MMAE Seminar: NSF History, Fluids Research, and Foundation-Wide Initiatives

The Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering welcomes Ronald D. Joslin, Ph.D., MBA, director of the National Science Foundation's Fluid Dynamics Program to discuss: NSF History, Fluids Research, and Foundation-Wide Initiatives. 
 

ABSTRACT

The National Science Foundation history and current organization will be summarized. The synopsis of the Fluid Dynamics Program will be discussed along with a few example projects, including biofluids, turbulence, and droplets. The discussion will transition to a partnership activity with the International Space Station. Finally, the talk will highlight a few of the Foundation wide programs, including CAREER, Major Research Instrumentation, and the NSF Big Ideas. 

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Joslin has been the Program Director of the National Science Foundation Fluid Dynamics Program since 2016. He supports research in biofluids, micro-scale flows, transition & turbulence, non-Newtonian flows, geophysical fluids, and renewable energy. Teaming with AFOSR, he supports research in hypersonics, and working with NASA, he supports research on the International Space Station. He is an engineering representative on cross-foundational teams to support research in Artificial Intelligence, machining learning, advanced algorithms, and advanced measurement techniques.

Prior to NSF, Dr. Joslin was a Program Officer at the Office of Naval Research for 15 years where he managed Turbulence, Stratified Wakes, Submarine Maneuvering, Ocean Energy, Multi-Platform Interactions and Supercaviation Programs.  He also led active and laminar flow control teams and conducted research at NASA Langley for 10 years. He is an associate fellow of the AIAA and a fellow of the ASME. 

Throughout his career, he has mentored students, faculty, and peers and has volunteered to visit us today to talk about NSF and about careers.