Undergraduate Students

Sanjeev Chauhan

Research Interests: Sanjeev is performing Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations aimed at exploring buffet in transonic flow. Buffet is often explored with the Navier-Stokes equations, but those are computationally intensive. On the other hand, the Euler Equations, which are less computationally...

Sanjeev is a Freshman at Duke and he started his research in the summer of 2022. He is from Columbia, South Carolina, and has been awarded the Robotics Award from the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Math. Outside of school, Sanjeev likes to cook, bike and kayak.

Sage Cooley

Research Interests: Sage is researching 3-D printed cylindrical shell buckling under the mentorship of Dr. Lawrie Virgin. Her recent findings can be found in the following article: 3D-printing and cylinder buckling: challenges and opportunities. She is currently studying multi-walled shell buckling...

Sage is an undergraduate junior from Wake Forest, NC studying mechanical and aerospace engineering. Outside of the Nonlinear Dynamics Group, she leads solid propulsion and simulation for the Duke AERO rocketry team, works in the Writing Studio, and mentors First-Year Design students. She enjoys running and creative writing in her free time.

Alison Korn

Research Interests: Alison joined the Aeroelasticity Group in the spring of 2023 and is working under Dr. Dowell and Luisa Piccolo Serafim to analyze the effects of various aerodynamic profile shapes on the aeroelasticity of a folding wing. From performing hammer impact tests on wing skeletons to...

Alison is a senior from Nashville, TN, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a certificate in Aerospace Engineering and minors in Physics and Spanish. Aside from research, she is president of Duke A Cappella group Something Borrowed Something Blue, as well as Corporate Outreach Chair and Recovery Subteam Lead for Duke’s high-powered rocketry team Duke AERO. She also oversees the Features & Investigations department of The Chronicle. In her little free time, Alison loves to watch sports, stargaze, and travel.

Josh Kramer

Research Interests: After joining over the Summer of 2023, he has spent time working on a variety of projects under Dr. Dowel’s research group. With the group, he has performed redesigns and new instrumentation for the campus wind tunnel, emphasizing vibration-reduction and control speed. Further...

Josh is a senior from Omaha, Nebraska pursuing his passion for aerospace and business through a Mechanical Engineering degree with the Aerospace Engineering Certificate and an Economics minor. At school, he serves as President and Lead Engineer of Duke AERO, the university rocketry team. As an aerospace enthusiast, he has also worked to get his Private Pilot’s License! Outside of the classroom, he is an avid golfer, sports fan, and traveler!

Derrick Roseman

Research Interests: Derrick conducts research in the field of transonic buffet. He generates airfoils with different geometries and then uses Computational Fluid Dynamics to explore the effect of airfoil geometry on transonic buffet. Derrick has been in Dr. Dowell's research group since Summer 2023...

Derrick is a senior at Duke who is from Peru and grew up in Miami. He is majoring in Mechanical Engineering with minors in Math and Physics. Outside of school, Derrick likes to play sports and explore nature.

Isabelle Sanz

Research Interests: Since joining the group in Summer 2021, Isabelle performed post-processing of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation data of a three-stage turbine in search of nonsynchronous vibrations. She continued researching these vibrations, as well as the lock-in phenomenon, with a...

Isabelle is a senior from Charlotte, North Carolina, studying mechanical engineering with an aerospace certificate and math minor. Besides research, Isabelle acts as technical manager for the Duke Hyperloop team, has served as a peer facilitator and TA in physics and dynamics, and spends her free time creating art.

Chloe Smithen

Research Interests: Chloe joined the Aeroelasticity Group under Dr. Dowell in the fall of 2022 to support undergoing research on assessing the pressure distribution behavior of an airfoil and other various geometries. She has spent the past year primarily designing and testing a cylindrical airfoil...

Chloe is a junior from Montclair, NJ, majoring in Mechanical Engineering and also pursuing the Aerospace Engineering and Innovation & Entrepreneurship certificates. Aside from research, she is involved in Duke Motorsports on the Aerodynamics sub-team. She enjoys playing golf, watching F1, and traveling in her free time.