Prof. Lavi Rizki Zuhal, Ph.D.

Short Biography

Lavi Rizki Zuhal, Ph.D., is a Professor of Aerodynamics and the Chair of Fluid Dynamics and Propulsion in the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FMAE) at the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). He is currently the Vice Rector for Research and Innovation at ITB. Prior to this, he served as the Acting Dean of FMAE (2025), Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Research, and Partnerships at FMAE (2020–2024), and Chairman of the Undergraduate Aerospace Engineering Program (2018–2020).

He received his B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland (1996), and both his M.S. (1997) and Ph.D. (2001) degrees in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology (CALTECH). After completing a postdoctoral year in the Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories at CALTECH, he joined the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Institut Teknologi Bandung, where he is currently a full-time professor. From 2010 to 2013, he served as an advisor for research policy strategy at the National Innovation Council of the Republic of Indonesia.

Prof. Zuhal’s research interests lie at the intersection of fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, and computational science, with a focus on developing mathematical models for complex systems using data from simulations or experiments. He has published 92 scientific articles in journals and proceedings, both nationally and internationally, and has been involved in 41 research projects. Some of the research topics he is currently working on include the development of meshless Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), multidisciplinary design optimization methodologies using machine learning, and physics of fluids. In recognition of his dedication to research, he was awarded the ITB Award for Excellence in Research in 2016. Additionally, he is the recipient of the prestigious Nurtanio Award (2024) from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia for his significant contributions to the field of aerospace science and engineering. Some of his recent works can be seen here.