Xander de Wit
August 2026 - Present
Xander is a Richard Feynman Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow and CNLS Fellow
B.S. and M.S., Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands, 2021
Ph.D., Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands, 2026
Benjamin Savino
August 2026 - Present;
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Mississippi, 2021
Ph.D., Engineering Science, University of Mississippi, 2026
Derek Kuldinow
August 2026 - Present; (co-mentor; with William Taitano and Solomon Jankunen, T-5)
Derek is a Director's Funded Postdoctoral Fellow
B.S., Physics, Yale University, 2021
Ph.D., Physics, Stanford University, 2026
Matthew Golden
February 2026 - Present; (co-mentor; with Gianluca Delzanno and Solomon Jankunen, T-5)
B.S., Physics and Mathematics, Ohio Northern University, 2017
Ph.D., Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2023
Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2026
Alexander Hrabski
October 2023 - May 2026
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2018
M.S., Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2020
Ph.D., Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2023
First position after postdoc: Scientific Applications Programmer, Lynker.
Michael Woodward
February 2024 - June 2026; Michael was a Harold Agnew National Security Postdoctoral Fellow and a CNLS Fellow .
B.S., Mathematics, Northern Arizona University, 2013
M.S., Mathematics, Northern Arizona University, 2020
M.S., Applied Mathematics, University of Arizona, 2020
Ph.D., Applied Mathematics, University of Arizona, 2023
First position after postdoc: Scientist, XCP-8, LANL.
Alessandro Gabbana
April 2024 - August 2025; Alessandro was a Director's Funded Postdoctoral Fellow and CNLS Fellow .
B.S., Computer Science, Università degli studi di Ferrara, Italy, 2013
M.S., Computational Science and Engineering, Umeå universitet, Sweden, 2015
Ph.D., Physics and Applied Mathematics, European Joint Doctorate: Università degli studi di Ferrara, Italy, and Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Germany, 2019
Postdoctoral Researcher, Università degli studi di Ferrara, Italy, 2019-2020
Postdoctoral Researcher, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, 2020-2024
First position after postdoc: Assistant Professor, Università degli studi di Ferrara, Italy.
Cale Harnish
October 2022 - September 2024
B.S., Physics, Indiana University South Bend, 2012
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 2018
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 2022
First position after postdoc: Scientist, XCP-1, LANL.
Robert Chiodi
June 2022 - August 2023
(co-mentor; with Peter Brady, CCS-2, Andrew Sornborger and Michael McKerns, CCS-3)
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Darmouth, 2014
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University, 2017
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University, 2020
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2020-2022
First position after postdoc: Scientist, CCS-2, LANL.
Colin Towery
October 2020 - October 2022
(co-mentor; main mentor: Juan Saenz, XCP-4)
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, 2010
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2018
Postdoctoral Scholar,University of Colorado, Boulder, 2018-2020
First position after postdoc: Senior Research Associate, University of Colorado, Boulder.
Yifeng Tian
May 2019 - March 2022
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, 2013
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, 2019
Current position: Principal Data Scientist, Stem, Inc.
Denis Aslangil
September 2019 - August 2021
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey, 2012
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Lehigh University, 2015
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Lehigh University, 2019
Current position: Assistant Professor, Colorado School of Mines.
Nek Sharan
April 2019 - August 2021
(co-mentor; main mentor: Peter Brady, CCS-2)
M. Tech & B. Tech., Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, 2011
Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016
Postdoctoral Scholar, Caltech and NASA JPL, 2016-2019
First position after postdoc: Assistant Professor, Auburn University.
Arvind Mohan
April 2018 - April 2021
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Government College of Engineering, India, 2011
M.S., Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Ohio State University, 2013
Ph.D., Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Ohio State University, 2017
First position after postdoc: Scientist, CCS-2, LANL
Prakash Shrestha
March 2019 - February 2021
(co-mentor; with Balu Nadiga and Peter Brady, CCS-2)
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal, 2011
M.S., Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University, 2014
Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2019
First position after postdoc: Scientist, NASA
Nairita Pal
March 2019 - February 2020
B.S., Physics, Calcutta University, India, 2009
M.S., Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, 2011
Ph.D., Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 2017
First position after postdoc: Scientist, T-3, LANL
Don Daniel
February 2015 - November 2017
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Kerala, India, 2008
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 2013
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 2014
First position after postdoc: Scientist, XCP-4, LANL.
Peter Brady
March 2014 - March 2017
B.S., Physics and Mathematics, Houghton College, 2004
Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Arizona State University, 2011
Postdoctoral Scholar, Cornell University, 2011-2014
First position after postdoc: Scientist, CCS-2, LANL.
Rebecca Bertsch
August 2014 - June 2016
(co-mentor; main mentor: Robert Gore)
B.S., Physics, Colorado College, 2007
M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2010
Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2014
First position after postdoc: Scientist, XTD-IDA, LANL.
Jon Baltzer
May 2013 - November 2015
B.S.E., Mechanical Engineering, Arizona State University, 2005
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Arizona State University, 2012
Postdoctoral Fellow, Royal Military College of Canada, 2012-2013
First position after postdoc: Scientist, CCS-2, LANL.
Zhaorui Li
October 2012 - August 2015
B.S., School of Jet Propulsion, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (China), 1999
M.S., School of Jet Propulsion, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (China), 2002
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, 2008
Research Associate, Michigan State University, 2008-2012
Current position: Associate Professor, Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Jaiyoung Ryu
November 2010 - March 2014
B.S., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University (S. Korea), 2000
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2004
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2010
Current position: Associate Professor, Korea University, S. Korea.
Bertrand Rollin
June 2009 - April 2014
(co-mentor; main mentors: Malcolm Andrews and Jon Reisner)
B.S., Mechanics, Universite de Poitiers (France), 2003
Diplome d'inginieur, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Ecole Nationale Superiure (France), 2005
M.S., Energetics, Universite de Poitiers (France), 2005
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Vermont, 2008
Current position: Design Physicist, LLNL.
Tie Wei
July 2009 - September 2012
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University of Science and Technology (China), 1993
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology (China), 1996
Ph.D., University of Utah, 2004
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Pennsylvania State University, 2005 - 2009
Current position: Professor, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Marion Vance
2010 - 2012
B.S.E., Mechanical Engineering, Arizona State University, 1998
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Caltech, 2000
Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2008
Lecturer, Arizona State University, 2006 - 2010
First position after postdoc: Scientist, LANL
Arindam Banerjee
2006 - 2007
(co-mentor; main mentor: Malcolm Andrews)
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University (India), 1999
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology, 2002
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2006
Current position: Professor and Dept. Chair, Lehigh University
Huidan Yu
October 2006 - February 2009
B.S., Physics, Zhejiang Normal University (China), 1984
Ph.D., Physics, Peking University (China), 2001
Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, 2004
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Texas A&M University, 2004 -2006
Current position: Professor, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Yunghee Kang
October 2005 - December 2006
B.S., Mathematics, Dong-Guk University (S. Korea), 1993
M.S., Mathematics, Pulsan National University (S. Korea), 1996
Ph.D., Applied Mathematics and Statistics, State University of New York, Stony Brook
First position after LANL: Research Scientist, National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Mississippi
Sheikh Md Shakeel Hassan
June 2026 - Present
(thesis advisor Prof. Aparna Chandramowlishwaran)
Shakeel is a 2026-2027 LANL–SoCal Hub Graduate Fellow
University of California, Irvine
Akash Bhunia
June 2026 - Present
(thesis advisor Prof. Sharath Girimaji)
Texas A&M University
Swapnil Majumder
October 2021 - Present
(thesis advisor Prof. Sharath Girimaji)
Texas A&M University
Jay Standridge
October 2022 - August 2026
(thesis advisor Prof. P. Cizmas)
Texas A&M University University
First position after Ph.D.: Senior Software Engineer, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
Kevin Cherng
February 2019 - December 2025
(thesis advisor Prof. Sanjiva Lele)
Stanford University
First position after Ph.D.: Postdoc, LANL
Ankit Gautam
October 2020 - October 2025
(thesis advisor Prof. Ricardo Mejia-Alvarez)
Michigan State University
First position after Ph.D.: Postdoc, Arizona State University
Christon Hyett
November 2021 - November 2025
(co-thesis advisor with Prof. Michael Chertkov)
University of Arizona
First position after Ph.D.: Data Scientist at JuliaHub
Yinmin Yiu
October 2020 - October 2024
(thesis advisor Prof. Peyman Givi)
University of Pittsburgh
First position after Ph.D.: Postdoc, University of Pittsburgh
Muhammad Shahadat
August 2019 - September 2024
(co-thesis advisor with Prof. Farhad Jaberi)
Michigan State University
Current position: Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University,
Michael Woodward
November 2021 - February 2024
(co-thesis advisor with Prof. Michael Chertkov)
Michael is the recipient of FY22 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Fellowship
and the 2023 LANL Distiguished Student Performance Award
University of Arizona.
First position after Ph.D.: Harold Agnew National Security Postdoctoral Fellow, CCS-2/LANL
Cale Harnish
June 2015 - August 2022
(co-thesis advisor with Prof. Karel Matous)
University of Notre Dame
First position after Ph.D.: Postdoctoral Research Associate, CCS-2/LANL
Denis Aslangil
October 2014 - August 2019
(co-thesis advisor with Prof. Arindam Banerjee)
Lehigh University
First position after Ph.D.: Postdoctoral Research Associate, CCS-2/LANL
Yifeng Tian
February 2015 - May 2019
(co-thesis advisor with Prof. Farhad Jaberi)
Michigan State University
First position after Ph.D.: Postdoctoral Research Associate, CCS-2/LANL
Scott Wieland
October 2013 - December 2017
(co-thesis advisor with Prof. Peter Hamlington)
University of Colorado, Boulder
First position after Ph.D.: Lecturer, University of Colorado, Boulder
Scott Reckinger
October 2013 - December 2017
(co-thesis advisor with Prof. Oleg Vasilyev)
University of Colorado, Boulder
Current position: Clinical Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago
Ahmet Kula
Summer student 2026
Colorado School of Mines
Andre Freitas
Summer student 2025, 2026
University of Rome "Tor Vergata" and Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Johannes Martin
(co-mentored with Alessandro Gabbana, CNLS/CCS-2)
Summer student 2025
Eindhoven University of Technology
Rohini Vaideswaran
Summer student 2025
Georgia Institute of Technology
Charles Luke Nelson
Summer student 2024;
Luke is the recipient of FY24 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Fellowship
University of Utah
Xander de Wit
(co-mentored with Alessandro Gabbana, CNLS/CCS-2)
Summer student 2024, 2025
Eindhoven University of Technology
Hunor Csala
(co-mentored with Arvind Mohan, CCS-2)
Summer student 2023, 2024
University of Utah
Joel Barnett
(co-mentored with Yifeng Tian and Yen Ting Lin, CCS-3)
Summer student 2023
University of California - Los Angeles
Joost Prince
(co-mentored with Vitaliy Gyrya, T-5)
Summer student 2022
University of Eindhoven
Chrismond Smith
(co-mentored with Brett Keenan, XCP-6)
Summer student 2021
University of Texas at San Antonio
Ronald Chan
Summer student 2019
Ronald is the recipient of the 2021 Andreas Acrivos Dissertation Award in Fluid Dynamics
Stanford University
Emilio Torres
Summer student 2019, 2020
Arizona State University
Man Long Wong
Summer student 2016, 2017, 2018
Stanford University
Maxime Bassenne
Summer student 2017
Stanford University
Andrew Trettel
Summer student 2016, 2017
University of California, Los Angeles
Jesus Pulido
July 2011 - Sept 2017
University of California, Davis
Samet Demircan
Summer student 2016
West Virginia University
Africa Ruiz Mora
Summer student 2015
University of Rochester
Cale Harnish
Summer student 2015
University of Notre-Dame
Aaron Haley
Summer student 2010
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Steve Martin
(co-mentored with Pat McCormick, CCS-1)
Summer student 2009, 2010
Ohio State University
Cavendish McKay
(co-mentored with Balu Nadiga, CCS-2)
Summer student 2005
University of Wisconsin