Air and Space

Aerospace Design and Astronomy

SJSU contributions include technical aircraft design and engineering, aviation and astronomy scholarship, as well as analysis of education in these disciplines. We also explore connections between arts and creativity in engineering design, and define, teach, and assess current skills, complex problem solving, and lifelong learning.

Below is a rotating selection of our standout investigators in air and space scholarship and engineering. Our expertise in these fields is accompanied by programs in professional flight, as well as significant human factors collaborations with NASA Ames Research Center. 

  ○ Recent News and Highlights
  ○ Human Factors: Human Interaction with Technology

• Selected Publications

  • Beasley, M., Romanowsky, A., et al., (2016). An Overmassive Dark Halo around an Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy in the Virgo Cluster. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 819(2). 

    Camburn, B., Viswanathan, V., Linsey, J., et al., (2017). Design prototyping methods: state of the art in strategies, techniques, and guidelines. Design Science, 3. 

    Garcia, A. (2000). Numerical methods for physics. Prentice Hall.

    Hollenbach, D., Kaufman, M., Bergin, E., & Melnick, G. (2008). Water, O2, and ice in molecular clouds. The Astrophysical Journal, 690(2).

    Rubino, E. and Meciej, J. (2023). Effect of Flow Disruptors on the Performances of a Cantilever Piezoelectric Energy Harvester. Journal of Vibration Testing and System Dynamics, 7(4). 

    Vurtur Badarinath, P., Chierichetti, M., Davoudi Kakhki, F. (2021). A machine learning approach as a surrogate for a finite element analysis: Status of research and application to one dimensional systems. Sensors, 21(5).

    Yan, D. and Vahlstrom, L. (2021). Analysis of Shoulder Driven Zone Formation in Friction Stir Welding Using Advanced Scroll Tool. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, 30.

• Award Highlights

  • Garcia, “Hybrid Models and Algorithms” — Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, 2020

    Hammond (PI), Linsey, Viswanathan, Li, Krishnamoorthy, “VisCollaborative Research: Fostering Engineering Innovation and Communication through Immediate and Personalized 2-D Perspective Drawing Feedback” — NSF, 2020

    Kaufman, “Using the Astronomical Infrared Bands as Calibrated Probes of Astrophysical Conditions with the NASA Ames PAH IR” — NASA, Continued

    Keles, Yan, Sirkeci, Yee, Amikulova, “MRI: Acquisition of a metal additive manufacturing system for multi-disciplinary research and education” — NSF, 2019

    Romanowski, “RUI: Unlocking the Origins of Ultra-Diffuse Galaxies” — NSF, 2023

    Romanowsky, Parrish, Kaufman, “A Bridge to Physics & Astronomy Doctorates for Students with Financial Need” — NSF, 2019

• Innovations

  • Flow Energy Harvesting System with Coupled Piezoelectric Devices and Flow Disruptors

• Affiliates

  • NASA Ames Research Center

    CSU STEM-NET

Featured Faculty

Maria Chierichetti
Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Machine Learning, Finite Elements, Vibrations
ORCID: 0000-0002-9093-8697

Alejandro Garcia
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Fluid Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, Fluctuating Hydrodynamics, Rarefied Gases, Direct Simulation Monte Carlo
ORCID: 0000-0003-3477-5982

Michael Kaufman
Dean, College of Science
Astrophysics, Interstellar Medium, Astrochemistry
ORCID: 0000-0002-2521-1985

Aaron Romanowsky
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Dark Matter, Galaxy Formation, Black Holes, Star Clusters
ORCID: 0000-0003-2473-0369

Edoardo Rubino
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Energy Harvesting, Piezoelectric, Turbulence-Induced Vibrations, Flow Disruptors
ORCID: 0000-0002-4849-4308

Vimal Viswanathan
Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Product Design, Design Automation, AI/ML in Design, Additive Manufacturing, 4D Printing, Shape Memory Polymers
ORCID: 0000-0002-2984-0025

Potential collaborators and members of the media may contact us at officeofresearch@sjsu.edu.