mentoring page), if my schedule allows
Prospective students
You should apply for the GT AE MS or PhD program, with "Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics" among your areas of interest.
If you apply for our MS program, please indicate whether you are interested in completing an MS Thesis.
See the additional guidance on the typical timeline for reaching out earlier on this page.
You can find information about applying here (MS AE) and here (PhD AE).
Current students
If you are already at GT and are considering me as a potential advisor, I assume you are in the MS AE or MS AE DL program (as we do not admit unadvised PhD students). Therefore, you may be interested in a graduate research opportunity connected to AE 8900 or an MS Thesis. These opportunities are not necessarily associated with a funded position, though they can be.
I currently only offer AE 8900 projects to graduate students in my group, as a single semester of research is too short for a productive learning experience. If you are interested in working with our group, you should plan to work with us for at least one full semester before enrolling in AE 8900. You should also plan to take a graduate course I teach, unless you have a background in structural dynamics and aeroelasticity.
If you are interested in an MS Thesis, please send me an email following the above guidelines and timeline. MS Thesis projects require a commitment of at least three semesters and are assigned on a rolling basis until we are at capacity.
How graduate research works in my group
For MS and PhD students funded by my projects, the research scope is generally defined upfront. While I am happy to leave students the freedom to pursue their ideas, this will be possible only after we have met the original project deadlines and deliverables.
For students funded through fellowships or employers, I am very flexible regarding the research scope, as long as it remains in my area of expertise and contributes to the overall research focus of the group.
Regardless of the funding source, I work with all students to develop long-term and short-term plans for their academic and research progression. This also includes plans for relevant career-building activities, such as applying for awards and gaining teaching or industry experience.
I regularly meet with graduate students, typically every week or biweekly, for as much time as we need and my schedule allows. These meetings focus on research, academics, and career-building topics. I also regularly interact with students via a dedicated Teams channel and the chat.
Most graduate students in my group complete internships at Government laboratories or industry. I am actively involved in identifying internships that augment the work done during the academic year and align with students' long-term career goals.
I do not anticipate funded openings for postdoctoral researchers in 2026.
Eligible graduating students or postdocs are encouraged to apply for relevant postdoctoral fellowships (see the Mentoring page).
Prerequisite skills
Advanced coding experience in at least one scientific computing language (required)
Expertise in structural dynamics, aeroelasticity, and supporting subjects (required)
How postdoc research works in my group
Postdoc research will work as for graduate students. The main difference will be in the project's complexity and the expected level of independence.
Visiting researchers are expected to have funding support from their home institution and commit to in-person visits (no virtual visits).
Prerequisites
See the above prerequisites for your career stage.
How research as a visiting scholar works in my group
See the above guidance for your career stage.
Note for international visitors
We cannot help resolve issues or delays associated with securing visas to enter the U.S..
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.
We cannot currently accommodate high-school researchers.