All posts by pzhang

Dr. Peng Zhang secures grant from the Department of Energy

Dr. Zhang has secured an award for the project titled “Initiatives to Grow New Innovative Talent to Enable Fusion Energy (IGNITE Fusion Energy)” from the Department of Energy’s Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce (RENEW) program! This project, led by Dr. Peng Zhang (PI) and Dr. Mohan Rao (Co-PI) from Tennessee Tech, leverages the collective strengths of five other collaborating institutions (Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University, Southern Adventist University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville), the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and more than ten private fusion companies. The project is funded with a total budget of $2.25 million, from which Tennessee Tech will receive approximately $490,000 over three years as the lead institution. See the official award announcement by DOE here.

This is our first award in nuclear engineering at Tennessee Tech. This collaboration focuses on developing workforce training initiatives and enhancing curriculum to prepare the next generation of researchers for careers in fusion engineering and technology. Read more about this project here.

Welcome onboard, Nathan!

The FSML welcomes Nathan Spann, currently a junior undergraduate student at Tennessee Tech. Nathan’s research interests include computational fluid dynamics and optimal design. Welcome to the group, Nathan!

We are hiring!

Our lab is now accepting applications for one Ph.D. position with an anticipated start date as early as Spring 2025. The successful candidate will be part of multiple research projects, including but not limited to the experimental investigation of fluid-structure interaction phenomena, development and modeling of multifunctional sensors and actuators, and computational fluid dynamics.

The admitted candidate will be supported through graduate assistantships, which cover tuitions, fees, and a competitive monthly stipend. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a CV, transcript, and a short description of your research interests and how you can contribute to our ongoing projects to Dr. Peng Zhang (pzhang@tntech.edu). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.


Minimum Qualifications
The prospective Ph.D. student is expected to have a solid research experience in Engineering. A minimum of a Master of Science or equivalent degree in Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics is required. We are looking for candidates who have: i) a drive to pursue an excellent career in research; ii) outstanding oral and written English communication skills; iii) a strong work ethic with with a results-driven attitude; and iv) the ability to design, conduct, and interpret experiments, under the mentorship of the Principal Investigator.

Preferred Qualifications
Candidates with a strong publication record and an interest in experimental fluid mechanics are highly preferred.


About Tennessee Tech: Tennessee Technological University (https://www.tntech.edu/) is a public research university in Cookeville, Tennessee, United States with over 10,000 students. Within Tennessee Tech, the Mechanical Engineering Department is the largest department both in the College of Engineering and the University. In addition to involvement in research projects, graduate students have the opportunity to grow professionally through participation in student organizations and co-op opportunities. Graduates from the Mechanical Engineering program have a nearly one-hundred-percent employment rate within few months after graduation. The employers appreciate the hands-on experience, job-ready knowledge and skills, humility, work ethics, and professionalism our graduates bring them. Tennessee Tech is committed to a diverse workforce by fostering an inclusive work environment for students, faculty, and staff.

New paper published in Smart Materials and Structures

Our latest paper, titled “Photochromic webbing structures for monitoring UV-induced mechanical strength degradation”, authored our PhD student Sina Kazemipour, our collaborators Drs. John Ohanian and Maurizio Porfiri, and PI Dr. Peng Zhang, has been published in the journal Smart Materials and Structures. This study introduces a novel class of photochromic webbing structures that can afford noninvasive monitoring of UV-induced degradation of their mechanical strength. Experimental observations are complemented by a physics-based mathematical model that provides insights into the webbing’s sensing mechanism. Read the paper here.

New paper published in Applied Mathematical Modelling

Our latest paper, titled “Large deformation of trees in a strong wind”, authored by Dr. Peng Zhang, has been published in the journal Applied Mathematical Modelling. This study introduces a geometrically accurate, physics-based model for analyzing the dynamic, large deformations of trees under strong wind conditions, providing insights into how trees mitigate wind-induced damages. Read the paper here.

Welcome on board, Branson!

The FSML welcomes Branson Blaylock, a junior undergraduate student at Tennessee Tech, to join us as an undergraduate researcher and a prospective Ph.D. student. Branson’s research interests include experimental fluid dynamics and smart materials and structures. Welcome to the team, Branson!

Congratulations to the PCSS VITAL school’s KidWind Challenge team on winning the state-wide competition!

Since Summer 2023, our lab has been collaborating with the Putnam County School System’s (PCSS) Virtual Instruction to Accentuate Learning (VITAL) school to support their KidWind Challenge team. The team consisted of a dynamic group of talented students and dedicated teachers, and following months of hard work, they won the state-wide KidWind Challenge in Nashville, Tennessee in October 2023! Their achievement was recognized by the Putnam County Board of Education in December 2023.

Congratulation to the students and teachers! We wish them success as they showcase their innovative work on the national stage!

Welcome, Sina!

The FSML welcomes Sina Kazemipour, who has joined us as a Ph.D. student. Sina’s research interests include computational fluid dynamics-based analysis of fluid-structure interaction phenomena and non-destructive structural health monitoring using smart materials. Welcome on board!