Group members

Alseny Diallo

I am a PhD student in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of North Dakota. I earned my master’s degrees from the Polytechnic University of Turin and SUPAERO (French Engineering School of Aeronautics and Space). Prior to joining UND, I spent several years in Japan as a Senior OpenFOAM Engineer at ESI-Group, where I contributed to many aerothermodynamic projects from the development of new custom solvers in C++ to creating Python scripts for streamlining OpenFOAM pre/postprocessing and validating results against experimental data. I also managed high-performance computing environments for aerospace, automotive, and marine OEM applications using SLURM, Ganglia and shell scripting. During my time at ONERA (National Office for Aerospace Studies and Research, France), I worked on developing computational methods for analyzing heat fluxes on thermal shields during atmospheric reentry, which has shaped my current research interests in hypersonic aerothermodynamics. Outside of academia, I am a trained pipe organist and enjoy long-distance inline skating and longboarding.

Fahim Shahriyar

I completed my B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering from the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), where I developed a strong foundation in aerospace sciences and engineering principles. After graduation, I worked for two years as a Procurement Engineer at US-Bangla Airlines, a leading aviation company, where I honed my skills in technical procurement and operational logistics within the aviation industry. Currently, I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering under the mentorship of Dr. Chonglin Zhang at the University of North Dakota. Over the course of my academic and professional career, I have gained extensive knowledge and experience in programming and simulation tools, including Python, High-Performance Computing, SolidWorks, C programming, ANSYS, and MATLAB. My research focuses on Fluid Mechanics, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) stochastic particle method, with an emphasis on advancing computational techniques for solving complex fluid dynamics problems. I have received several prestigious accolades in recognition of my academic and extracurricular achievements. In 2020, I was honored with the MIST Best Student Award for outstanding academic performance and active involvement in various initiatives. Additionally, my team and I participated in the 2019 Design, Build, Fly (DBF) competition, organized by AIAA in Arizona, where we proudly secured 63rd place among international participants, showcasing our innovative approach to aerospace design. In addition to my academic pursuits, I am passionate about creative and intellectual activities. I enjoy playing the guitar and exploring various musical genres as a form of relaxation. I also have a deep interest in reading, which allows me to broaden my horizons and fuel my intellectual curiosity. At present, I am actively expanding my expertise in the DSMC stochastic particle method with guidance from Dr. Chonglin Zhang, aiming to contribute to advancements in fluid dynamics research. My aim is to contribute to the advancement of engineering and computational sciences through innovative research, while fostering a deeper understanding of fluid dynamics and its applications.

Wei Guo

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree: Hunan University (China), Engineering Mechanics -Master’s Degree: Hunan University (China), Engineering Mechanics

Research Interests:

• Numerical methods in computational mechanics.

Specialized Areas:

• Structural finite element simulation such as thermal mechanical fatigue, vibration, thermal analysis, burst containment analysis etc.

Hobbies:

• Hiking, table tennis, traveling.

Jalen Howard

My path has been shaped by perseverance and adaptability. Along the way, I’ve faced significant challenges, from balancing work, school, military obligations and personal hardships to navigating tough professional environments. These experiences taught me resilience and resourcefulness, pushing me to grow both personally and professionally. I value problem-solving, continuous learning, and striving to improve in everything I do, and I carry these principles into all areas of my life.