Our Team
Lab Director
Dr. Dumitrache is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University starting in August 2022.
After receiving his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University in 2017, Dr. Dumitrache worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Ecole CentraleSupelec in Paris (2018-2019) carrying out research on the characterization of nanosecond discharges used for plasma assisted combustion. This was followed a by a research scientists (CSIII) appointment at the National Institute for Lasers Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR) in Romania (2020-2022) where he worked on laser ignition of engines and laser plasma spectroscopy.
His current research at Colorado State University is focusing on improving the performance of aerospace propulsion systems using tools such as plasma-assisted combustion, ultrafast laser diagnostics and computational fluid dynamics.
PhD Students
Mozhdeh Hooshyar is a 2nd-year PhD student, holding a Master’s Degree in Space Engineering from the University of Pisa. Her research focuses on advancing plasma-assisted combustion technologies for rocket engines. She is developing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code and utilizing laser diagnostics to enhance the understanding and optimization of combustion processes. Through her work, she aims to contribute to the development of more efficient propulsion systems.
Manav Sharma is a 1st-year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering. His research focuses on plasma-assisted combustion and advanced laser diagnostics, particularly in hydrogen burners, to enhance efficiency and reduce harmful emissions. Passionate about understanding complex processes, Manav aims to develop innovative solutions for optimizing industrial systems. He has a strong interest in teaching and plans to pursue a career as a professor. During his master’s, he contributed to a Department of Energy-funded project, gaining expertise in laser diagnostics and advanced combustion strategies.
MSc Students
Eli House is a 2nd-year MSc student working on CFD development applied to hypersonic flow control. His research interests include scientific computing, specifically numerical methods, CFD, algorithm development, and high-performance computing. In 2022, he completed a dual degree to receive a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Marian University. In August 2024, Eli presented his first published conference paper, “Numerical Modeling of Plasma-Assisted Shock Control in Supersonic Flow,” at the AIAA Aviation conference. He is currently expanding these results to publish his first journal paper.
Katie Plese is a 2nd-year MSc student specializing in high-speed propulsion and laser diagnostics. In 2024, Katie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering from Colorado State University, after participating in the Accelerated Masters Program. During her final undergraduate year, she completed research on the design and implementation of a high enthalpy source for a supersonic indraft wind tunnel. She was acknowledged for this work, receiving 1st place in the student poster competition at the 2023 AIAA Rocky Mountain Technical Symposium and 1st place at CSU’s 2024 Engineering Days. Katie plans to present her research at the 2024 AIAA SciTech conference and is expanding her work for journal publication.
Seth Wilson joined the Aerospace Propulsion and Diagnostics Laboratory in Spring of 2024 as a MSc student. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering at Colorado State University. His current research centers on studying the characteristics of plasmas produced via dual-pulse laser ignition by femtosecond and nanosecond pulses. Seth is also looking at the chemical kinetics responsible for the formation of excited species in the femtosecond pulse.
Riley Duffens is a 1st year MSc student; he is working to improve hypersonic propulsion systems. In 2024 he graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science. His research focuses on the investigation of scramjet inlet unstart phenomena induced by severe aerothermoelastic effects. This phenomenon is being analyzed with the CSU supersonic indraft wind tunnel at the Powerhouse Energy Campus. He is also developing methods of active and passive boundary layer control in supersonic flow regimes
Undergraduate Students
Kavin is a 4th-year undergraduate student with a B.A. in mathematics who is interested in plasma-based ignition research for stable combustion in hypersonic engines and rockets. He is currently working on his capstone research project in the Aerospace Propulsion and Diagnostics Laboratory, which involves the creation of continuous optical discharge plasma for a variety of air and fuel experiments.
Zachary is a 5th-year Mechanical Engineering undergraduate student conducting his capstone research project on converting a natural gas staged combustion burner to a hydrogen-powered burner using plasma-assisted combustion. His work aims to contribute to the development of cleaner, more efficient combustion systems for future energy applications. Zachary is particularly interested in combustion diagnostics, renewable energy, and the design of experimental systems. After completing his undergraduate studies, he plans to further his research by pursuing a Master of Science at Colorado State University.
Alumni
Kelsie Pitcher spent Summer 2024 completing a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) position in the Aerospace Propulsion and Diagnostics Laboratory. She will graduate with her Bachelor of Applied Science in Systems Engineering in May 2026.
Spencer Teeter graduated with his Master of Science in May 2024. His work focused on the development and testing of a cold-flow injection system for scramjet propulsion systems.
Caleigh Haid graduated with her Bachelor of Science in December 2023. She completed her capstone research project with the Aerospace Propulsion and Diagnostics Laboratory, working on upgrades to the CSU supersonic indraft wind tunnel.
Rebecca Zulch graduated with her Bachelor of Science in May 2023. She completed her capstone research project with the Aerospace Propulsion and Diagnostics Laboratory, working on upgrades to the CSU supersonic indraft wind tunnel.