Home Dr. David Blunck Our Team CIRE Lab Propulsion Lab Accomplishments Publications
The Director
Dr. David L. Blunck Associate Dean for Undergraduate Program of College of EngineeringAssociate Professor in the Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering (MIME) Department
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David is a hardworking and organized researcher who believes in mentoring leaders for the future. At Oregon State University, David leads the Undergraduate Program (about 1700 students) as the Associate Head in the School of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering. His accomplishments are so impressive that he won the Welty Faculty Fellow Award three years in a row (2015-2018). David is a leader in the cutting-edge study of reacting flows, wildfires, gas turbine engines, and infrared thermography. David has graduated 17 M.S., Ph.D., or postdoctoral scholars and is advising or co-advising an additional 10 graduate students/postdocs/faculty research associate. He has brought over $10 million dollars of research grants at Oregon State University since 2013. He established the Combustion, Ignition, Radiation and Energy Laboratory and co-founded the Propulsion Laboratory (one of a few laboratories in the Pacific Northwest Universities with remote testing in real time). David was named the 2014-2015 AIAA Pacific Northwest Section Young Engineer of the Year award and received many more listed in the Honors and Awards section. The interesting fact is that David has a consistent track record even before joining the Oregon State University. He received the Simpson’s Team Award and was nominated for a Presidential Early Career Award at Air Force Research Laboratory in Dayton, OH (2010-13). From 2005-2010, he focused on studying infrared emissions from flows as a graduate student researcher at Purdue University. David was selected as the outstanding graduate student in the mechanical engineering program in 2010. Dr. Blunck’s scholarly accomplishments are internationally recognized. He has published 40 peer-reviewed papers, over 60 conference publications, 2 book sections, and has given 40 invited presentations. His research has received international and national media attention (e.g., National Public Ratio in 2021, National Geographic in 2020, Discovery Channel in 2018, etc.). U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said, “…David Blunck has proven himself a key contributor to understanding the fundamentals of wildfire growth … This work could be critically important to understanding and preventing the growth of the catastrophic wildfires plaguing the West.” Perhaps Dr. Blunck’s accomplishments, however, are through mentoring and training students. David has graduated 17 M.S., Ph.D., or post-doctoral scholars and is advising or co-advising an additional 10 graduate students/post-docs. Ten of his former or current students have worked or interned at national laboratories. |
Faculty Research AssociateDr. Deepak Sharma
Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering Email: sharmade@oregonstate.edu |
Dr. Sharma is an accomplished and dedicated faculty research associate with expertise in various research fields. Currently, he is working on identifying the physics of vegetation and building material fire behavior using experimental and machine-learning methods. Deepak completed his postdoctoral research in Dec 2022, and he focused on the development of liquid fuel injectors for supersonic propulsion devices. Deepak’s doctorate research aimed at developing energy-efficient and durable water desalination technology where he developed a novel airblast atomization mechanism with complete suppression of fouling and a low-grade heat-based actuator for the desalination unit. He published 2 patents and peer-reviewed journals from his work. In 2022, he earned his doctorate degree, demonstrating his deep understanding and contribution to these areas. Dr. Sharma's research journey began with a master's degree from IIT Patna in 2017, where he laid the foundation for his research career. Prior to his Ph.D., he worked on phase-change thermal management using microchannel heat sinks. He used surface modification and vapor venting techniques to achieve excellent heat transfer and patented the design. He also worked on renewable energy technology called gasifiers to operate absorption-desorption refrigeration systems. His exceptional knowledge and extensive experience make him a valuable asset in advancing innovative solutions for sustainable energy, efficient thermal management, and environmental conservation. |
Post-Doctoral Research AssociateDr. Ajay Singh
Post Doc in CIRE/Propulsion Lab in the Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering Department Email: singhaja@oregonstate.edu |
Dr. Singh is a consistent and hardworking researcher with a background and working experience in multidisciplinary areas of engineering. Currently, he is working as a postdoc in CIRE lab under the mentorship of Dr. Blunck. He is working on two research projects; 1) close-loop control of an automated woodstove to reduce PM emission (funded by DOE) and 2) identifying ignition and burning behavior of live fuel during wildfires (funded by SERDP). He earned is doctorate degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar (India), an institute of national importance. His Doctoral research focused on understanding cyclic combustion dynamics of advanced low temperature (HCCI & RCCI) and conventional (SI & CI) internal combustion engines using nonlinear and chaotic methods. Out of his PhD work he published 6 research papers in peer-reviewed journals with high impact factor. He has published and presented his research work in both International and National conferences. He did his Masters’ degree in Hydropower Engineering from MANIT, Bhopal, one of the prestigious institutes of national importance in India. He did his bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics. His work and expertise include but not limited to Combustion in IC Engines and wood stoves, wildfires, statistical and nonlinear time series analysis, developing DAQ systems using LABVIEW and Arduino, Microcontroller (Arduino), Machine Learning, chaotic analysis, electromechanical systems. He has an experience of teaching various undergrad courses for more than 3 years. He has an excellent academic record securing 1st position in both his Master’s and bachelor’s program. Dr. Singh is also a good poet and performer and has won many awards for his poetry and standup. Research Focus: Cyclic Combustion Dynamics of Low-Temperature (HCCI & RCCI) and conventional (SI &CI) combustion Engines, Non-linear and Chaotic time series analysis, Quantification of determinism in dynamics, Model/Control of burning in Wood Stove, Wildfire Spread |
Current : 6
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Nate Gardner (Ph.D) Email: gardnena@oregonstate.edu Research Group: CIRE LAB Role in Research Group: Graduate Research Assistant Major: Mechanical engineering, thermal fluid sciences Field of Research: I study wildfire combustion with a focus on the burning behavior of live fuels. I do experimental design at a laboratory scale, carry out experiments, and perform data analysis. Year joined/Intended graduation: 2019-2024 Notable: Bachelor of science in mechanical engineering, ARCS Foundation Scholar, selected for Gas Turbine Industrial Fellowship. |
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Prabin Shrestha (Ph.D) Research Group: CIRE LAB Role in Research Group: Identifying key physics in forced air combustion in heating stoves Major: Mechanical Engineering (Thermal–Fluid Sciences) Field of Research: Wood Combustion Diagnostics Year joined/Intended graduation: 2022 / 2025-26 Notable: Responsible for managing Environmental Health and Safety portal for the Blunck Lab |
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David Evitt (Ph.D) CIRE LAB Research Focus: Identifying Scaling and Design Rules for Air Jets in Biomass Combustion. Applying fan-driven jets of air to household-scale biomass combustion devices such as wood cooking and heating stoves can reduce particulate emissions on the order of 90% with optimized hardware and operation. This research aims to develop deisng rules based on scaling variables to help device designers implement this pollution reduction approach and accelerate adoption. |
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Kyle Weber (Ph.D) Research Group: PROPULSION LAB Role in Research Group: Propulsion Lab Researcher Major: Thermal/Fluid Sciences Field of Research: Detonation, Rotating Detonation Combustors Year joined/Intended graduation: Joined in 2021/ Graduate 2025 |
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Michelle Gee (M.S.) Research Group: CIRE Lab Role: Graduate Research Assistant Year joined/Intended graduation: 2023/2024 Major: mechanical engineering, thermal-fluid sciences Field of Research: My research focus is within combustion, on fuel consumption modeling. I am currently working on a model with detailed chemical kinetics for reacting flows in porous media. It solves transport equations from a chemical composition input of reference species cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, non-structural carbophydrates, and lipids in 1d to predict mass evolution for living vegetative fuels. Notable: I did my undergrad at OSU-Cascades in Bend where I did undergraduate research in the Water and Energy Technologies Lab. I graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2022 and began work as a research engineer. In 2023, I moved to Corvallis and started grad school in the CIRE lab. In my free time, I like rock climbing outside with friends and my dog Wayne. |
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Marshall Andersen (M.S.) Research Group: CIRE Lab Role in Research Group: Graduate Research Assistant Major: Mechanical Engineering, Thermal Fluid Science Field of Research: Wildfire fuel pyrolysis and ignition Year joined/Intended graduation: Spring 2022 Notable: Developed TG-FTIR-GC method to study time dependent production of pyroyzates from solid fuel. Results are expected to improve accuracy of wildfire fuel models representing living fuel. |
Harley Glad (M.S.) |
Mick Carter (Ph.D./M.S.) |
Kaz Teope (Ph.D.) |
Derek Bean (Ph.D.) |
Eric Zeuthen (M.S.) |
Eric Walters (M.S.) |
Benjamin Smucker (Ph.D/M.s.) |
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Research focus: Identifying the influence of combustion products on detonation speeds and chemistry. Notable: Head of Oregon State Propulsion Lab. Outstanding Female engineering student at Southern Utah University, former basketball coach at Southern Utah University. |
Research focus: Ember generation and transport in wildland-urban interface fires. Notable: Former aviation structural mechanic on MH-53E helicopters, with internships at Intel and Erickson Air-Crane. |
Research Focus: Impact of combustion products on ignition jet fuels. Notable: Major in the United States Air Foce, taught at the Air Force Academy, certified diver. |
Research Focus: Utilization of solid fuels in pulse detonation engines for energy and propulstion purposes. Notable: Designed and built a long range gas powered UAV for automated wildlife tracking data collection. |
Thesis: Infrared radiation emissions from alternative large hydrocarbon fuels Employment: Intel |
Thesis: Flameless (MILD) combustion of large hydrocarbon fuels Employment: SpaceX |
Research Focus: Smoldering Combustion of Simple Fuels.
Notable: Formerly involved with the hybrid rocket team |
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Sebastian Okhovat (M.S.) |
Aaron Jesse Fillo (Ph.D) |
Parker Weide (M.S.) |
Tyler Hudson (M.S.) |
Daniel Cowan (M.S.) |
Nathan Schorn (M.S.) |
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Thesis: Temperature Evolution of Employment: Bell Aerospace |
Thesis: The Global Consumption Employment: Freelance |
Thesis: Mild Combustion of a Surrogate Jet Fuel Employment: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center |
Thesis: Multi-Scale Study of Ember Production and Transport Under Multiple Enviromental and Fuel conditions Employment: Rouge Approach |
Thesis: Effects of Fuel Characteristics on Spread Rate and Surface Temperatures of Smoldering Duff Employment: Los Alamos National Laboratory |
Thesis: Turbulent Combustion Analysis of Large Hydrocarbon Fuels in a Reduced Pressure Environment Employment: Onboard Dynamics |
Current : 2
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Name: Jonathan Carter Research Group: CIRE LAB Role in Research Group: Under Graduate Research Assistant Major: Mechanical Engineering Field of Research: Studying Convective and Radiative Heat Transfer dynamics Year joined/Intended graduation: Joined 11/2022 / Graduating Summer 2024 Notable: Jon is a Senior Engineering student pursuing a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, he has previously worked in Dr. Camburn’s Ion Propulsion Research Lab and Dr. Wirz Energy and Plasma Research. Both of these experiences crafted a passion and drive for expanding and contributing to the scientific field. |
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Name: Ian Gilchrist Research Group: CIRE LAB Role in Research Group: Undergrad Research Assistant Major: Mechanical Engineering Field of Research: Waste Heat Recovery Year joined/Intended graduation: April 2023 - June 2024 Notable: Ian Gilchrist previously worked in the Kiewit Material Science Lab under Dr. Ideker’s Research group. This experience supplemented his academic studies and furthered his understanding of material science. Outside the classroom, Ian is active, with interests in cycling, climbing, and skateboarding. Additionally, Ian spends time playing music to try to add a creative dimension to his personal interests |
InternsGraduate Interns
Undergraduate Interns
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Bianca Hansen |
Dylan Waring (ME) |
Will Heffernan (ME) |
Kyle Froman (ME) fromank@oregonstate.edu |
Wiley Wolfe (ChE) wolfewi@oregonstate.edu |
Jeremiah Hauth (ME) hauthj@oregonstate.edu |
Michael Katancik (ME) katancim@oregonstate.edu |
Calvin Stalp (ME) stalpc@oregonstate.edu |
Brad Anderson (ME) Anderbra@oregonstate.edu |
Ian Walters (ME) waltersi@oregonstate.edu |
Bruck Sameshima (ChE) sameshib@oregonstate.edu |
Tyler Baker (ME) bakerty@oregonstate.edu |
Emma Fraley (ME) fraleye@oregonstate.edu |
Morgan Mayer (ChemE) mayermo@oregonstate.edu |
Justice Ofosu (ME) ofosuj@oregonstate.edu |
John Anderson (ME) anderjoh@oregonstate.edu |
Alex Bruzda (ME) bruzdaa@oregonstate.edu |
Joshua Allen (ME) allenj5@oregonstate.edu |
Austin Rose (ME) roseau@oregonstate.edu |
Jorge Dominguez Email: TBA |
Rachel Nelke (ME) nelker@oregonstate.edu |
Haden Wallin (ME) wallinh@oregonstate.edu |
Kaiden Moore (ME) moorkaid@oregonstate.edu |
Scott Boreham (ME) borehams@oregonstate.edu |
Matthew Hoeper (ME) hoeperm@oregonstate.edu |
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