Guillermo Paniagua
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Courtesy Prof. of Aeronautics and Astronautics Purdue University
Zucrow Laboratories
500 Allison Road
West Lafayette, IN 47907
T: (765)494-1514
https://engineering.purdue.edu/PETAL
Prof. Paniagua's team specializes in turbines, measurement techniques, and propulsion, focusing on aerodynamics and heat transfer of high-speed internal flows. The central theme of Paniagua's research is to expand the traditional limits of fluid machinery. Prof. Paniagua's team aims to pioneer the transition to a world where all propulsion and power generation is clean through creative and rigorous research in high-speed internal flows. The team combines expertise in Measurement techniques, Experimental testing procedures, Theoretical calculations, and Computational analysis with a focus on research and development for turbines and novel thermal-based cycles.
EDUCATIONAL RECORD
Dr. en Sciences Appliquées, with the highest distinction, October 2002
Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium (homologated Doctor in Engineering, Spain, 2005)
Dissertation: “Investigation of steady & unsteady performance of a transonic HP turbine”
Research Master in Fluid Dynamics, with honors, July 1997
von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
Thesis: “Performance measurements of a transonic turbine stage”
Master of Science in Electro-Mechanical Engineering, September 1996
Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería, Gijón, Spain
Thesis: “Laser melting of the plasma sprayed 83WC-17Co coating”
Awarded economic fellowships for excellence in performance in 1990, 1994, 1995
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
8/2017 – present Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University and Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics (by courtesy)
10/2014 – 8/2017 Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
12/2009 – 9/2014 Associate Professor, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
10/2005 – 11/2009 Assistant Professor, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
3/2002 – 9/2005 Senior Research Engineer, von Karman Institute, Belgium
1/1998 – 3/2002 Research Assistant – PhD program, von Karman Institute, Belgium
7/1997 – 1/1998 Applied Research Orientation program, von Karman Institute, Belgium
9/1996 – 7/1997 Research Assistant, Diploma Course, von Karman Institute, Belgium
10/1995 – 8/1996 Research Assistant, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería, Gijón, Spain
6/1995 – 10/1995 Internship, Short Training Programme, von Karman Institute, Belgium
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1/2023 – 5/2022 Distinguished Chair on Alternative Energy Technology, Chalmers, Sweden
1/2022 – 7/2022 Visiting Professor, TU Darmstadt, Germany
12/2018 – present Director of the Rolls-Royce “Small Core Turbine Aerodynamics” UTC
7/2018 Visiting Professor, Mechanical and Power Engineering, Xian, China
2/2017 – present Chief Executive Officer, PETAL Solutions LLC
9/2016 – present Part-time Faculty Research Program, National Energy Technology Lab
10/2014 – 12/2019 Adjunct Professor, von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics, Belgium
1/2013 – 6/2015 Adjunct Full Membership to Graduate Faculty, Texas AM
7/2012 – 9/2012 Senior Research Associate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Research Lab, USA
8/2011 Visiting Scholar, Oxford University, United Kingdom
10/2010 – 6/2015 Adjunct Full Membership to Graduate Faculty, Wright State Univ., USA
8/2009 Visiting Professor, Wright State University, USA
3/2008 Visiting Professor, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería, Gijón, Spain
5/2007 – 6/2014 Visiting Professor, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain
HONORS & AWARDS
Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award (536,220 SEK) in Alternative Energy Technology, The Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and the Swedish Fulbright Commission (2023)
Humboldt Research Award (60,000 €), Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2022), in recognition of his past accomplishments in research and teaching
Purdue University “University Faculty Scholar” 2021-2025 (awarded to faculty “on an accelerated path toward academic distinction” with additional funding for research)
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Ground Testing Award (2021), for significant contributions in aerothermal highspeed flow instrumentation and novel wind tunnels to support the Aerospace industry,
outstanding service to AIAA, dissemination, and mentorship.
Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, AIAA (2021), for his technical innovation in turbines, evidenced by patents, awards, and large-scale funding, complemented by ample service to AIAA, dissemination of research, advising and mentorship
American Society of Mechanical Engineers International Gas Turbine Institute Aircraft Engine Technology Award (2021), for outstanding contributions to Air Breathing Propulsion through inspiring leadership, education, and research, having major impacts on Aircraft Engine Operational capability, performance and design.
Outstanding Paper Award at the ASME InterPack: Paper IPACK2017-74224 (2017)
Patented invention of the year for Safran Aircraft Engines (winner out 400 patents, 2016)
Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME (2015)
Window on Science Program, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, $2,016 (in 2010)
Best Paper Award in Heat Transfer at the ASME Turbo Expo: Paper GT2008-51308 (2009)
EREA Award on Visionary Aeronautics Project Idea for Revolutionary Research (5,000 €): “Turbine shocks modulation with plasma actuators” (2008)
The Biennial International Award Iwan Åkerman on innovative research on expansion machines and related technical disciplines, by the Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen (FWO) and the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS) (25,000 €) for the work on “Hub disk leakage” (2006).