Welcome to the Scientific Computing and Propulsion Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame. We are located in McCourtney Hall as part of the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department (pictured in the background). Our work focuses on developing numerical models of complex fluid flows, with particular emphasis on high-speed reacting flows and combustion. At the core of our research is model development rooted in artificial intelligence (AI), scientific machine learning (SciML), and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Across these areas, we rely extensively on GPU-based high-performance computing and place special emphasis on designing algorithms that exploit extreme scales in both data and computation. Our goal is to harness AI-enabled modeling advances to push the boundaries of design and deepen the physical understanding of next-generation power and propulsion systems across a wide range of devices, including detonation engines, scramjets, and gas turbines. Contact us at sbarwey@nd.edu for more information or if you are interested in joining the group. See more at the links below.
Openings: PhD students
SCPL has a number of projects for which we are actively recruiting PhD students,
with a projected start date for the Fall 2026 term. Project topics include scientific machine
learning for high-speed reacting flows, in-situ CFD+ML modeling, and AI-based CFD workflow/algorithm design.
Students with a Bachelor’s and/or Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Chemical
Engineering (or similar) are encouraged to apply.
This appointment includes a stipend and full tuition support.
Prospective students can apply directly through Notre Dame at gradconnect.nd.edu to the AME department (Deadline: December 31, 2025). For more information, send a CV to sbarwey@nd.edu with any additional info you think would be relevant.
Openings: Postdoctoral Fellows
Those interested in postdoctoral positions should reach out directly to sbarwey@nd.edu with your CV and a brief statement of your research interests.
Additionally, I am happy to support applications to the Provost's Postdoctoral Fellowship in Engineering at Notre Dame, as well as other Fellowship opportunities associated with NSF, DOE, DOD, and other agencies.
