Thermal and fluid science research at George Mason spans computational and experimental domains, with applications in diverse fields including computational modeling of blood flow, disease studies and drug discovery, improving the energy efficiency of waste-water treatment, and understanding ship motions in waves.
Areas of Focus
Computational Hemodynamics
Researchers investigate the role of hemodynamics (blood flow) in cerebrovascular diseases; specifcally, 3D image-based computational fluid dynamics is used to model blood flow in cerebral arteries on a patient-specific basis. The focus of this research is mainly on cerebral aneurysms and ischemic strokes.
Principal Investigator: Juan Cebral
Nano/Micro-Scale Transport Engineering
This research examines the fundamental physics underlying nano- and microscale transport phenomena in fluids, with particular emphasis on interfacial effects and the influence of electric fields. It seeks to advance understanding of how transport processes behave and can be controlled at small scales. The outcomes of this work are expected to enable the design of more sustainable energy systems, improve the efficiency and affordability of wastewater treatment methods, and contribute to the development of improved medical treatments, including approaches for diseases such as cancer.
Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Moran
Marine Robotics and Vessel Dynamics
Capitalizing on George Mason’s unique waterfront facility at the Potomac Science Center, this research focuses on computational and experimental studies to better understand the dynamics and hydrodynamics of manned and unmanned vessels.
Principal Investigator: Leigh McCue
Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Systems
This research advances electromechanical microfluidic systems to tackle global challenges in health, environment, and energy sectors. It spans three areas:
- Studying the fundamentals of complex multi-phase fluids at the micro/nano scales.
- Developing point-of-care sensors for a wide variety of emerging contaminants.
- Innovating organ-on-a-chip platforms for disease studies and drug discovery.
Principal Investigator: Pouya Rezai
"Picture a tiny submarine, small enough that you need a microscope to see it, that propels itself through liquids despite having no moving parts. We are designing, modeling, and fabricating several varieties of these artificial microswimmers, and researching their applicability for applications including wastewater remediation, heat transfer enhancement, and cancer treatment."
— Jeffrey Moran, assistant professor of mechanical engineering