PhD Student in Aerospace Engineering at Aerodynamics Research Center, UT Arlington

Doctoral Program: Aerospace Engineering

Funding: STEM scholarship for tuition and monthly salary 

Topic: Hypersonic Aerothermal Heating in Arc-jet Plasma Wind Tunnel

Type of Study: Experimental and Theoretical

Typical Duration: 4 years

Advisor: Vijay Gopal, Ph.D, Assistant Prof. at the Aerodynamics Research Center, 

The University of Texas at Arlington, TX U.S.A.

Start Date: Fall 2023/Spring 2023.

During the Ph.D program, the student will gain expertise and contribute to 

theoretical and experimental hypersonic aerothermodynamics using advanced laser-

based diagnostics in the ONR-UTA arc-jet plasma wind tunnel. The primary aim of 

this program is to develop research expertise in fundamental viscous hypersonic 

flows and to enhance the understanding of scaling relationship between ground-

testing results and hypersonic flight environment.

The student is expected to have a strong background in gas-dynamics, fluid-

dynamics, classical mechanics, partial differential equations and analytical 

methods. Any prior experimental experience in high-speed wind tunnel testing is 

desired but not mandatory.

Aerodynamics Research Center at UT Arlington is the only academic center across 

the U.S. to operate an arc-jet plasma wind tunnel to support various fundamental 

science projects in hypersonic aerothermodynamics.

Reference URL: https://www.uta.edu/academics/faculty/profile?username=gopalv