Prof. Omid Askari

Dr. Omid Askari is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at West Virginia University (WVU). Dr. Omid Askari received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, and worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Energy and Combustion Research Laboratory. He was an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University and founding director of the Plasma and Combustion Research Laboratory from 2016 to 2021. He has five years of industrial experience in the automotive and renewable energy sectors. Dr. Askari's research focuses on the development of advanced technologies for the next generation of less-emission combustion devices and a secure and sustainable energy future, with emphasis on complex reacting flows at extreme conditions, non-equilibrium plasma, propulsion, jet flame, thermal and non-thermal ignition, high-pressure spray, chemical kinetic and advanced laser-based diagnostics. He has over 70 peer-reviewed publications and has received several awards from universities and organizations worldwide including the SEC Faculty Travel Award, NSBE “Teacher of the Year” Award, MSU Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award and NEU Alfred Ferretti Award for Excellence in Mechanical Engineering. He has been involved as principal investigator co-principal investigator and collaborator in different externally funded multidisciplinary research projects from the NSF, DOE, ASHRAE, QNRF, WVRCG, PACCAR and NASA.

Education

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, 2016
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 2007
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Karaj, 2005

Appointments

• 2021-current: Associate Professor, West Virginia University
• 2016-2021: Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University
• 2016-2016: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Northeastern University
• 2008-2012: Fuel and Combustion Senior Research Engineer, R&D Powertrain Company, IPCO
• 2007-2008: CAE Research Engineer, Renewable Energy Organization, NRI

Honors and Awards

• 2020: SEC Faculty Travel Award, Southeastern Conference
• 2019: ASME Advanced Energy Systems Award, IMECE
• 2019: Combustion Art Competition Award for Technical Merit, 11th U.S. National Combustion Meeting
• 2019: Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, Mississippi State University
• 2018: Outstanding and Recognized Reviewer Award, Journal of Fuel, Elsevier
• 2018: Combustion Art Competition Award for Artistic Merit, Central States Section of the Combustion Institute - Spring Technical Meeting
• 2018: Teacher of the Year Award, NSBE & IMAGE
• 2016: Outstanding and Recognized Reviewer Award, Journal of Fuel, Elsevier
• 2015: Alfred Ferretti Award for Excellence in Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University
• 2015: Best Student Paper Award, ASME Solar Energy Division
• 2007: Outstanding Graduate Award in Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology
• 2005: Distinguished Student Award in Mechanical Engineering, University of Karaj
• 2005: Introduced as a Scientific Elite, National Elite Institute

Research Interests

• High-Pressure and Temperature Combustion 
• Auto-Ignition and Kinetic Analysis
• High-Pressure Spray and Low-Temperature Combustion
• Plasma-Assisted Ignition/Combustion
• Alternative and Low Greenhouse Gas Fuels
• Plasma-Catalytic Conversion of CO₂ into Value-Added Chemicals,
• Flame Speed, Flame Structure and Flame Instability
• Spark Ignition and Flame Kernel Formation
• Laser Spectroscopy and Optical Imaging Techniques