Chirag Kharangate, PhD
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace EngineeringCase School of EngineeringEmail: chirag.kharangate@case.edu
Postdoc Researchers
Cho-Ning Huang
Dr. Cho-Ning Huang got his Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University and decided to continue his work from fall 2022. During his Ph.D. years, he focused on improving the two-phase flow boiling theoretical model and building CFD models for variable conductance heat pipe/ thermosyphon. Now as a postdoc, besides the original research interests, he will be working on the CFD model for flow condensation.
Outside of his research area, he is a Thai boxer, skateboarder, and huge fan of fantasy fiction.
Jayachandran K Narayanan
Dr. Jayachandran K Narayanan is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He received his PhD in Cryogenic Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur and was working as a Project Research Scientist at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay prior to his appointment at CWRU.
His research interests include computational fluid dynamics, gas-liquid flows, particulate flows, heat transfer and phase change. At CWRU, he will be working on developing computational fluid dynamics models to predict heat transfer and fluid flow in boiling and condensation thermal systems for applications in the aerospace, automotive, defense and consumer electronics industries. Apart from his academic research, he finds interest in running, badminton and martial arts.
Thanh Hoang Phan, PhD
Dr. Thanh Hoang Phan holds the position of Postdoctoral Scholar within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. He earned both his Master's and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Pusan National University, South Korea. Dr. Phan specializes in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), particularly in numerical modeling for multiphase flows involving heat and mass transfer phenomena such as boiling, condensation, thermal cavitation, and bubble dynamics. His research extends to the integration of machine learning techniques into multiphase flow analysis.
At CWRU, his primary focus lies in the development of temperature-gradient based phase change models aimed at enhancing the accuracy of CFD simulations for cryogenic propellant tanks. Additionally, he is engaged in the creation of physics-driven machine learning models to deepen our understanding of heat and mass transfer processes, with a view to their application in thermal management systems.
Graduate Students
Jarred Wilhite
Jarred Wilhite is a PhD candidate in the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department at CWRU.
His research focuses on developing and testing an innovative microfluidic cooling design to serve as a compact thermal management system for high-powered electronics in lunar and aeronautics applications.
He is also an aerospace engineer at the NASA Glenn Research Center where his work specializes in thermal analysis and heat transfer of aerospace systems. He also holds a B.S. & M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. In his free time, he enjoys running, writing, traveling, and following sports.
Jiayuan Li
Jiayuan is a third-year PhD candidate in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at CWRU. He completed his MS program at CWRU with a major in computational solid mechanics.
Currently, his research work mainly concentrating on pool boiling heat transfer for cryogenic fluid. This technology is important in cryogenic fluid management and storage for future space exploration missions. In addition, he also interests in CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and using data science methods to tackle the two-phase flow problem.
Outside of his research, he likes playing tennis, basketball, and video games.
Logan Pirnstill
I am a third-year PhD candidate at Case in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and I have a bachelor's in Physics and Applied Mathematics from Bowling Green State University. My current research interests include CFD models on two-phase flows and numerical analysis of thermal and fluid systems. Outside of school, I am a certified lifeguard and I enjoy lifting weights and studying historical sciences including paleobiology, archaeology, and anthropology.
Farshad Barghi Golezani
Farshad is a new PhD student in the Mechanical Engineering department at Case Western Reserve University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from K. N. Toosi University of Technology in Iran and his Master's degree, also in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Thermal Sciences, from the University of Tehran. His current research focuses on experimental methods in multiphase flow phenomena such as flow boiling and condensation, employing techniques like particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) to study these flows. Beyond his academic work, Farshad has a strong interest in politics and classic cinema. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and soccer.
Huigang Wang
Huigang is a second-year PhD student in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering at CWRU. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Chongqing University in China.
His current research mainly focuses on developing thermal management solutions utilizing manifold microchannel heat sinks. Outside his research, he enjoys playing badminton, basketball and watching movies.
Hiep Pham Bui
hhp18@case.edu
Hiep (CWRU '19) is an MS student. He graduated from Case School of Engineering in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Hiep has been at Case since 2015 for his B.S in Mechanical Engineering. His current project concerns the simulation of the chilldown process of crygenic fuel (liquid hydrogen) transmission lines. Outside of school and the lab, he likes to learn and discuss history, history of popular music, and indie rock.
Undergraduate Students
Ariadne Papamichou
Ariadne Papamichou is a fourth-year undergraduate student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at CWRU.
Her research is focused on developing computational fluid dynamics models to predict flow in boiling and heat transfer during tube quenching for effective cryogenic fluid management in space.
In her free time, she enjoys skiing, archery, traveling, and cultural anthropology. She is also a subteam lead in the Case Aeronautics Team where she designs and builds the flight surfaces of a radio-controlled model aircraft.
Aimee Ghanem
Aimee Ghanem is a senior undergraduate student (double majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) enrolled in the BS-MS aerospace program at CWRU.
Her research focuses on flow visualization studies for the closed loop two-phase flow chill-down test module for future integration with the flow boiling and condensation experiment onboard the International Space Station.
Her professional interests include aeronautics, sustainable aviation, thermal and fluid systems.
Her hobbies are hiking, painting, and watching movies.
Alumini
Yue Qiu
Yue got his PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 2023. He is currently a Thermal Management Engineer at Dongfeng Motor Corporation, China.
Chinmay Shingote
Chinmay got his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University in 2024.
Genesis Mlakar
Genesis Mlakar got his MS degree in Aerospace Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. He is currently a Thermal Engineer at Boeing.
Ari Bard
Ari Bard got his MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. He is currently an Analyst and Mechanical Engineer at Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD).
Tinh Vo
Tinh Vo got his BS-MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. He is currently a Computational Mechanics MSc Candidate at Technical University of Munich.