Space Engineering

At the University of Virginia’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, faculty are pushing the boundaries of Space Engineering through pioneering research in hypersonic aerothermodynamics, propulsion systems, and thermal management. Their work combines experimental and computational approaches to explore high-speed flows, plasma behavior, and energy transfer in extreme environments—key to advancing next-generation aerospace technologies. Researchers are also developing state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and high-performance computing methods to simulate complex fluid-thermal interactions and enhance spacecraft system design. This interdisciplinary research drives innovation in vehicle architecture, advanced materials, and mission capabilities for both atmospheric and spaceflight applications. 

Core Faculty

David B. Brown

Assistant Professor

David’s research group conducts experimental and theoretical studies of energy transport/conversion mechanisms and material properties across multiple length scales and temperature ranges. The primary motivation is the thermal management of hypersonic vehicles, electronic devices, and other engineering systems.
Google Scholar ResearchGate
Email ymh6nv@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 982-5928

Chen Cui

Assistant Professor

Chen Cui's current research interests are on spacecraft electric propulsion, space environment, and computational plasma physics. Chen Cui's work focuses on the high-fidelity, fully kinetic modeling of plasma dynamics in spacecraft electric propulsion thrusters, solar wind, and other applications related to low-temperature plasmas.
Google Scholar
Email cuichen@virginia.edu

Haibo Dong

Professor Director of Undergraduate Aerospace Engineering

Prior to joining UVA as an Associate Professor in 2012, Dr. Dong was an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Wright State University. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Aerospace Engineering from UCLA in 2003. After completing his doctorate, he spent three years as a post-doctoral researcher at the George Washington University.
Google Scholar Flow Simulation Research Group (FSRG) Link Lab
Email hd6q@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 243-4098

Xinfeng Gao

Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Xinfeng Gao's research is focused on the development of high-performance computing (HPC) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) algorithms for a wide range of applications in aerospace and mechanical engineering, involving shock waves, turbulence, combustion, plasma, and multifluids. 

 
CFD & Propulsion Laboratory
Email x.gao@virginia.edu

Christopher Goyne

Professor Director of the UVA Aerospace Research Laboratory

Professor Goyne, after groundbreaking research at his alma mater University of Queensland, Australia, and UVA Engineering, continues his work in hypersonic air-breathing propulsion, supersonic aerodynamics, hypersonic ground and flight test techniques, diagnostic and measurement technique development, controls and advanced manufacturing.
Google Scholar Hypersonic Research at the University of Virginia UVA Hypersonics Research Complex UVA Aerospace Research Laboratory University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics
Email goyne@virginia.edu
Phone (434) 982-5355

Patrick E. Hopkins

Whitney Stone Professor of Engineering Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Professor, Materials Science and Engineering (Courtesy) Professor, Physics (Courtesy)

Patrick E. Hopkins is a Whitney Stone Professor in Engineering at the University of Virginia, with a primary appointment in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and courtesy appointments in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Physics. He is also the director of the ExSiTE Lab.
Google Scholar ExSiTE Group
Email phopkins@Virginia.edu
Phone (434) 924-6297

Lin Ma

Professor

4D Diagnostics & Thermal-Fluids​
Development of novel diagnostics with 4D spatiotemporal resolution to study combustion, propulsion and fluid dynamics
Google Scholar
Email lm4wb@virginia.edu

Thomas Ward

Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Dr. Ward received a B.S. (1998) in Chemical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology with a minor in Applied Mathematics, M.S. (2001) in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and Ph.D. (2003) in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Santa Barbara.
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Email hgw8rs@virginia.edu