Lin Ma

Propulsion Systems and Optical Diagnostics

• 2017-Present, Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, University of Virginia
  
• 2015 - 2017, Professor, Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
• 2011 - 2015 Virginia Tech, Associate Professor, Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
• 2006 - 2011 Clemson University, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
• 2000 - 2006 Stanford University, Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering

• 2015 US Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship
• 2015 SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award
• 2014, US Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship
• 2014, PhD graduate selected as VT’s Outstanding Doctoral Student
• 2013, Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• 2010, Board of Trustee Award for Faculty Excellence, Clemson University
• 2009, National Science Foundation, CAREER Award
• 2007 - 2008, Two papers in the area of optical sensing of aerosols ranked top 9 and 13 of the Top 25 Hottest Articles by the Journal of Aerosol Science
• Board of Trustee Award for Faculty Excellence, Clemson University, 2010
• National Science Foundation CAREER award, 2009 
• Two papers in the area of optical sensing of aerosols ranked top 9 and 13 of the Top 25 Hottest Articles by the Journal of Aerosol Science (Oct – Dec 2007 and Oct – Dec 2008, respectively)

• Serve on editorial board of Journal of Spectroscopy & Dynamics 
• Served as reviewer for 15+ journals and conferences, an organizing committee member
  
• Session chair for 6 conferences
• Panelist for four NSF panels.

He is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a member of the Optical Society of America and Society of Automotive Engineers. He is a 2009 recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER award to study turbulence-chemistry interactions.

Ma’s teaching experience lies in the general areas of thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, laser sensing, combustion, engineering mathematics, and related laboratory courses.

Research focuses on the study of propulsion systems, with a special strength in the development and application of advanced optical diagnostics. Specific research directions include the study of fundamental turbulence-chemistry interactions, aerospace propulsion devices, internal combustion engines, fuel spray physics and chemistry, and nano-scale energetic materials.

Dr. Ma’s expertise in laser diagnostics brings a unique capability to the department and the Commonwealth Center for Aerospace Propulsion Systems. His expertise is expected to provide test data for the validation of combustion models, a critical aspect in the development of modern propulsion systems. Such validated models are solely needed to reduce the cost and accelerate the development cycle of new propulsion systems.