Taira Lab - Computational and Data-Driven Fluid Dynamics Group
Our group studies a variety of fluid mechanics problems with research interests in the areas of computational fluid dynamics, flow control, data science, network theory, and unsteady aerodynamics. Our studies leverage numerical simulations performed on high-performance computers.
Point of Contact: Kunihiko Taira
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UCLA
email: ktaira[at]seas.ucla.edu,
office: Engineering IV, 46-147A, lab: Boelter Hall 4420
Current members:
Luke Smith, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2022- [GS]
Ph.D. 2020, B.S. 2015 (University of Maryland).
Research interests: CFD, unsteady aerodynamics, model reduction.
Victoria Rolandi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2023- [GS]
Ph.D. 2021 (ISAE-Supaero); M.S. 2018 (Politecnico di Milano); B.S. 2015 (Politecnico di Torino).
Research interests: CFD, stability analysis, turbulence.
Alec Linot, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2023- [GS]
Ph.D. 2023 (University of Wisconsin - Madison); B.S. 2017 (Kansas State University).
Research interests: unsteady aerodynamics, turbulence, data-driven modeling.
Kai Fukami, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2024- ; Graduate Research Assistant 2020-24; Visiting Graduate Student 2018-19 [GS]
Ph.D. 2024 (UCLA); M.Eng. 2020, B.Eng. 2018 (Keio University).
Research interests: Turbulence, machine learning.
Vedasri Godavarthi
Graduate Research Assistant 2019- [GS]
M.Tech. 2019, B.Tech. 2018 (Indian Institute of Technology Madras).
Research interests: Networks, dynamical systems, flow stability/control.
Yonghong Zhong
Graduate Research Assistant 2020- [GS]
M.S. 2020, B.S. 2017 (Huazhong University of Science and Technology).
Research interests: CFD, stability/control, modal analysis.
Youngjae Kim
Graduate Research Assistant 2022-
M.S. 2020, B.S. 2018 (Sogang University).
Research interests: CFD, turbulence, data-driven modeling & analysis.
Hiroto Odaka
Graduate Research Assistant 2022-
B.Eng. 2022 (University of Tokyo).
Research interests: CFD, machine learning.
Jonathan Tran
Graduate Research Assistant 2023-; Undergraduate Research Assistant 2021-23
B.S. 2023 (UCLA).
Research interests: CFD, control theory, machine learning.
Christopher McCormick
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2023-
Research interests: 3D printing, flight dynamics, CFD.
Hiroshi Omichi
Visiting Graduate Student (from Keio Univ) 2023-24
B.Eng. 2023 (Keio University).
Research interests: reduced-order modeling, flow control, machine learning.
Past Members (Graduate Students):
Kai Fukami, Ph.D.
Graduate Research Assistant 2020-24; Visiting Graduate Student 2018-19 [GS]
Ph.D. 2024 (UCLA); M.Eng. 2020, B.Eng. 2018 (Keio University).
Research interests: Turbulence, machine learning.
Jean Helder Marques Ribeiro, Ph.D.
Graduate Research Assistant 2018-23 [GS]
Ph.D. 2023 (UCLA); M.S. 2017 (Univ of Campinas); B.S. 2014 (Federal Univ of Minas Gerais).
Research interests: CFD, modal analysis.
Dylan C. House
Graduate Research Assistant 2020-21; Undergraduate Research Assistant 2019-20
M.S. 2021, B.S. 2020 (UCLA).
Research interests: CFD, control theory, applied math, propulsion.
Muralikrishnan Gopalakrishnan Meena, Ph.D.
Graduate Research Assistant 2015-20 [GS]
Ph.D. 2020 (UCLA); M.S. 2018 (Florida State Univ); B.Tech. 2014 (Cochin Univ of Sci and Tech).
Research interests: Network theory, flow control, reduced-order modeling, turbulence.
Chi-An Yeh, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2018-21; Graduate Research Assistant 2013-18 [GS]
Ph.D. 2018 (Florida State U); M.S. 2010 (National Taiwan U); B.S. 2006 (National Chiao Tung U).
Research interests: Flow stability/control, unsteady aerodynamics.
Aditya G. Nair, Ph.D.
Graduate Research Assistant 2013-18 [GS]
Ph.D. 2018 (Florida State University); M.S. 2012 (University of Michigan); B.E. 2011 (Mumbai University).
Research interests: CFD, network theory, hydrodynamic stability, model reduction.
Yiyang Sun, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2017-18; Graduate Research Assistant 2012-17 [GS]
Ph.D. 2017 (Florida State University); B.S. 2012 (Huazhong University of Science and Technology).
Research interests: CFD, LES, flow control, hydrodynamic stability.
Phillip M. Munday, Ph.D.
Graduate Research Assistant 2011-17.
Ph.D. 2017, B.S. 2011 (Florida State University).
Research interests: CFD, LES, flow control, hydrodynamic stability.
Ryan T. Jantzen
Graduate Research Assistant 2012-14.
M.S. 2014, B.S. 2012 (Florida State University).
Research interests: Unsteady aerodynamics, vortex dynamics.
Past Members (Postdocs/Staff):
Chi-An Yeh, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2018-21; Graduate Research Assistant 2013-18. [GS]
Ph.D. 2018 (Florida State U); M.S. 2010 (National Taiwan U); B.S. 2006 (National Chiao Tung U).
Research interests: Flow stability/control, unsteady aero.
Amin Khodkar, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2019-20. [GS]
Ph.D. 2017 (UC Santa Barbara); B.Sc. 2013 (University of Tehran).
Research interests: Reduced-order modeling of geophysical turbulence, data-driven forecasting.
Calum Skene, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2019-20.
Ph.D 2019, M.S. 2015, B.S. 2014 (Imperial College London).
Research interests: Fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic stability, network theory, adjoint methods.
Kai Zhang, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2017-20. [GS]
Ph.D 2017, M.S. 2014 (Yokohama National Univ); B.S. 2011 (Xi'an Jiao Tong Univ).
Research interests: Aerodynamics, flow induced vibrations, flow control.
Qiong Liu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2016-20. [GS]
Ph.D 2016, M.S. 2014 (U Politécnica de Madrid); M.S. 2011 (Northwestern Polytechnical U); B.S. 2008 (Shenyang Aerospace U).
Research interests: Flow stability, transition, flow control.
Yiyang Sun, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2017-18; Graduate Research Assistant 2012-17. [GS]
Ph.D. 2017 (Florida State University); B.S. 2012 (Huazhong University of Science and Technology).
Research interests: CFD, LES, flow control, hydrodynamic stability.
Matthew Jemison, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2014-16.
Ph.D. 2014, M.S. 2011, B.S. 2009 (Florida State University).
Research interests: CFD, fluid-structure interaction, immersed boundary methods.
Alejandro Rivera-Alvarez, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate 2014-15.
Research interests: Stability analysis, networks.
Hui-Chun (Melody) Wu
Laboratory Adminstrator 2018.
Research interests: bioinformatics, neuroscience, anatomy.
Past Members (Visitors):
Gabrielle Claus
Visiting Graduate Student 2024.
From Univ of New Hampshire.
Research interests: Resolvent analysis, stability of flows, turbulence, vortex dynamics.
Masato Imai
Visiting Graduate Student 2023.
From Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.
Research interests: Experimental fluid dynamics, pressure-sensitive paint, modal analysis.
Samadhan A. Pawar, Ph.D.
Visiting Scholar 2022. [GS]
From Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
Research interests: Complex systems, synchronization, instability control.
Tulio Rodarte Ricciardi
Visiting Graduate Student 2019-20.
From University of Campinas.
Research interests: CFD, turbulence, aeroacoustics, modal analysis.
Yoimi Kojima
Visiting Graduate Student 2019, 2020.
From Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.
Research interests: Flow control, unsteady/high-speed aerodynamics.
Masahiro Kanazaki, Ph.D.
Visiting Scholar 2019 [GS]
From Tokyo Metropolitan University.
Research interests: Aerodynamics, design optimization.
Kai Fukami
Visiting Graduate Student 2018-19 [GS]
From Keio University.
Research interests: Turbulence, machine learning.
Guy Yoslan Cornejo Maceda
Visiting Graduate Student 2019.
From Université Paris-Sud.
Research interests: CFD, numerical methods, LES, unsteady aerodynamics, transition.
Byungjin An, Ph.D.
Visiting Scholar 2018.
From Ebara Corporation.
Research interests: CFD, flow control.
Brener d'Lélis Oliveira Ramos
Visiting Graduate Student 2018.
From University of Campinas.
Research interests: CFD, numerical methods, LES, unsteady aerodynamics, transition.
Past Members (Undergraduate Students):
Jonathan Tran
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2021-23
Research interests: CFD, control theory, machine learning.
Vishal Anantharaman
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2021-23
Research interests: CFD, modal analysis, machine learning, data-driven methods.
Paul Hawkins
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2021-22
Research interests: CFD, applied math, machine learning.
Jason Feldkamp
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2020-21.
B.S. 2021 (UCLA).
Research interests: CFD, data-driven analysis, control theory.
Dylan House
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2019-20.
B.S. 2020 (UCLA).
Research interests: CFD, control theory, applied math, propulsion.
Anna Zhong
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2019-20.
B.S. 2020 (UCLA).
Research interests: biological flows, turbulence.
Orion Yeung
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2017-19.
B.S. 2019 (Florida State University).
Research interests: CFD, network theory.
Caroline Walker
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2017-18.
B.S. 2018 (Florida State University).
Research interests: Aeroelasticity, aerodynamics.
Tyler Pilet
NSF-REU Student 2017.
Research interests: Bubble dynamics.
Asiegbu Kanu-Asiegbu
NSF-REU Student 2016.
Research interests: Martian aerodynamics.
Peter Van Brussel
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2015.
Research interests: Synthetic jets.
Brandon Gusto
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014-2015.
Research interests: Asymptotic methods.
Daniel Canuto
Undergraduate Research Assistant/NSF-REU Student 2013-2014.
B.S. 2014 (Florida State University).
Research interests: Compressible cylinder flow.
Matthew Boebinger
NSF-REU Student 2014 (Co-advised with Prof. Shih).
Research interests: Biological locomotion.
John-Paul Milton
NSF-REU Student 2014 (Co-advised with Prof. Alvi).
Research interests: Swirling jets.
Colby Borchetta
Undergrad Research Assistant/NSF-REU Student 2012-2013.
Research interests: Unsteady aerodynamics.
Bereket Abraham
NSF-REU Student 2012.
Research interests: Unsteady bluff body flows.
Casey Brown
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2012.
Research interests: Unsteady aerodynamics.