Shima Hajimirza Granted $519K NSF CAREER Award to Impact Energy Efficiency

The assistant professor of mechanical engineering, along with her students, aims to advance radiation heat transfer modeling, with real-life applications that include green energy and electronics

By making fundamental changes to how thermal systems are designed and operated, more sustainable and efficient technologies can be achieved. In the energy sector, for example, better control of heat transfer can lead to more efficient solar panels, reactors and engines, overall reducing waste and operating costs. In everyday products like electronics, improved heat management can extend the life of devices and prevent overheating without the need for bulky cooling systems.

Shima Hajimirza, Assistant Professor, Director of the Energy Control and Optimization (ECO) Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Shima Hajimirza, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Energy Control and Optimization (ECO) Lab at Stevens Institute of Technology, aims to impact energy efficiency, safety and equipment longevity in numerous technologies and industrial processes with her research.

She recently received a $519,309 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award for her project, "Precise Mathematical Modeling and Experimental Validation of Radiation Heat Transfer in Complex Porous Media Using Analytical Renewal Theory." The five-year project seeks to develop advanced mathematical and computational models that significantly improve the accuracy, speed and applicability of radiation heat transfer estimations beyond the capabilities of existing methods.

"The inspiration came partially from [my] previous research, understanding the challenges and a need for more powerful computational modeling," said Hajimirza. "It was also inspired by the need to improve the efficiency and reliability of thermal systems in various industries, including energy, electronics and environmental control, by better understanding and predicting how heat transfers through complex materials."

Her research will develop a novel framework for better analyzing and determining heat transfer measurements in complex porous materials, where current methodologies especially fall short. By developing new mathematical models and computational tools, she aims to better predict and manage heat transfer through radiation in complex porous media.

This research could revolutionize the way energy transport is measured and managed at multiple scales. Potential impacts include enhancing solar energy systems, improving thermal management in electronic devices, and developing more efficient and sustainable energy technologies, including new materials with optimized thermal properties.

'Aligning theory with practice'

In addition to theoretical development, Hajimirza will validate these new mathematical models and computational tools through experiments. This will help ensure that the models will work well in real-world scenarios.

"Aligning theory with practice is always a tough challenge in research," she said.

Ensuring that theoretical models accurately predict real-world behaviors requires sophisticated experimental setups, according to Hajimirza. There can be discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental outcomes due to simplifications and assumptions in the models.

Measurement precision is another difficulty. High precision in experimental measurements is crucial, especially when validating subtle effects predicted by new models.

"Achieving and maintaining this precision can be technically challenging and resource-intensive," she said. However, this is an important part of the study particularly because it is so challenging.

Involving students at every turn

As an assistant professor, Hajimirza is just as invested in educational opportunities as she is in the research itself. She will welcome Stevens students into her lab as researchers who will help to develop and test the models. The students will gain hands-on experience in both experimental and computational methods.

Additionally, Hajimirza is passionate about sparking the interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) of K-12 students from historically underrepresented groups.

"Integrating cutting-edge research into curriculum in a way that is accessible and engaging for students is challenging," she said. "It requires the development of new educational materials and teaching methods that can effectively convey complex scientific concepts. Furthermore, actively involving underrepresented groups in STEM through this research requires targeted outreach and support programs.

"[I'm excited] about training the next generation of engineers and scientists through this advanced research," she added.

Contagious enthusiasm

Hajimirza has spread her enthusiasm for the project not just with the NSF, but also within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the larger Schaefer School of Engineering and Science.

"This is a truly innovative and multi-disciplinary research endeavor that sits at the cutting edge of physics, mathematics and computation. It could have numerous practical applications across various industries and technologies, enhancing our understanding and management of thermal processes in complex materials. I am very excited about the potential of this project and look forward to collaborating with bright scientists and talented students to push the boundaries of what's possible in this field," she said.