Opportunities

Values 

My group at Georgia Tech strives to:

If you are interested in joining and these values resonate with you, please continue reading.

Expectations

Prospective group members are expected to be interested in topics related to aeroelasticity and structural dynamics and share our values. 

Prospective undergraduate researchers who are already familiar with aeroelasticity and structural dynamics are especially welcome. However, prior exposure to these topics is not necessarily a prerequisite for being considered for undergraduate research in our group. 

Prospective graduate students are expected to have some fundamentals in aeroelasticity and/or structural dynamics to be considered for our group. While we are open to considering students from all backgrounds, we will prioritize students who have the most relevant coursework and research experiences (ideally both). 

Beyond previous knowledge, the potential for growth and commitment to learning will also play a strong role in selecting new group members. 

All group members conduct some form of computational research, so experience with coding or willingness to learn very quickly is expected. We code in Python, C++, Fortran, and/or MATLAB (knowing one programming language is enough to pick up other languages quickly).   

Experience with finite element and aeroelastic analysis, especially using Nastran, is welcome but not expected. 

Some tools and resources we use are listed here. Long-term group members should use some (LaTeX for writing, Git for version control, etc.).  

Additional expectations on various topics are below. Most of this is oriented toward Ph.D. students but some of it applies to all group members:

How to reach out

Thank you for your interest. Below are some instructions on how to reach out:

Before sending me an email, please note:

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

I may not reply if:

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

Additional information about the GT AE programs, how to apply, and deadlines are below:

We can host visiting students from other institutions, but they are expected to have their own funding (more in the dedicated section below).  

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

Resources: 

Undergraduate students

Status: we are considering students interested in starting in Fall 2023. 

If you would like to learn about research opportunities, please reach out via email to arrange a meeting.  I am happy to meet in person or virtually. 

Funding: we are currently unable to offer paid undergraduate research opportunities but we can work with interested students to help them apply for salary awards under the Georgia Tech PURA program. Please make sure you reach out early enough if you would like to apply for this.

You are not expected to have taken AE 4220 Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity before starting research in our group, though I would recommend it. The class will give you fundamentals in this area and help you understand if it aligns with your interests. It will also help us understand if there is a good advisor-advisee fit. 

You are not expected to have done undergraduate research before.

How undergraduate research works in my group: I will give you a list of potential topics. You are welcome to pick a topic from the list or propose other topics (within reason). 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 week for 30 min unless we agree to skip. Most of the meeting is about discussing research, but I often use some time to talk about topics such as classes and job opportunities. I also involve undergraduate researchers in experiences such as meetings with other students or collaborators, preparing papers, and so on. I am happy to support students interested in multiple semesters of research (for instance, to qualify for our B.S./M.S. program). 

Scholarship opportunities:

I am happy to provide feedback on application materials to current or prospective group members interested in applying for scholarships.

Graduate students

Status: 

Funding: most funded opportunities are for Ph.D. students, though funding for M.S. students may occasionally be available. 

Prospective students

If you are a prospective graduate student interested in our group, you should first apply to the GT AE graduate program. You are encouraged to list Aeroelasticity and Structural Dynamics as your primary research area and me as a faculty member you would like to work with

Due to the high volume of requests, I am unable to meet with prospective graduate students before the application deadline or provide advice on preparing the application. However, you are welcome to send me an email to let me know of your interest and intention to apply. I will look for your application if it passes the initial screening. 

Please note that a student must be assessed as admittable to our program by the admission committee before I can consider offering a funded research opportunity (GRA position). I cannot offer funded positions to students who have not applied to one of our programs or who have been determined to be not admittable.

Please note that I am unable to offer graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs) to prospective graduate students, as these are administered by the graduate program Chair. I can offer a limited number of graduate research assistantships (GRAs) per admission cycle, depending on the current availability of funds. 

You can find information about applying here (M.S.) and here (Ph.D.). 

The deadline to apply for full consideration for the next admission cycle is October 1, 2023. The review of applications is underway. 

Current students

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

AE 8900 projects

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

I will not be able to accept students who don't meet these requirements (without these prerequisites, I will not be able to define a meaningful research project that can be carried out during a semester due to the lack of fundamental background). Graduate students with experience in both structural dynamics and aeroelasticity (as opposed to structural dynamics only) will receive priority consideration. 

AE 8900 projects are assigned on a rolling basis until we reach maximum capacity. I recommend you reach out well before the beginning of the semester in which you plan to take AE 8900 to make sure we have room for a project for you. 

How AE 8900 graduate research works in my group: research will work as described for undergraduate students who take undergraduate research for credit. The difference will be in the complexity of the research project.  

How M.S. or Ph.D. research works in my group: depending on the funding source, students may or not have a pre-assigned project. If the position is funded by a sponsored project, the research scope will be defined. While I am happy to leave students free to pursue their own research directions, this will be possible only as long as the project goals and deadlines are met. If a student brings their own funding (e.g., fellowship), there is flexibility from my side regarding the 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 for the following few months. 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 meeting time is dedicated to discussing research, but I often use some time to talk about academics or career-development topics. 

Resources:

Graduate fellowship opportunities:

I am happy to provide feedback on application materials to current or prospective group members interested in fellowship opportunities. 

Postdoctoral researchers

Status: we are open to considering postdoctoral researchers as long as they have their own funding

Funding: we are currently unable to offer funded positions for postdoctoral researchers. If you are interested in joining our group, check the funding opportunities below. 

If you are a recent/soon-to-be Ph.D. graduate or postdoctoral researcher 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 Ph.D. students (though we do not have funding for postdocs at this stage). The main difference will be in the complexity and length of the research project. I will do my best to help postdocs secure their next positions. The academic job search is very fresh in my mind, but I am also supportive of postdocs interested in other career paths.

Resources:

Postdoctoral fellowship opportunities:

I am happy to work with postdocs interested in joining our group to help them secure funding. 

Visiting scholars

Status: we are not hosting visiting scholars for the remainder of 2023. Please check back for additional availability. 

Funding: visiting scholars are expected to have their own funding

We are only open to hosting visiting scholars who can come to Georgia Tech (no virtual visits). If you are interested in this option, you are welcome to reach out via email to discuss potential topics of mutual interest that you could work on with us. 

How research as a visiting scholar works in my group: research will work as described for undergraduate and graduate students above, but the complexity of the research project will vary depending on the visitor's career stage (M.S. student, Ph.D. student, etc.) and length of the visit. 

Note for international visitors: we are not involved in the paperwork to obtain visas and we cannot help with resolving visa-related issues or delays. You should keep this in mind when planning to visit, depending on your time constraints (dissertation defenses, graduation dates, etc.).

Note for all visitors: we are not able to provide on-campus housing for visitors. You are expected to take care of housing and travel arrangements. 

High-school students

Status: we are currently unable to accommodate high-school researchers