Dr. Allen’s research focuses on identifying biomechanical targets that can guide interventional decisions in rehabilitation and device design for individuals with ambulatory impairments. This work leverages musculoskeletal modeling and machine learning techniques to identify deficits in lower-extremity biomechanics and to predict how different interventions or devices will improve ambulatory function. Dr. Allen and collaborators have recently identified several potential biomechanical targets for reducing fall risk and improving mobility in older adults and stroke survivors that her group is following up in NSF and NIH funded projects.
Dr. Allen joins us from West Virginia University, where she is an Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering. She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She then completed post-doctoral training at Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. During her training, she was a recipient of both an NSF graduate research fellowship and an NIH F32 individual post-doctoral fellowship.
As a native (north) Floridian and UF Alum, Dr. Allen is excited to head back to Florida and to don the orange-and-blue again!
Dr. Costello’s research focuses on understanding the role of movement biomechanics and physical activity in musculoskeletal health, with an emphasis on knee osteoarthritis. This work utilizes motion capture, wearable sensors and machine learning to examine how time-varying, multidimensional joint loads experienced during human movement contribute to disease progression.
Dr. Costello joins us from a NIH F32 & T32 funded postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training at Boston University and the Section of Rheumatology at the Boston University School of Medicine. She previously completed her doctoral work in biomedical engineering at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, a master’s degree in biomedical engineering at Virginia Tech and her undergraduate degree in biomedical and mechanical engineering at Duke University. Dr. Costello also spent a year doing research at the Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado and a year completing a Fulbright scholarship at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
GATAS Lab: https://gataslab.org/
Research:
Dr. James Fairbanks’ work specializes in the areas of Computational Science and Engineering, Computational Mathematics, numerical methods, and high-performance computing (HPC). He aims to utilize applied category theory, and algebraic techniques for designing and developing software for technical computing problems. In the realm of Computational Mathematics, his research focuses on using mathematical modeling and numerical methods to address challenges in scientific computing and data-driven engineering. He is interested in compositionality in engineered and scientific systems, especially mathematical and theoretical foundations for the design and analysis of complex and hierarchical systems. Research in these topics is fueled by problems in robotics, dynamics, and control and computational physics including computational fluid mechanics.
Research Experience:
Dr. Fairbanks has previously worked on applications of high-performance computing techniques to solve complex problems in fields such as healthcare, social science, epidemiology, biology, and physics. graph algorithms, and analytics. He has previously worked at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (Atlanta, GA) and interned at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore, CA) and Center for Computing Sciences (Bowie, MD).
Teaching bio:
Dr. James Fairbanks’ teaching philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that computational and applied mathematics is essential to modern engineering. Students should be prepared to practice engineering with foundations to understand and appreciate the complexities of numerical methods. These skills and knowledge are critical for students to succeed in all ways that engineers impact society.
Courses taught:
Fall 2022 “Abstraction Composition and Computation” (CIS4930/6930),
Spring 2023 “Numerical Analysis: A Computational Approach” (COT4501).
Spring 2024 “Numerical Analysis: A Computational Approach” (COT4501).
Teaching Interests:
EGM 6341 Numerical Methods of Engineering Analysis I
EGM 3344 Introduction to Numerical Methods of Engineering Analysis
Active Projects: https://gataslab.org/projects
Publications: https://gataslab.org/research
Research Interests:
Applied Category Theory, Computational Science and Engineering, Data Science, Numerical Methods, High Performance Computing, Design and Analysis of Complex Systems, Compositional Systems
Dr. Famiglietti earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in 2022 after which he worked in the biotech startup community in Gainesville for several years before returning to UF to teach.
Teaching Interests
Engineering Design, Design for Manufacturing, Mechanics, Measurement and Analysis Techniques
Claire Grégoire is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. She received her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, US, and her M.S. from the University of British Columbia, CA. Her research entails the experimental study on combustion processes while developing detailed chemical kinetics model that are crucial for sustainable transportation energy and safety of next-generation lithium-ion batteries. She is an expert in laser absorption spectroscopy and optical diagnostics, specializing in their application in shock tube experiments to investigate reaction chemistry at conditions relevant to advanced combustion systems and solid rocket propellants.
Education
Ph.D., 2024, Texas A&M University, US
MS, 2018, University of British Columbia, CA
BS-MS, 2015, Université d’Orléans, FR
Teaching Interests
Compressive Flow, Combustion, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Optical Techniques.
Research Interests
Combustion, Gas Dynamics, Chemical Kinetics, Laser Diagnostics and Spectroscopy, Shock Tubes, Micro-Flow Reactors, Detonation, and Multiphase Flows.
Awards
• John H.S. Lee Young Investigator Award, ICDERS (2025)
• Dissertation Fellowship, TAMU (2023)
• Mike Walker ’66 Impact Award, TAMU (2022)
• Ralph-James Fellowship, TAMU (2021)
Selected Publications
• Mathieu, C. Grégoire, E.L. Petersen. Assessment of Detailed Kinetics Models for CO Formation in Ethylene Combustion via Time-Resolved Laser Absorption. Fuel 405 (2025) 136641.
• Grégoire, E.L. Petersen. Laser Absorption Measurements of HCl in a Shock Tube for Investigating the Chemical Kinetics of Rocket Propellants. AIAA SciTech 2025 Forum (2025) AIAA 2025-1381.
• Grégoire, O. Mathieu, J. Kalman, E.L. Petersen. Review and Assessment of the Ammonium Perchlorate Chemistry in AP/HTPB Composite Propellant Gas-Phase Chemical Kinetics Mechanisms. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 106 (2025) 101195.
• Mathieu, C. Grégoire, E.L. Petersen. Shock-Tube Study of the Oxidation of Ammonia by N2O. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 40:1-4 (2024) 105250.
• Grégoire, Y.M. Almarzooq, M. Khan-Ghauri, P. Diévart, L. Catoire, E.L. Petersen, O. Mathieu. Enhancing Lithium-Ion Battery Safety: Investigating the Flame-Retardant Efficacy of Bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) Carbonate during Ethyl Methyl Carbonate Combustion. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 40:1-4 (2024) 105559.
• Grégoire, S.P. Cooper, M. Khan-Ghauri, S.A. Alturaifi, E.L. Petersen, O. Mathieu. Pyrolysis study of dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and ethyl methyl carbonate using shock-tube spectroscopic CO measurements and chemical kinetics investigation. Combustion and Flame 249 (2023) 112594.
Chase Hartquist is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. He obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he investigated the mechanics of fracture in soft network materials. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied the mechanics of vascular surgery and biomedical materials. His research focuses on understanding the mechanical and failure behaviors of soft structures, networks, and polymers. This work leverages fundamental structure-property relationships across length scales to inform design of high-performing soft materials and structures for emerging applications in medical technology and clean energy.
Education
Ph.D., 2025, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MS, 2021, Washington University in St. Louis
BS, 2020, Washington University in St. Louis
Research Interests
Solid Mechanics, Soft Materials, Polymer Physics, Biomechanics, Medical Devices
Teaching Interests
Mechanics of Materials, Continuum Mechanics, Fracture Mechanics, Biosolid Mechanics, Soft Tissue Mechanics
Originally from Korea, Sunjae moved to West Lafayette, IN in 2020 for his doctoral study at Purdue. Following his graduate work, he started as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida in January 2026.
His research focuses on understanding the effects of gravity on multiphase thermal-hydraulic characteristics, with a particular emphasis on cryogenic flow boiling physics. His primary goal is to leverage multiphase fluid-thermal science to innovate in-space thermal management systems. Prior to his doctoral studies, he worked as a Research Engineer at the Agency for Defense Development, a national lab in South Korea, where he focused on developing advanced thermodynamic systems for naval defense applications.
Education
Ph.D., 2025, Purdue University
M.S., 2017, Mechanical Engineering, Korea University
B.S., 2015, Mechanical Engineering, Korea University
Research Interests
Cryogenic Propellant Management (CFM)
Two-phase Thermal Management Systems
Boiling and Condensation
Parabolic Flight Experiments
Ultra-High Power Electronics Cooling
Teaching Interests
Heat Transfer
Thermodynamics
Fluid Mechanics
Two-phase flow and heat transfer
Research Groups
Space Systems
Thermal Transport, Thermodynamics and Power
Energy
Fluid Dynamics and Acoustics
Dr. Jaeyun Moon is leading the Complex Materials Group at the University of Florida within the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department. He obtained his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from California Institute of Technology. During his Ph.D., he was a visiting scientist at Stanford University and SLAC National Laboratory and received a Samsung Fellowship, Resnick Graduate Fellowship, and an Acosta Fellowship. He did postdoctoral trainings at Cornell University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dr. Moon is a recipient of the International Union of Crystallography Young Scientist Award for his work in thermal properties of glasses. His research focuses on microscopically understanding fundamental materials properties of various complex materials such as liquids and glasses and harnessing this knowledge for providing novel design principles for various applications ranging from batteries and nuclear reactors to thermoelectrics. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, swimming, and hiking.
Education
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology (Caltech), 2020
M.S., California Institute of Technology (Caltech), 2016
B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) with the highest honor, 2014
Awards
Samsung Fellowship
Resnick Graduate Fellowship
Acosta Fellowship
International Union of Crystallography Young Scientist Award
SAMPE Tech Conference Outstanding Paper Award
Dr. Patrick Musgrave received his PhD from Virginia Tech in 2018 and BSc & BSE from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012. Dr. Musgrave’s research focuses on adaptive and morphing systems operating in fluidic environments, in particular systems subject to dynamic fluid-structure interactions. These systems are inherently multi-physical and sit at the intersection of structures, hydro/aerodynamics, mechatronics, smart materials, and controls. To investigate these systems, Dr. Musgrave’s research emphasizes a combination of experimentation and analytic/reduced-order modeling. Applications of interest include bio-inspired underwater propulsion, underwater robotics, embedded sensing, and compliant aerospace systems.
Prior to joining the University of Florida in the Fall of 2021, Dr. Musgrave was a research scientist at the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in the Naval Center for Space Technology. At NRL, he was a Jerome Karle’s Fellow and received early career funding in the area of bio-inspired underwater propulsion. Dr. Musgrave is a DAAD Scholar, having held a post-baccalaureate research position at the Technical University of Munich.
Education
Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering), 2018, Virginia Tech
BSc (Physics) & BSE (Mechanical Engineering), 2012, University of Pittsburgh
Research Interests
Bio-inspired propulsion, adaptive systems, embedded sensing, fluid-structure interactions, structural dynamics
Jing Pan received his PhD from Purdue University in 2017. His research focuses on developing nanoscale machineries for biotechnology applications. He conducted his postdoctoral research at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he demonstrated translational impact of his work in novel biosensors and molecular diagnostics.
Education
Postdoc, 2019 Stanford University
Ph.D, 2017 Purdue University
B.S, 2011 Xi’an Jiaotong University
Teaching Interests
Heat and Mass Transfer; Classical and Statistical Thermodynamics; Modern Optics and Imaging System Engineering; Biodesign
Research Interests
Macromolecular Machines; Directed Evolution; Self-assembly and self-organization; Bio-nanotechnology; Synthetic Biology; Medical Technology.
Alicia Petersen is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at the University of Florida. Through data analysis, instrumentation and modeling, Dr. Petersen researches the kinetic physics, magnetism and dynamics at play during the transit and interaction of space weather phenomena in the inner solar system, their impacts on spacecraft, and strategies for mitigating the impacts of space weather.
Dr. Petersen joined the Department of MAE in 2022 after being an NRC Research Fellow at the Space Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory where she researched the propagation of space weather events in order to improve space weather forecasting, with the aim of enhancing space situational awareness and protecting space-based assets for the US Air Force and Space Force. Dr. Petersen earned her PhD and MS from the Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering Dept. at the University of Michigan.
Research
Space weather events have damaging effects on spacecraft, communications, GPS, air transportation, and power systems. Space weather is caused by phenomena which originate at the Sun and propagate through the inner solar system before reaching Earth. This region is dominated by the Sun’s heliospheric magnetic field, which is both shaped by and shapes the propagation of ionized plasma and particles throughout the solar system. This includes explosive eruptions of plasma known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and energetic particles known as solar energetic particles (SEPs). Dr. Petersen’s lab, SWIFT (Space Weather Impacts, Forecasting and Transit) at MAE does computational modeling of the Sun’s magnetic field and solar electrons in the inner solar system, designing/building instrumentation for monitoring space weather and using in situ space-based observations of solar particles to investigate the propagation and interactions of space weather events.
Education
Dr. Alicia Petersen earned her PhD & MS in Space Physics, Engineering and Scientific Computing from the Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering Department in the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. Dr. Petersen spent two years studying particle physics and German while studying abroad in Erlangen, Germany and doing research at the Remeis-Sternwarte Observatory in Bamberg, Germany. She earned her undergraduate degree in Physics and Mathematics from Kalamazoo College in Michigan.
Teaching
The Space Environment; Space Physics; Heliophysics; Dynamics; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice (DEIJ) in STEM,
Engineering Education and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Dr. Petersen has served on the Executive Committee of the American Geophysical Union’s Education Section. She researches and implements research-based education practices in her lab and classroom to create engaging and inclusive learning environments. Dr. Petersen is passionate about promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and has extensive training and experience engaging in actions to enhance DEI in the teaching, research and culture of academia.
Dr. Christopher “Chrispy” Petersen is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Department at the University of Florida. His research interests lie in anything related to space guidance, navigation, control, and autonomy, with particular focus of making techniques real-time implementable and usable for operators. While all of space interests him, his research mostly is concerned with Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) and any satellite in the eXtra Geostationary (XGEO) regime (above geostationary orbit, to the Moon, and beyond).
Dr. Chrispy Petersen joined the Department in 2022. Before that, he was a Research Aerospace Engineer and a Deputy Program Manager at the Space Vehicles Directorate of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RV) located at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. While at AFRL he worked on 10+ satellite experiments, developing, deploying, and executing guidance, navigation, control, and autonomy (GNCA) algorithms for ground and on-orbit use. As a highlight, Dr. Chrispy Petersen was the PI for advanced autonomous guidance algorithms used by the Mycroft flight experiment which has been recognized as “…the AF’s biggest game changer” for space warfighters. Before he left, he served as the Deputy Program Manager of the Autonomous Demonstrations and Orbital eXperiments (ADOX) Portfolio, which is a series of satellite demonstrations focused on autonomy technologies to enable satellite inspection, XGEO space domain awareness and logistics in GEO including advanced propulsion and refueling. For his accomplishments, in 2021 he was awarded the AFRL Early Career Award. In addition to his duties at AFRL, he was a Research Professor at the University of New Mexico in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, teaching classes on nonlinear control and spacecraft dynamics, estimation, and control.
Research
Dr. Chrispy Petersen looks at four research pillars that cross theory and application
- Exploring and exploiting spacecraft dynamics
- Advanced guidance, navigation, control and autonomy (GNCA)
- Real-time computationally aware optimization for spacecraft
- Immersive human-satellite interfaces
He is interested in all four pillars for space applications, but primarily focuses on two domains: i) Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPO), where two or more satellites fly within 500 km of one another, and ii.) eXtra Geostationary Orbit (XGEO) operations, where satellites fly past the Earth, the Moon, and beyond. He enjoys a healthy balance between theory and application in order to improve state-of-the-art space technology. At UF Dr. Petersen’s lab, the Spacecraft Technology And Research (STAR) Lab, is developing, designing, and deploying methods for satellites.
Education
Dr. Chrispy Petersen earned his PhD (2016) & MS (2014) in Spacecraft Dynamics & Control in the Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Michigan. Before that he earned his BS summa cum laude in Aerospace Engineering from Syracuse University (2012), with minors in Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Music Performance.
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Astronautical Society, Member
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
Institute of Electrics and Electronics Engineers, Member
Teaching Interests
Dynamics; Nonlinear Control; Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control; Optimization. Optimal Control; Linear Systems
Awards
- 2021 AFRL Early Career Award
- 2021 AFRL Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Engineering Achievement Award
- 2020 AFRL/RV Rotary National Aware for Space Achievement (RNASA) Team Award (EAGLE/Mycroft)
- 2020 AFRL STEM Exploratory Or Advanced Tech Development Team Award (EAGLE/Mycroft)
- 2019 AFRL Annual Award Commander’s Cup Team Award (EAGLE/Mycroft)
- 2018 AFRL Nominee for Theodore Von Karman Team Award (EAGLE/Mycroft)
Dr. Jingjing Shi’s research focuses on understanding energy transport and conversion to solve thermal challenges in different systems, with an emphasis on wide and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor devices for future power and radio-frequency applications. Her work utilizes multiscale modeling and experimental methods to understand effects of different mechanisms like atomistic structures and defects on energy transport in materials and at interfaces. The findings are leveraged for the electro-thermal codesign of power and RF devices to maximize their performance.
Dr. Shi is now a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Electronics Manufacturing and Reliability Laboratory in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. She received her Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University, and her bachelor’s degree in Engineering Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering from Tsinghua University.
Jane Shin is an assistant professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Florida. She received the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and the B.S. degree in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering from Seoul National University.
During her PhD, she closely collaborated with the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Panama City (NSWC PCD) on developing novel information-driven sensor path planning algorithms for underwater multi-target classification using side-scan sonar sensors. Her expertise is in developing sensor path planning algorithms based on information theory and machine learning methods applied to underwater acoustic imagery. She also has expertise in developing computationally efficient path planning algorithms based on computational geometry. She was selected as a Commercialization Fellow at Cornell in 2020.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., 2021, Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University
M.S., 2019, Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University
B.S., 2017, Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Seoul National University
Professional Memberships and Fellowships
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Member
Institute of Electrics and Electronics Engineers, Member
TEACHING INTERESTS
Control Theory, Underwater Robotics, Robotics Sensor Perception and Planning Algorithms
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Robotics Sensor Perception and Planning, Robot Motion and Path Planning, Information-driven Approaches, Underwater Robotics
Youngsup Song is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. He obtained his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, where he investigated multiphase heat transfer. Following his graduate work, he trained as a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory before joining the University of Florida.
Education
Ph.D., 2021, Mechanical Engineering, MIT
M.S., 2012, Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University
B.S., 2010, Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University
TEACHING INTERESTS
Heat transfer, Thermodynamics, Renewable energy
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Thermo-fluid science, Energy system, Advanced materials, Interfacial phenomena
Yu Wang is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida (UF) and the Group Lead of Autonomous and Connected Vehicles of the UF Transportation Institute. He was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Statistics and Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). His research focuses on assured autonomy, cyber-physical systems, machine learning, and formal methods. This work on statistical verification of hyperproperties for cyber-physical systems was selected as one of the Best Paper Finalists of the ACM SIGBED International Conference on Embedded Software (EMSOFT) in 2019.