Sheilla N Torres-Nieves, Ph.D

Sheilla N Torres-Nieves, Ph.D

Associate Professor

Fluid Dynamics and Turbulence

Office: L-217
sheilla.torres@upr.edu
T: 787-832-4040x

 

Education

  • Ph.D.
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA, 2011
  • M.S.
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA, 2007
  • B.S.
 Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, 2005

Background

  • 2015-present
 Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
  • 2012-2015
 Senior Engineer, Compression Systems Aerodynamics, Pratt and Whitney, Connecticut, USA
  • 2014
 Aerodynamics Discipline Lead for Advanced Commercial Gen2 Fan Rig, Pratt and Whitney Connecticut, USA
  • 2007-2011
 Visiting Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
  • 2005-2011
 Research Assistant, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
  • 2005
 Visiting Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
  • 2004
 Undergraduate Research Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and Boeing Co.
  • 2003
 Special Undergraduate Project, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
  • 2003
 Research and Development Internship, General Motors Corp., Pontiac, Michigan
  • 2003
 Undergraduate Research Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and Boeing Co.

 

Academic and Professional Leadership

  • Member of Tau Beta Pi- The Engineering Honor Society (Professor/Counselor since 2015).
  • Member of Golden Key International Honour Society.
  • Member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
  • Organizer of the NSF-AGEP Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Seminar Series, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2006).
  • Student orientation (workshops, seminars, webinars, panels) about graduate school and funding opportunities (i.e., fellowships and scholarships). Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, New York), University of Turabo (Gurabo, PR), University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (Mayagüez, PR) (2005-Present).
  • Guest at Capstone Engineering Design course final presentation, Shaker High School, Colonie, N.Y. (2010).
  • Reviewer, 30th ASME Wind Energy Symposium (2011).

 

 

Conference Publications

  • Contributed over 30 lectures in national and international (Canada, Cyprus, Italy, Eng- land, France, Germany) meetings.

Major Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications

  • Brzek, B., Torres-Nieves, S.N., Lebrón-Bosques, J.R., Cal, R.B., Meneveau, C., and Castillo, L., “Effects of Freestream Turbulence on Rough Surface Turbulent Boundary Layers”, J Fluid Mech, 635:207-243, 2009.

Distinctions & Awards

  • Awarded the Prestigious Pratt and Whitney’s EAGLE Award, 2014
  • Awarded Pratt and Whitney’s RAVE Award of Excellence, 2014
  • Highlighted in National Science Foundation’s Publication: Women in STEM, 2011
  • Certificate of Completion RPI’s Professional Leadership Series, 2009
  • Building Future Faculty Program at the North Carolina State University, 2009
  • Winner of Rensselaer’s “Change the World Challenge” Idea Competition, 2008
  • Awarded the 2008 Rensselaer’s Founders Award of Excellence, 2008
  • Rensselaer’s 15th Annual Honors Convocation, 2008
  • Rensselaer’s 14th Annual Honors Convocation, 2007
  • Ford Foundation Predoctoral Diversity Fellowship, 2007-2011
  • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2007-2011
  • NSF-AGEP Fellowship, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2005-2007
  • Edward A. Saibel Topper Award- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2005-2006
  • NSF PR Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Fellowship, 2004
  • General Motors Corporation Merit Scholarship, 2004
  • Awarded by the United States Achievement Academy, 2002
  • National Dean’s Honor Roll, 2002
  • Allergan Medical Optics Merit Scholarship, 2000-2004
Modeling of turbulence realistic atmospheric turbulent boundary layer conditions for a wind turbine in a scaled-down wind tunnel

Design of a fractal and strakes to generate turbulence and simulate the atmospheric boundary layer inside a wind tunnel to understand the effect on wind turbines.

Experimental Study on the Effects of External Conditions on Boundary Layers of Adjacent Blades

Design of experimental setup to study boundary layer development on adjacent blades to simulate compressor airfoils in gas turbines. Design of experimental setup to understand the individual and joint effects of multiple external conditions on endwall boundary layers.

Boundary Layers affected by Pressure Fields of Adjacent Compressor Blades: A Numerical Approach

Computational simulation of a compressor cascade to study boundary layer development on compressors in gas turbines.