Meet the Team

Leadership

Wayne Strasser
Before entering academia, Dr. Wayne Strasser provided computational solutions to problems related to fluids, chemical reactions, and phase change for various global industry partners for 25 years, resulting in increased energy utilization and improved product yield valued at tens of millions (USD) annually. The thrusts of his current research include optimization of a transonic self-sustaining pulsatile airblast atomizer and hybrid RANS-LES modeling of primary atomization. He has 37 patents in the US, plus those abroad. He is a registered P.E. in three US states, an ASME Fellow, an Executive Director of Industrial Relations for ASTFE, and operates a private CFD consulting company. He previously chaired the ASME Fluid Applications and Systems Technical Committee, the ASME Honors and Awards Committee, and the ASME Fluid Mechanics Technical Committee. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Fluids Engineering and actively reviews articles for at least a dozen journals. He also enjoys lively philosophical debate on the origin and meaning of life.

Graduate Students

David Capobianco (MS)
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Oluwafemi Dada (PhD)
I am Dada Oluwafemi Samuel, a distinguished individual with a passion for engineering and an unwavering commitment to academic excellence. Having earned a B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering from Kwara State University, I emerged as the overall best student, attaining the esteemed First Class honors.

During my undergraduate journey, my dedication and ingenuity were recognized when I secured a prestigious research grant in my final year. This grant allowed me to develop a groundbreaking small-scale hybrid wind turbine for my university. This accomplishment not only highlighted my technical prowess but also showcased my ability to think critically and push the boundaries of innovation.

Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to gain invaluable practical experience, I embarked on a path as a Graduate Assistant immediately after completing my undergraduate studies. This endeavor enabled me to delve deeper into the realm of engineering, providing me with firsthand exposure to the intricacies of the field. Through this experience, I honed my skills and acquired a comprehensive understanding of various engineering practices.

With a solid foundation in mechanical engineering, I have mastered an impressive array of technical skills. I have good knowledge of Python programming, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, Bootstrap, and React. Leveraging these programming languages and web development tools, I have consistently produced innovative and impactful projects.

Undoubtedly, my academic journey has been adorned with remarkable achievements. Notably, my final year project delved into the development of silver and graphene derived from waste materials, focusing on X-ray films and drained cassava starch. Employing advanced analytical techniques like Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), I meticulously examined the morphology, structure, and elemental composition of the extracted

metals. This research venture underscored my penchant for scientific exploration and showcased my aptitude for meticulous analysis.

Looking forward, my unwavering passion for research has propelled me towards pursuing a Ph.D. in Engineering, with a particular emphasis on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). My aspirations revolve around exploring the limitless possibilities that arise from integrating AI algorithms with CFD simulations, enabling us to unlock groundbreaking solutions and revolutionize the engineering landscape.

Beyond my academic pursuits, I am an avid reader with a penchant for spiritual books. The wisdom and insight gained from these literary endeavors fuel my personal growth and broaden my perspective. Furthermore, I am driven by a deep-seated desire to motivate and inspire others, urging them to reach new heights of achievement. Public speaking serves as a platform through which I can share my experiences and insights, empowering individuals to embrace their full potential.

Above all, my faith in God serves as the guiding light that illuminates every aspect of my life. It instills in me a sense of purpose, resilience, and gratitude, shaping my character and underpinning my unwavering dedication to excellence.
Josh Ingram (PhD)
Joshua (Josh) Ingram grew up as a military dependent overseas and in the U.S. due to his father’s service in the U.S. Air Force. He took an interest in science and engineering at a young age and made the decision that he would be in a STEM field of some kind. As a homeschooler, Josh’s parents allowed him to focus on subjects that interested him and supported his scientific and engineering endeavors. Before starting his undergraduate studies, he spent his time rebuilding his truck, teaching himself basic circuit analysis and mechanical engineering concepts, and completing a collegiate program which awarded him a diploma in Welding Technology with over 1200 hours of welding. Throughout his undergraduate studies at Liberty University, he participated in and helped nearly every engineering competition team as well as performed research for multiple professors from molecular dynamics to infant bite force sensors. He has worked with at least 7 independent companies, contractors, and labs while in school (BWXT, Oak Ridge National Labs, DOE, UT, Commander Concepts Commissioning, Marmon Innovations, Center for Engineering Research and Education) to gain as much valuable experience as possible. Having graduated top of his electrical class with his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with minors in mathematics and technical studies, he now works in the Advanced Research Division of BWX Technologies as an Electrical Design Engineer for nuclear systems while working towards a Ph.D. in engineering. In his free time, he enjoys tinkering on his personal projects and research including ion thrusters, forging, and Z-pinch of plasmas using custom cathode ray tubes, hiking, swimming, and fixing up his 1964 F100 with his father. He has spent most of his life studying God’s creation having faith that God will continue to make Himself known through His creation and through His Word.
Robert Kacinski (PhD)
Robert Kacinski is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Liberty University. He grew up in Long Island, New York but currently resides in Lynchburg, VA. During his undergraduate studies, he participated in a directed research project with Dr. Wayne Strasser involving CFD and shark skin for boundary layer separation control. This study was instrumental in piquing an interest in the field that is now being pursued in graduate level research. Outside of his studies, playing the piano and golf are two of his favorite pastimes, as they provide a level of mental challenge along with the leisure of the two activities. I am resolute in my faith regarding frequent prayer and a firm belief that God works all things for good.
Reid Prichard (PhD)
Engineering isn’t just my degree - it’s my passion. I love learning new things and breaking new ground, so I have been excited at the broad range of opportunities afforded to me while working toward my PhD at Liberty University. I began my program by presenting a study on supercavitation at ASME’s IMECE conference and winning First Place in their “Young Engineers Paper” contest. After finishing my supercavitation work, I wrote a literature review of studies of fluid flow through the brain, which will be featured as a chapter of an upcoming book on traumatic brain injuries. I closed out my first semester by learning advanced meshing techniques to perform a project for an international nuclear power corporation. I am currently working within the field of biomimetics, specifically investigating the use of shark skin to control boundary layer separation.
Elijah Yoder (PhD)
Elijah Yoder is a Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate student interested in studying God’s creation and using that as inspiration for modern engineering. His F.L.U.I.D. research involves studying the Bombardier Beetle’s volatile spray defense mechanism and utilizing that in a fire extinguisher. He has been a part of Liberty’s Formula SAE team and has had various hands-on engineering experience through internships with PennDOT. In his free time, he enjoys working out, playing sports of various kinds, and catching up on the latest movies.

Undergraduate Students

John Bailey
John Bailey is a junior in Mechanical Engineering at Liberty University. His current research applies CFD to the study of the 2-D hydrodynamic differences between different styles of rowing blades to determine the relative efficiency of past, present, and potential future designs. When he is not working on classes, he enjoys rowing, lifting, reading, and discovering new athletic training / coaching methods.
Nathanael Breed
Nate Breed is a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate student at Liberty University. He has spent the past two summers interning with Los Alamos National Laboratory and plans to continue his research on scaling high-explosive events to simulate full-scale tests to be executed at the Nevada National Security Site by Los Alamos National Laboratory under the guidance of Dr. Wayne Strasser. While his engineering research is an important part of Nate’s story, the most important thing to know about him is that he is a follower of Jesus.
Joel Dowdell
Joel Dowdell is an undergraduate mechanical engineering junior at Liberty University. He is working on Reduced Order Modeling with FLUID. Some other topics that interest him are analog computing, engineering applications of origami, and the potential intersection of the two. When time allows, his hobbies include dungeons and dragons, origami, math, and reading.
Jon Estes
I’m currently a junior in mechanical engineering at Liberty University with a minor in business. I’m a big fan of film, literature, camp, and most things outside. I got into engineering from a simple childhood desire to know how stuff works, and I’m pretty happy to say that desire has been ongoing. I am currently assisting Dr. Strasser in his research on reducing the drag of carrier ships by means of hydrofoil.
Kent Gingerich
Kent “Newt” Gingerich is a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate student at Liberty University. He has helped Dr. Strasser create an introductory demonstration of the open source CFD program OpenFOAM and is currently involved in dolphin skin modeling. He plans on writing his honors thesis on modeling an airfoil with a movable flap, like that embedded in shark skin, to reduce stall by controlling the flow over the airfoil. It is only through the grace of God that he is studying at Liberty University, and he is very grateful to be a part of the FLUID group.
Joshua Glenn
Joshua Glenn is a current undergraduate studying mechanical engineering at Liberty University. Glenn is working with Dr. Strasser in the F.L.U.I.D. research group and is currently working on a research project that involves computation fluid dynamics. Glenn is fascinated and captivated by God’s creation. In Glenn’s free time, he enjoys playing various sports, being in nature, and engaging in thought provoking discussions with friends.
Cyrus Harris
Cyrus Harris is a rising Junior, majoring in both Mechanical and Civil Engineering. He lives in Forest, Virginia and has loved growing up in a city surrounded by a Christian community. He is passionate about design and the act of creating, whether that be through art, music, writing, or engineering - mimicking and taking inspiration from the Lord, the Creator. He is excited to start research under the guidance of Dr. Strasser and hopes to continue growing in the Lord and his skills through this experience.
Samuel Heath
My name is Samuel (Lake) Heath, and I am a junior mechanical engineering student at Liberty University. Originally from North Carolina, I moved to Peru as a missionary kid in 2012 and grew up in the Andes mountains where my family served the local community as disciple-makers, Bible teachers, and church partners. I have a passion for pursuing my engineering education where I hope to use my God-given abilities and skills to further God’s kingdom here on earth.
Caleb Hellmund
Caleb Hellmund is currently studying computer engineering at Liberty University and is passionate about solving problems and acquiring knowledge. He is from Northern Virginia and enjoys a variety of hobbies, including chess, coding, playing guitar, and studying apologetics.
Jacob Knollinger
From Orlando, Florida and studying Mechanical Engineering, Jacob Knollinger bounces from interest to interest; what remains constant is his desire to learn and improve. His current focus is Motorsport Engineering, as well as some amateur driving.
Joseph Krahn
Joseph Krahn is an undergraduate mechanical engineering junior at Liberty University. He will be supporting the F.L.U.I.D. group by developing a CFD flow model over grooved dermal ridges of dolphin skin. This research coincides with his curiosity for life science and biomimicry, but he also has a diversified set of interests in areas like robotics, nuclear space solutions, rollercoaster design, and sustainable architecture. Joseph is currently involved with the Engineering Missions and Research Club in developing a low-cost electro-resistivity water detector for humanitarian applications, and he has developed critical design skills through work with BWXT Advanced Technologies, projects like Vex robots, and software such as SolidWorks. Outside of engineering, Joseph loves to hit the trails of Virginia to run for miles, capture cinematic shots with his drone, or strum the guitar atop a scenic vista. He is also passionate about empowering individuals through networking, service, and teaching.
Ryan Learn
Ryan Learn is a mechanical engineering student at Liberty University. He has participated in research towards nanostructured alloy development for additive manufacturing as well as research into solid state metal foams using oxide reduction and intraparticle expansion. He is a part of his university’s Aero Competition Team and holds a strong interest in the aerospace industry. Ryan enjoys simulation-oriented and hands-on projects; in his free time, he can be found golfing, playing video games, spending quality time with friends, and more.
Clay McClintock
Clay McClintock is a mechanical engineering student at Liberty University. He has participated in COVID 19 Ventilation research, and has obtained his associate’s certification in Solidworks. Clay loves to design and 3D print, and enjoys coming up with different projects to work on creating. In his spare time he enjoys to play disc golf and have fun with friends and girlfriend.
Caleb Miller
Caleb Miller is a mechanical engineering student at Liberty University. He is working on developing meshes for modeling the launch conditions of LUSE’s Rocketry Competition Team. He has past experience with other computational simulations such as molecular dynamics but is looking forward to expanding into CFD. He is originally from Clinton, Mississippi, and enjoys spending time playing ultimate frisbee, hiking, and reading about apologetics/theology. Caleb plans to continue research after undergraduate studies and pursue a PhD.
Ethan Newkirk
Ethan Newkirk is currently an undergraduate studying interdisciplinary studies in business leadership and computational science areas of study. He lives in Wake Forest, NC, and grew up in Ft. Myers, FL. He is involved in the F.L.U.I.D. research group with the objective to develop image analysis methods with which to evaluate renderings of fluid movements and generate data on the width of particles over time. He plans to start a business in the future based on some products developed through a background in engineering and computer science. Outside of school, Ethan likes to participate in outdoor activities such as mountain biking and various sports.
Jonah Osterhus
Jonah Osterhus is a senior Mechanical Engineering major and Music minor. For his Honors Thesis, he is investigating the effects that material selection, instrument geometry, and assembly design have on the sound of an acoustic guitar. In his free time, he likes to play drums, guitar, and piano. He also enjoys running and playing various sports.
Luke Phayre
Luke Phayre is a Sophomore Mechanical Engineering student at Liberty University. He enjoys using CAD software and problem solving with physics and math. Luke joined the FLUID group in hopes of gaining work experience in the field of engineering. In his free time, Luke plays board games and sports.
Tanner Randall
Tanner Randall is currently enrolled as an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at Liberty University. He is involved the F.L.U.I.D research group under the direction of Dr. Wayne Strasser studying the heat transfer properties of ARCAM 3d printers and designing a heat transfer analysis of the process. In his free time, he rock climbs and enjoys playing disc golf with his friends.
Aaron Ronaldson
My name is Aaron Ronaldson and I am a mechanical engineering student at Liberty University. I am passionate about making new discoveries and solving problems that haven’t been solved before. My hobbies and interests include rock climbing, playing music, and reading.
Samuel Springer
Samuel Springer is a Junior in Mechanical Engineering at Liberty University with an interest in math and physics. He has worked as an engineering tutor at Liberty for a year. In his free time, he enjoys writing, climbing the rock wall and riding and designing roller coasters.
Serenity Sudbrock
Serenity Sudbrock is working as a Laboratory Technician and co-team lead for project management in the Engineering Department and at the Center for Engineering Research and Education. Recently I began volunteering as a research assistant to Dr. Strasser.

My goal is to develop and expand my skills to the best of my abilities so as to be of service to the Lord. I have a passion for interdisciplinary projects and a strong drive for humanitarian projects.

I was given the opportunity to speak at the international HAM Radio conference at Bodensee, Germany in 2019 on circular frequencies and how they relate to space while gaining my Abitur in Chemistry and Mathematics from Liborius-Gynasium. My first semester of Engineering at Liberty University I assisted in a soft robotics research project under Dr. Medina at Liberty University’s TRACER Lab, and had the amazing opportunity to follow alongside the research and production of a specialty hydrogen motor at WTZ in Germany in 2021.
Aleck Tilbrook
Aleck Tilbrook was born into a navy family and spent his childhood near the technological achievements of the service branch’s submersibles and surface ships. This period in his life sparked a deep passion for engineering, problem solving and the pursuit of knowledge. During his time as an undergraduate at Liberty University, Tilbrook has followed this passion and engaged in multiple research projects. These projects span the fields of biomedical engineering, structural dynamics, and computation fluid dynamics. Tilbrook has also gained industry experience through his previous internships, preforming efficiency analysis of mechanical systems, material use, and production flow. Tilbrook plans to continue his research pursuits into the future and use the wisdom he has acquired through his time at Liberty University to discover more about creation.
Abraham Wingfield
Abraham Wingfield is currently a Mechanical Engineering student at Liberty University. He is actively involved in the F.L.U.I.D. research group directed by Dr. Wayne Strasser, PhD. His current research objective is to develop an acoustic levitation system that suspends objects with sound waves and generates phase change in a container less environment.