Principal Investigator

Dr. Eric L. Petersen
Professor and Nelson-Jackson Chair
Director, Turbomachinery Laboratory

Dr. Eric Petersen is the Director of the Turbomachinery Laboratory at Texas A&M University. Petersen has been with the Turbo Lab for 10-plus years and is the Nelson-Jackson Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

His research encompasses gas dynamics, propulsion, combustion, shock waves, chemical kinetics, optical diagnostics and spectroscopy, laminar and turbulent flames, and rocket combustion. He has authored more than 500 journal and conference papers in these areas. He is vice-president of the Institute for Dynamics of Explosions and Reactive Systems (IDERS) and an associate editor of the Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power and the Journal of Propulsion and Power. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a Fellow of The Combustion Institute, and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

Petersen holds three degrees in mechanical engineering: a bachelor’s from the University of Central Florida (1988), a master’s from the University of Florida (1990) and a doctorate from Stanford University (1998). Before coming to Texas A&M, Petersen taught at the University of Central Florida. Prior to becoming a professor, he was an analytical engineer in the combustion group at Pratt & Whitney for three years, and a research scientist in the propulsion science group at the Aerospace Corporation for four years.

Educational Background

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University (1998)
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Florida (1990)
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Magna Cum Laude), University of Central Florida (1988)

Employment History

Texas A&M University, Director, TEES Turbomachinery Laboratory (2018 – present)
Texas A&M University, Professor, Mechanical Engineering (2012 – present)
Texas A&M University, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering (2008-2012)
University of Central Florida, Associate Professor, MMAE (2006-2007)
University of Central Florida, Assistant Professor, MMAE (2001-2006)
The Aerospace Corp. (El Segundo, CA), Staff Scientist, Space Materials Laboratory (1997-2001)
University of California Irvine, Lecturer, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (1998-2000)
Stanford University, Graduate Assistant (1993-1997)
Pratt & Whitney, Analytical Engineer (1990-1993)

Research Interests

Gas dynamics and shock waves, combustion, propulsion, experimental techniques, solid propellants, optical diagnostics and spectroscopy, chemical kinetics

Honors and Awards

Combustion Institute Fellow (2020)
AIAA Associate Fellow (2020)
Nelson-Jackson Chair (2019)
Dean of Engineering Excellence Award (2019)
TEES Senior Faculty Fellow (2017)
James J. Cain Graduate Teaching Award (2015)
Best Paper Award, X ISHPMIE (2014)
Nelson-Jackson Professor (2013)
TEES Faculty Fellow (2011)
ASME Fellow (2010)
Leland T. Jordan Career Development Professorship (2010)
Teaching Excellence Award (Fall 2009; Fall 2010)
Best Paper Award, ASME Turbo Expo (2009)
NSF CAREER Award (2006)