Varghese Mathai wins NSF CAREER award

Physics assistant professor Varghese Mathai was awarded a prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation's Fluid Mechanics division. The CAREER award is 'in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education...'  His project, entitled Fluid-Structure Interactions of Ultrasoft Shape-Morphing Membranes studies the interaction of extremely soft and stretchy materials with turbulent fluid flows.  In addition to building fundamental understanding of these situations, the work has potential implications for controlling flows, modifying fluid drag, and extracting energy from flowing water, for example in tidal flows. Congratulations, Varghese!