Biography | Di Yang's Research Group

EDUCATION

Ph.D., 2010, Civil Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
M.S., 2009, Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
B.S., 2004, Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China

EXPERIENCE

2024-present: Associate Chair, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Houston
2021-present: Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Houston
2021-2023: Graduate Admissions Director, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston
2015-2021: Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston
2012–2015: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
2011–2012: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Civil Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

AWARDS

2021: W. T. Kittinger Teaching Excellence Award, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston
2020: Andrea Prosperetti Research Computing Faculty Award, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston
2018: Teaching Excellence Award, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston
2016: Larry Witte Fellowship, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston
2010: Corrsin–Kovasznay Outstanding Paper Award, Johns Hopkins University
2004: Joseph Meyerhoff Scholarship, Johns Hopkins University
2000: Panasonic Education Fund Scholarship, University of Science and Technology of China

RESEARCH AREAS

Computational fluid dynamics:
Direct numerical simulation and large-eddy simulation of turbulent flows, simulation of multi-phase flows, high-order computation of nonlinear ocean waves
Turbulent flows over complex boundaries:
Boundary layer flows over waves and terrain, rough- and smooth-wall turbulent boundary layers, flow over compliant surfaces
Subgrid-scale modeling in geophysical flows:
Modeling of the surface roughness scale, subgrid-scale closures for large-eddy simulation
Sustainable energy:
Offshore and onshore wind farm fluid dynamics, energy conversion from tides and waves
Environmental fluid mechanics:
Oil spill dispersion; pollutant transport in atmosphere, ocean and river
Ocean optics:
Light propagation in ocean euphotic zone, effect of optical variability on the marine ecosystem
Scientific computing:
High-performance large-scale parallel computing, scientific visualization of large data set

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND SERVICES

Member of American Physical Society, Division of Fluid Dynamics
Member of American Geophysical Union
Reviewer for: National Science Foundation, Nature Geoscience, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Physics of Fluids, Geophysical Research Letters, Journal of Geophysical Research – Oceans, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Wind Energy, Journal of Turbulence, Energies, Journal of Fluid Engineering, Journal of Wind Engineering & Industrial Aerodynamics, Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Ocean Modelling, Journal of Environmental Engineering, Fluids

TEACHING AT UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON