Optical Diagnostics and Imaging Laboratory

Our People

 

 

Principle Investigator (PI): Dr. Waruna Kulatilaka

Professor & Morris E. Foster Faculty Fellow I

J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering (MEEN)

& Department of Aerospace Engineering (AERO, by courtesy)

Research Interests:
  • Optical Diagnostics and Imaging
  • Laser Spectroscopy and Ultrafast Lasers
  • Combustion and Energy Conversion
  • Hypersonics and High-Speed Propulsion
  • Propellants and Energetics
  • Extreme Materials
  • Remote Sensing
  • Fluid Flow and Plasma Diagnostics
  • Gas Turbine Combustion and IC Engines
Teaching (Regular Courses):
  • MEEN 489/680: Optical Techniques for Engineers
  • MEEN 404: Engineering Laboratory
  • MEEN 315: Principles of Thermodynamics
Education:
  • Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 2006
  • M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2002
  • B.Sc. (Hons), Mechanical Engineering, University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka, 2000
Previous Employment:
  • Senior Research Scientist / Onsite Contractor: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RQTC), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, 2009–2014
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate: Combustion Research Facility, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA, 2007–2008
Awards & Honors:
  • 2022 J. Mike Walker ‘66 Department of Mechanical Engineering – James J. Cain ‘51 Faculty Graduate Teaching Award
  • 2019 TEES Engineering Genesis Award
  • 2017–present Morris E. Foster Faculty Fellow I
  • 2015 Senior Member, OPTICA (formerly, The Optical Society, OSA)
  • 2014 Fellow, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • 2013 Forty Under 40 Award, Dayton Business Journal
  • 2013 Invited Speaker, Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Laser Diagnostics in Combustion
  • 2012 Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
  • 2012 Outstanding Technical Contribution Award, Dayton Section of ASME
  • 2011 Invited Speaker (Hot Topics), GRC on Laser Diagnostics in Combustion
  • Chair-Elect (2021–2023), Central States Section of The Combustion Institute
  • Member (Elected) – Aerodynamic Measurements Technologies Technical Committee (AMT-TC) and Propellants and Combustion Technical Committee (P&C-TC) of AIAA
Homepage
LinkedIn

 

 

Graduate Students (Current):

1. Pradeep Parajuli (Ph.D. Student)

Thesis Topic:

 

2. Christian Schweizer (Ph.D. Student)

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3. Gavin Lukasik (Ph.D. Student)

Thesis Topic:

 

4. Matt Hay (Ph.D. Student)

Thesis Topic:

 

5. Kristi Naude (MS Student)

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6. Matthew Intardonato (MS Student)

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7. Manuel Suarez (Ph.D. Student)

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Undergraduate Students (Current):

1. 

 

 

 

Graduate Students & Postdocs (Completed):

8. Yejun Wang (Last Position – )

 

 

 

7. Ayush Jain (Last Position – )

 

 

 

6. Will Swain (Last Position – Research Engineer, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM)

 

 

 

5. Tyler Paschal (Last Position – Blast Effects Consultant, Baker Risk, San Antonio, TX)

 

4. Ayobami Shoyinka (Last Position – Engineer, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Fort Worth, TX)

 

3. Yejun Wang (Last Position – Postdoctoral Researcher, TAMU, College Station, TX)

 

2. Nicholas Niemiec (Last Position – Southwest Research Institute, SwRI, San Antonio, TX)

 

1. Morgan O’Neil (Last Position – Test Engineer, SpaceX, McGregor, TX)

 

 

Undergraduate Research Graduate Students  (Completed):

19. Diana Dyer, Aerospace Engineering, TAMU

18. Andrew Gorman, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU

17. William Weinert, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU

16. Ben Gorr, Aerospace Engineering, TAMU (NSF/ONR, Fall 2017–Spring 2019)

15. Gus Kendrick, Aerospace Engineering, TAMU (NSF/DOE, Summer 2018–Fall 2018)

14. Andrew Marsh, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU (NSF, Summer 2018–Spring 2019, Current: Ph.D. Student-Georgia Institute of Technology)

13. Kristi Naude, Mechanical Engineering, Letourneau University (NSF-REU, Summer 2018, Summer 2019)

12. Julia Derdena, Mechanical Science and Engineering, UIUC (NSF-REU, Summer 2017)

11. Tianyi (Tom) Nan, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU (USRG, Summer 2017)

10. William Swain, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU (NSF-REU, Summer 2017, Current: Graduate Student-TAMU)

9.  Griffin Judge, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU (TEES, Summer 2017)

8.  John Stalling, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU (TAMU/TEES, Fall 2016, Current: Graduate Student-Stanford University )

7.  Cade Capps, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU (NSF, Summer 2016)

6.  Kevin Campbell, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU (TAMU/TEES, Summer 2016, Fall 2016, USRG, Summer 2017)

5.  Brian Brubacker, Mechanical Engineering, TAMU (TAMU-PSU REU Program, Summer 2016)

4.  Josh Dudash, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Penn State (TAMU-PSU REU Program, Summer 2016)

3.  Patrick Behne, Nuclear Engineering, TAMU (NSF, Spring 2016, Current: Ph.D. Student-TAMU)

2.  Brian Mendoza, Mechanical Engineering, UT-El Paso (NSF-REU, Summer 2015)

1.  Mario Orrantia, Mechanical Engineering, UT-El Paso (NSF-REU, Summer 2015, Current: MS Student-UT-El Paso)