Hello, I'm Abbas Sharifi
PhD in Civil Engineering
Researcher with expertise in Water Resource Engineering, Environmental Science, and Biomedical Engineering. Specializing in computational fluid dynamics, machine learning, and advanced modeling for complex engineering challenges.
About Me
I am a dedicated researcher and Postdoctoral Associate at Purdue University. I hold a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Water Resource Engineering) and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Florida International University (FIU), in addition to an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Fluid Mechanics and CFD). My research is centered on solving complex challenges in water resources, environmental science, and biomedical engineering through advanced computational modeling and artificial intelligence.
My experience spans computational fluid dynamics (CFD), machine learning, and hardware prototyping. In water resource engineering, I specialize in developing and validating 3D numerical models for storm sewer geyser eruptions using OpenFOAM and deploying AI and digital twin models for managing stormwater infrastructure. My work in biomedical engineering includes modeling magnetic drug targeting in blood vessels and analyzing biomagnetic fluid flow using CFD. I also apply deep learning algorithms (CNNs) for diverse applications, such as the segmentation of brain lesions in MRI images , real-time prediction of air-water volume fractions , and diagnosing fatigue foot from biomechanical data. Furthermore, I have designed and prototyped an autonomous robot for surface water trash collection.
In addition to my research, I am actively involved in the academic community. I previously served as Laboratory Manager I at FIU, where I directed research and teaching laboratories, managed detailed equipment and chemical inventories, and developed comprehensive laboratory safety protocols compliant with OSHA and EPA standards. Academically, I am a Guest Editor for a special issue of Pharmaceutics (Present) and have served as a Guest Editor for the Journal of Healthcare Engineering.
Research Interests
Education
PhD in Civil Engineering
Florida International University
Specialization: Water Resource Engineering
MS in Environmental Engineering
Florida International University
MS in Mechanical Engineering
Urmia University of Technology
Specialization: Energy Conversion, Fluid Mechanics and CFD
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Urmia University
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Associate
Purdue University
- Conducting advanced research in civil and environmental engineering
- Collaborating on interdisciplinary projects related to water resources and computational modeling
Laboratory Manager I
Florida International University
- Directed the management of research and teaching laboratories for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Developed and enforced laboratory safety protocols compliant with OSHA and EPA standards, ensuring a safe environment for students and faculty
- Managed a detailed inventory of chemicals and equipment and ensured all laboratory practices align with ABET accreditation criteria. Provided technical training and support for a wide range of student and faculty research projects
Teaching Assistant
Florida International University
- Spring 2022: Environmental Engineering for Global Sustainability, Air Pollution Engineering
- Summer 2022: Introduction to Environmental Engineering, Environmental Laboratory
- Summer 2023: Fluid Mechanics
- Spring 2024: Fluid Mechanics, Environmental Engineering for Global Sustainability
Research Assistant
Florida International University
- Dissertation: Experimental and Numerical Simulation of Storm Sewer Geysers and Design of Retrofitting Systems
- Conducting experimental and computational research on storm sewer systems to understand geyser eruption dynamics
- Developing numerical models using CFD and validating them with experimental data
Laboratory Manager
Urmia University of Technology
- Managed Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
- Taught Fluid Mechanics Course
Instructor
Urmia University of Technology
Taught OpenFOAM and C++ Programming
Researcher
Urmia University of Technology
- Investigated climatological influences on COVID-19 outbreaks and developed innovative machine learning models
- Developed advanced imaging analysis techniques for segmentation and classification using Machine Learning
Research Assistant
Urmia University of Technology
- Thesis: Numerical Study of Magnetic Drug Targeting in Blood Vessels Using Magnetic Nanoparticles
- Designed numerical models with CFD for targeted drug delivery using magnetic fields
- Developed high-accuracy simulations for nanoparticle movement and interaction within blood vessels
Mentoring and Academic Contributions
Contributing to the academic community through peer review, mentoring, and leadership
Mentoring Experience
- Academy Graduate & Mentor for Peer-Reviewing Papers in Web of Science (2019 - Present)
- Peer-Review Record: 28 Journals, 84 papers reviewed
Editorial Contributions
-
Guest Editor of Journal of Healthcare Engineering for Special Issue of "Complexity Systems for Scheduling in Healthcare" (Aug 2022 - May 2024)
View Special Issue -
Advisory Board of "2nd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence Science and Applications in Industry and Society (CAISAIS 2023)"
View Committee -
Guest Editor of Pharmaceutics for Special Issue of "Advances in Drug Targeting Chemistry and Magnetic Fluid Dynamics for Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy" (Present)
View Special Issue
Leadership & Projects
- Leader of Project: Design and Implementation of a High-Performance Computing (HPC) System Using Computer Clustering in the Linux Operating System for Academic and Research Centers at Urmia University of Technology
- Co-PI: "An Engineering Approach to Coastal Conservation: The Design and Evaluation of Autonomously Floating Debris Collectors," Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Co-PI: "NSF on geyser prediction using AI," National Science Foundation (NSF)
Publication Record
- Total Publications: 36 papers
- Total Citations: 2,338
- h-index: 24
- i10-index: 29