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.
Miranda Smith (Summer 2025 - current)
Project: Enceladus Plume Modeling
Contact: msmith5 at stevens.edu
My name is Miranda Smith, and I’m from Paterson, NJ. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Physics in the fall of 2024 and my master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in the spring of 2025, both from Stevens Institute of Technology. For my Ph.D. research, I study the ascent/eruption of fluid from Enceladus’ subsurface to the surface, and we are trying to understand the driving eruption mechanism(s) behind the Enceladus plume. More broadly, my research interests include aerospace and planetary science, with particular interests in geophysics, propulsion, and orbital dynamics. In my free time, I enjoy dancing, reading, and spending time with friends. Feel free to reach out with any questions!