01
Propulsion
Installed propellers, distributed propulsion, and unsteady aerodynamic response in realistic aircraft configurations.
Research Themes
Where Propulsion, Aerodynamics, and Sensing Meet
Bringing together propulsion, aerodynamics, sensing, and education through integrated experimental, computational, and student-led research.
02
Aerodynamics
Wing wakes, lift distribution, morphing concepts, and load-shaping strategies for efficient flight.
03
Sensing & Diagnostics
Measurement systems, event-based cameras, facilities, and experimental platforms for complex flows.
04
Education & Applications
Applied fluid systems, agricultural spray transport, and student-centered engineering education research.
Publication Record
101
Peer-reviewed and journal articles
1
Patent
Selected Current Work
- DURIP: Benchmarking Stereo Event-Based Velocimetry for 3D Flowfields (AFOSR: 2026-2027)
- Evaluation of Event Cameras for 2D3C Velocimetry (AFOSR, 2025-2026)
- EMxAI summit and roadshow design and planning (KEEN, 2026)
Current Students
Meet Our Team
Undergraduate and graduate students are working on tandem propellers, agricultural spray testing, non-elliptical lift distributions, event-based sensing, and related experimental problems.
Undergraduate
Jessica DeMoor
Flight Test Validation of Tandem Propeller Performance with Vertical Offset
Selected publication: Foster, Michael, Jessica DeMoor,
Sidaard Gunasekaran, and Jielong Cai. "Flight Test Validation of Tandem Propeller Performance With
Vertical Offset." In AIAA SCITECH 2025 Forum, p. 1445. 2025. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-1445
Undergraduate
Samuel Parlett
Experimental Investigation of a Variable Pitch Propeller at Various Incidence Angles in Forward Flight
Selected publication: Parlett, Samuel L., Jielong Cai,
Sidaard Gunasekaran, and Michael Ol. "Experimental Investigation of a Variable Pitch Propeller at
Various Incidence Angles in Foward Flight." In AIAA SCITECH 2025 Forum, p. 1267. 2025.
https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-1267
Undergraduate
Brock Greenwood
Characterization of Agricultural Nozzle Spray Geometry in Propeller Wake
Selected publication: Greenwood, Brock A., Abdul Khan, and
Sidaard Gunasekaran. "Characterization of Agricultural Nozzle Spray Geometry in Propeller Wake." In AIAA
SCITECH 2025 Forum, p. 1269. 2025. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-1269
Undergraduate
Grace Schreyer
Exploration of Nearly Two-Dimensional Wake Structure of Non-Elliptical Lift Distributions
Selected publication: Schreyer, Grace A., Sidaard
Gunasekaran, Julian A. Pabon, and Jielong Cai. "Variations in the Wake Structure of Non-Elliptical Lift
Distributions Near Wingtip." In AIAA SCITECH 2025 Forum, p. 0253. 2025.
https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2025-0253
Undergraduate
Grace Selm
Design and Testing of Morphing Wing with Spanwise Twist
Selected publication: Schreyer, Grace A., Grace N. Selm,
Julian A. Pabon, and Sidaard Gunasekaran. "Experimental Investigations of a Dual-Mode
Skin-Actuated-Camber with Embedded Twist (SACET) Morphing Wing." In AIAA SciTech 2026 Forum, p. 0256.
2026. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-0256
Undergraduate
Megan Kelly
Flight Test Validation of Tandem Propeller Performance with Vertical Offset
Publication information is not currently listed on this page.
Undergraduate
Megan Bender
Characterization of Agricultural Nozzle Spray Geometry in Propeller Wake
Selected publication: Grenwood, Brock A., Abdul Khan, Megan
Bender, and Sidaard Gunasekaran. "Characterization of Rotary Atomizer Spray Geometry Under the Influence
of a Propeller." In AIAA SCITECH 2026 Forum, p. 2700. 2026. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-2700
Undergraduate
Tyler Wethington
Evaluation of Wing-Embedded Propulsor Systems in Maritime Ground Effect
Publication information is not currently listed on this page.
Undergraduate
Hai Long Le
Characterization of Agricultural Nozzle Spray Geometry in Propeller Wake
Publication information is not currently listed on this page.
Undergraduate
Nolan Elo
Characterization of Highly Focused Ultrasonic Transducer for Flow Control
Publication information is not currently listed on this page.
Undergraduate
Autumn Randall
Flight Test Validation of Tandem Propeller Performance with Vertical Offset
Publication information is not currently listed on this page.
Undergraduate
David Agyei
Event-based Characterization of Focused-Ultrasound-Induced Acoustic Streaming
Publication information is not currently listed on this page.
Undergraduate
Emilee Weir
Modeling Bird Strike Impact on Flight Dynamics
Publication information is not currently listed on this page.
Undergraduate
Elle Pasquillini
Characterization of Highly Focused Ultrasonic Transducer for Flow Control
Publication information is not currently listed on this page.
Master's
Julian Pabon
Experimental Investigation of Dynamic Pitching Effects on a Delta Wing with Blown Jet
Selected publication: Pabon, Julian A., Xinyu Gao, Jielong
Cai, and Sidaard Gunasekaran. "Experimental Investigation of a Novel Morphing Wing Design." In AIAA 2023
Region III Student Conference, Dayton, OH https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-71704
Ph.D.
C.B. Cain
Tailoring Lift Distribution of Wings through Non-Elliptical Spanwise Twist and Active Flow Control
Selected publication: Cain, Charles B., and Sidaard
Gunasekaran. "Wake Characteristics of a Bell-Shaped Lift Distribution." In AIAA SciTech 2026 Forum, p.
2327. 2026. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2026-2327
Teaching That Builds Confidence
Teaching includes Fundamental Aerodynamics, Aircraft Design, Experimental Aerodynamics, and courses that connect experimentation, flight simulation, entrepreneurial mindset, and AI-supported learning.
News and Media
Public-facing coverage already includes precision agriculture, spray drift, drone applications, wind tunnel testing, and AI in education through university, industry, and regional media outlets.