Opportunities

Values 

Our group at Georgia Tech strives to

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

Expectations

All prospective group members 

Some tools and resources we use in our group are listed here.  

Prospective undergraduate researchers

Prospective undergraduate researchers who are familiar with aeroelasticity and structural dynamics are especially welcome (having taken AE 4220 Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity is a plus). However, we are open to considering undergraduate students without prior exposure to these topics if they are highly motivated to learn.

 Prospective graduate researchers

While we are open to considering students from all academic backgrounds, we will prioritize those who have engaged with coursework or experiences that most closely align with our work. Publications are welcome but not expected. Experience with finite element and aeroelastic analysis in commercial software such as Nastran is a plus. 

Mentoring Philosophy

Below are some pointers that can help you understand my general approach to mentoring. However, I recognize that different people need a different mentoring approach to reach their maximum potential and I try to adapt to individual needs within the limits of my mentoring philosophy and values.

Work ethic

I expect students to take their education and research seriously. While some students are natural self-starters, I believe everyone can succeed and excel if they are willing to put sustained effort toward their goals. This means that I completely understand that students can face difficulties in their academic path and am always willing to listen and work together to find solutions. At the same time, I do not tolerate any form of dishonesty or lack of work ethic in my students.  

Work hours and locations

I don't enforce specific working hours or locations but I expect students to be self-motivated and always be professional regarding academic and research commitment. I expect students to attend planned meetings, giving enough notice in case there is a need for rescheduling. I expect students to respond to non-urgent emails or Teams requests within one business day. If we are approaching a deadline, I expect a faster response, but we will have a communication about these rare occasions.

Group meetings

For Fall 2023, we are holding biweekly group meetings that revolve around research updates and occasionally professional development topics. Long-term group members pursuing a Ph.D. are expected to attend group meetings to build a community and learn from each other. Shorter-term group members are very welcome but not expected to attend. The frequency and structure of our group meetings may evolve as the group grows.

Individual meetings

I meet with everyone at least weekly (Ph.D. and M.S. with Thesis students) or biweekly (M.S. without Thesis and B.S. students) and am always happy to find additional time in my schedule when we need more frequent interactions. I am also more or less always available on Teams for quick questions or chats. 

Publishing

While students should not be chasing 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, I recommend that Ph.D. students plan at least one publication per year after their first year, and encourage M.S. and B.S. students to get involved with publishing to the extent they have time and interest in developing scientific writing skills. I am aware that not all students will have published before joining the group and will guide them through the process.

Funding

I don't expect students to bring funding and bringing funding does not guarantee acceptance into the group if there is no fit or we are at capacity. This said, I strongly encourage students to identify and apply for any funding opportunities they may be eligible for, such as fellowships, travel grants, and student awards, among others. This both helps our group finances and builds people's CVs. I'll support students in their applications and point out relevant opportunities.

Career goals

I don't expect my students to want 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 how to pursue a faculty career, I will do my best to support students interested in any other career path.

How to reach out

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 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 due to a large number of requests.

Resources: 

Undergraduate students

Status: we are at full capacity for Spring 2024

Prerequisite courses: System Dynamics and Vibration (required or co-required),  Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity (preferred)

Prerequisite skills: programming experience in any language (required), previous undergraduate research experiences (preferred)

Funding: we can work with interested students to help them apply for salary awards under the Georgia Tech PURA program

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 in my research 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 30 min unless we agree to skip. Most of the meeting is about discussing research, but I often use some time to talk about 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, for our B.S./M.S. program). 

Scholarship opportunities:

Graduate students

Please note: 

Status: 

Prerequisite courses: 

Prerequisite skills: 

Funding: most of the 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 joining 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 provide advice on preparing your graduate school application. However, you are welcome to send me an email to let me know of your intention to apply and provide information about your background and interest. I will look for your application if it passes the initial screening, there is a fit, and I have openings in my group. 

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 December 1, 2023. 

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 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). Graduate students with experience in both structural dynamics and aeroelasticity will receive priority consideration. 

AE 8900 projects are assigned on a rolling basis until we reach maximum capacity (1 student/semester).

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

Postdoctoral researchers

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

Prerequisite degrees: Ph.D. in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering (we might be able to work with graduates from other fields)

Prerequisite skills: advanced coding experience in any language (required), expertise in structural dynamics and/or aeroelasticity (required)

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 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:

Visiting scholars

Status: we are not hosting visiting scholars for the remainder of 2023

Prerequisites: to be assessed case by case

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