Expertise

Dr. John Baker’s research interests include space sustainability, spacecraft design, energy systems, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and the use of machine learning to generate knowledge of complex systems. His research may be broadly described as multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization (MDAO). His current research includes the use of aerodynamic decelerators to deorbit CubeSats and the physical phenomena that affect deorbit characteristics; MDAO applied to cryocoolers, absorption refrigeration systems, and the heat transfer characteristics of phase change materials; the use of machine learning (Echo State Networks) to predict the behavior of turbulent jet flows and adversarial swarms; and the development of assessment tools for complex energy systems (for both space and terrestrial environments). He is also interested in designing and analyzing non-conventional energy storage devices.

Areas of Research

  • Complex Systems
  • Energy Systems
  • Heat Transfer
  • Machine Learning
  • Multidisciplinary Design Analysis and Optimization (MDAO)
  • Space Sustainability
  • Spacecraft Design
  • Thermodynamics
Past Affiliations

Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering, University of Alabama

Professor and Department Head, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, College of Engineering, University of Alabama (past)

Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Alabama

Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Alabama

Communities
Aerospace Engineering
Degrees
PhD, University of Kentucky, Mechanical Engineering
BS, University of Kentucky, Mechanical Engineering
MS, University of Kentucky, Mechanical Engineering
Keywords
microsatellites mechanical engineering heat transfer thermodynamics engineering thermosciences engineering fluid dynamics optimization thermodynamics astronautics aerospace engineering energy sciences complex systems
Languages
English
Associations
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
American Society of Mechanical Engineers