Current PhD Students
We are actively looking for additional PhD students to add to the group!
Danial Ghasimi (Fall 2021 - current)
Project: FSI Modeling for High-Speed Parachute Inflations
Contact: sghasimi at stevens.edu
I am from Kurdistan, Iran and I joined stevens for my Ph.D. in fall of 2021. Prior to Stevens, I graduated from the University of Tehran with a master's degree. My past experience includes fluid-structure interaction (FSI) modeling of axons in a microchannel. For my Ph.D. research, I am focusing on FSI Modeling for High-Speed Parachute Inflations for Mars entry, descent, & landing (EDL). In my free time, I enjoy watching movies and talking about films, biking, and walking.
Nikk Lao (Summer 2025 - current)
Project: Enceladus Plume Modeling
Contact: nlao at stevens.edu
I am from Marlton, NJ, and I graduated with my bachelor's degree from Stevens in Mechanical Engineering in the spring of 2025. Before starting my PhD, I was in the co-op program, and interned in biotech, oil, and construction. I started working on Enceladus plume modeling during the Summer of 2024 as an undergraduate student, and my research now focuses on modeling the subsurface ocean. In my free time, I enjoy exercising, cooking, and playing pool. Feel free to reach out with any questions about our research!
Andrew Sayad (Fall 2022 - current)
Project: Shockwave/Droplet Interaction Modeling
Contact: asayad1 at stevens.edu
My name is Andrew Sayad, and I am from Wayne, NJ. I earned my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a minor in math and a focus in thermal-fluid physics. My research interests include computational modeling of highspeed multiphase flow and droplet effects on highspeed vehicles. I played baseball through high school and I’m a big New York Yankees fan. In my free time I enjoy working out, playing video games, and walking my dog Chewie.