Mechanical Engineering
The City College of New York
Advisor: Professor Yang Liu
Dissertation
Experimental Studies of Transient Multiphase Interactions of Droplet Impinging on Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (S-DBD) Plasma
THERMAL FLUIDS · PLASMA–LIQUID INTERACTIONS · ENERGY SYSTEMS
Mechanical Engineer | Researcher
MD Sohaib Bin Sarwar
Investigating the physics of droplets.
Engineering systems to measure, understand, and control.
PhD Candidate · The City College of New York Expected May 2027
01 / INTRODUCTION
Biography
Experimental research grounded in thermal-fluid engineering.
PhD Candidate in Mechanical Engineering
ExAM-Flow Lab · The City College of New York
I study the interaction of dielectric barrier discharge plasma with water droplets, combining fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and multiphase transport. My research explores how plasma changes droplet spreading, deformation, migration, evaporation, and freezing.
Working with Professor Yang Liu, I develop experimental platforms and integrate high-speed imaging, infrared thermography, data acquisition, and quantitative MATLAB analysis to investigate transient thermal and fluid-dynamic phenomena.
My engineering experience also includes cooling-system design, HVAC airflow analysis, wave-generator development, and pico-hydropower. I am interested in experimental R&D, thermal-management systems, advanced cooling technologies, and energy conversion.
02 / ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Education
Mechanical Engineering
The City College of New York
Awarded en route to the PhD
Renewable Energy Engineering
Coventry University
Coventry, United Kingdom
Mechanical Engineering
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology
Dhaka, Bangladesh
03 / PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
The City College of New York · ExAM-Flow LabExperimental studies of plasma–droplet interactions, thermal transport, and phase change.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
The City College of New YorkHeat Transfer; Thermal System Analysis and Design.
Adjunct Lecturer
The City College of New YorkAero-Thermal Fluid.
Graduate Research Assistant
University of South CarolinaExperimental characterization of PZT-driven atmospheric-pressure plasma.
Graduate Research Assistant
South Dakota State UniversityBusiness Development Executive
ETCBLBS · Bangladesh04 / RESEARCH & ENGINEERING
Projects
Seven projects spanning plasma–droplet interactions, thermal systems, and energy conversion.
05 / TECHNICAL TOOLKIT
Skills
Thermal-fluid engineering
Heat transfer · Thermodynamics · Fluid mechanics · Multiphase transport · Phase change
Experimental diagnostics
IR thermography · High-speed imaging · Schlieren imaging · Sensor calibration
Instrumentation
NI-DAQ · Optical emission spectroscopy · Electrical probes · Arduino
Analysis & simulation
MATLAB · Quantitative image processing · STAR-CCM+ · ANSYS
Engineering design
SolidWorks · AutoCAD · Cooling-load calculations · Thermal and mechanical design
Energy systems
RETScreen · HOMER Pro · windPRO · Hydraulic assessment
06 / Publications
Publications
Journal articles and conference contributions in droplet dynamics, plasma interaction, and phase change.
Development of a Novel Freezing-Levitation System for Controlled Contact-Free Generation of Supercooled Droplets
M. S. B. Sarwar, H. Zhang, and Y. Liu · Journal of Fluids Engineering, 148(8), 081102
Revealing the dynamic and thermal behaviors of supercooled droplet impinging on surfaces with varying wettability
H. Zhang, J. Ahumada Lazo, M. S. B. Sarwar, and Y. Liu · Soft Matter, 21, 8655–8668
Characterization of Droplet-Plasma Interactions During Droplet Impingement on Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma
M. S. B. Sarwar, J. Ahumada Lazo, and Y. Liu · AIAA SciTech Forum
More conference contributions
- Dynamics of Supercooled Water Droplet Upon Impacting on Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma — ASME FEDSM, 2025.
- Development of a Novel Freezing-Levitation System for Producing Supercooled Droplet With Precise Control of Supercooling Degrees — ASME FEDSM, 2025.
- Spreading and Fingering Instability of Droplets Impacting a Plasma-Energetic Surface — AIAA SciTech, 2025, AIAA 2025-2207.
- Dynamics of a Supercooled Water Droplet During In-Flight Interactions With a Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma — ASME FEDSM, 2025. DOI ↗
- Thermal Effects and Dynamic Response of Droplet Impact on a Sliding Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuator — ASME FEDSM, 2025. DOI ↗
- An Experimental Study on the Dynamic Behaviors of Droplets During In-Flight Interaction With DBD Plasma — AIAA SciTech, 2025. DOI ↗
- Effects of Water Droplet Impact on the Flow Characteristics in Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Actuation — ASME IMECE, 2024. DOI ↗
- Unveiling the Voltage–Current Characteristics of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma in Interaction with Water Droplets at Varied Temperatures — ASME IMECE, 2024.
- Characterization of PZT Driven Plasma Discharge Operating in Atmospheric Pressure Air — APS GEC, 2023, abstract IW5.057.
Manuscript under review
Spatially-Dependent Droplet Impact Dynamics and Thermal Evolution on a Surface Plasma Discharge — Transport Phenomena. Listed as under review in the supplied CV.
07 / RECOGNITION & SERVICE
Awards & Professional Service
Awards
The City College of New York
ASME Fluids Engineering Division
Academic service
Technical submissions for ASME FEDSM and ASME IMECE.
Member and reviewer · ASME Fluids Engineering Division.
08 / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Qualifications & Certificates
Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership
Chartered Management Institute
Level 7 Award in Professional Consulting
Chartered Management Institute
09 / RESUME
My experience, in one place.
Research, engineering projects, publications, and professional background.
10 / CONTACT
ksohaib707@gmail.com ↗Let's connect.
Research collaborations · Experimental thermal fluids · Engineering R&D
New York, USA