The US Dept. of Transportation data shows that the combined con-
sumption of aviation and ground vehicles is approximately 200 billion gallons of fuel per year [1],
a gallon of which produces approximately 20 pounds of CO2. From which, it can be estimated that
5 million metric tons of CO2 are produced per day by air and ground vehicles alone. This large
fuel consumption and CO2 emission numbers directly depend on the efficiency of the engineered
systems that make up these vehicles. The broad objective of my research is to better understand
the transport of mass, momentum, and energy in application relevant boundary layer flows. The
research has direct impact on improving the efficiency of engines and vehicle aerodynamics critical
to overall efficiency. Specifically, one aim of my research is to provide foundational knowledge
of boundary layer heat transfer to improve upon the robustness of empirical models with the tech-
nological impact of optimizing engine designs for improved thermal efficiency. Similarly, another
aim is to understand the turbulent structure of high-Reynolds number (Re) boundary layer flows to
enable development of predictive CFD models for large-scale vehicles (i.e., airplanes). Where Re
details the outcome of the competition between fluid forces of inertia and viscosity, such that high
Re flow are inertially dominated (e.g. high speed, large-scale). Collectively, my research has the
potential to impart large impact through increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.