NEWS

Dr. Arden Moore, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and nanosystems engineering, has earned an award from the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) for a project to gain a better understanding of how phase change physics at the microscale affect macroscopic performance, specifically in pool boiling scenarios.

In his CAREER project, Moore will develop an innovative approach to pool boiling experimentation that will provide information from beneath individual vapor bubbles. Through these studies, Moore hopes to obtain a better understanding of the underlying physical processes, which can be used to improve pool boiling processes at larger scales. Due to the importance of phase change processes in modern technology, performance gains could have widespread global impact including lower emission power plants and ultra-high efficiency data centers.

In coordination with efforts in The Multiscale Energy Transport and Materials Laboratory at Louisiana Tech, Moore’s CAREER project also supports strategic experiential learning and outreach initiatives for K-12 and undergraduate students related to the fundamentals of thermal energy, with special emphasis on measuring how these activities affect student understanding. Through these initiatives, educators will gain valuable insight into how students from different backgrounds best learn about the thermal sciences, thereby improving student success and increasing participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines.

“Dr. Moore’s research will provide new opportunities for other researchers, as well as educational professionals in both secondary and college settings,” Dr. Hisham Hegab, dean of the College of Engineering and Science said. “I am pleased that his research has been recognized by the NSF through this award.”

“This project would not be possible without the multi-facted support of the University in the form of startup funding, research facilities at the Institute for Micromanufacturing, mentoring of junior faculty and unwavering commitment to quality education and research,” Moore added. “The support and encouragement I have received at all levels – department, college, and university – has been exceptional. I truly believe that such an environment makes Louisiana Tech a special place where innovative ideas and research can thrive.”