The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Dr. Thomas Ward

The long-term goal of Dr. Ward and his research lab is to improve the understanding of microfluidics and interfacial phenomena.

Dr. Ward and his group has 1) studied new bio-fluid emulsions made possible through processes for making droplets that are small enough to prevent separation, 2) investigated separation of oil from sand (for low-grade oil production) by thermally assisted gravity drainage, and 3) studied carbon dioxide sequestration for long-term storage.

In his research, Dr. Ward has collaborated in MAE with Drs. Lyons, Kleinstreuer, Echekki, and Roberts.

At the graduate level, Dr. Ward teaches MAE 589 Numerical Methods for Engineers, which prepares graduate students in mathematical methods of modelling physcial processes. At the undergraduate level, he teaches MAE 308 Fluid Mechanics and MAE 412 Design of Thermal Systems. In his MAE 589 class, Dr. Ward emphasizes computer programing skills, modelling of continuous processes governed by partial differential equations, and the development of scaling laws. In MAE 308, he places particular emphasis on real-world hydrostatics problems.

Dr. Ward works closely with his students. They tend to be self-motivated and work in small research groups. The research is interesting, in part, because microfluidics represents a relatively new and promising research area (10 to 15 years old) with a lot of opportunity for basic discoveries. For example, uniform drops can be easily produced and stabilized at the microscale creating opportunities in a wide assortment of new seperation processes and materials.

Outside of work, Dr. Ward enjoys music and playing basketball, although these days he watches basketball more than he plays it.