Professor Schmid's research interests are in theoretical and computational fluid dynamics, with emphasis on hydrodynamic stability theory, flow control, model reduction and system identification. He is also interested in computational techniques for flow optimization and quantitative flow analysis.
Biography
Dr. Peter Schmid is a professor of mechanical engineering and a leading scholar in fluid dynamics, with research interests that span the Physical Science and Engineering Division and the Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division at KAUST. Prior to joining the University in 2021, he held positions at the University of Washington, U.S.; the French National Research Agency (CNRS); École Polytechnique, France; and Imperial College London, U.K.
Schmid received his degree in aerospace engineering from the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and a doctoral degree in mathematics from MIT, U.S.
He ranks among the top mechanical and aerospace engineering scientists in his field, with influential contributions published in leading journals such as the Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Physical Review Fluids and the Journal of Computational Physics. He is active professionally as a guest speaker and organizer at conferences and workshops worldwide and serves on the editorial boards of Physical Review Fluids and the IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics.
Research Interests
Professor Schmid's research interests are in theoretical and computational fluid dynamics, with emphasis on hydrodynamic stability theory, flow control, model reduction and system identification. He is also interested in computational techniques for flow optimization and quantitative flow analysis. His work involves creating and applying computational models and advanced algorithms to quantitatively describe and analyze fluid systems.
His research has applications in aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, thermoacoustics, binary mixing, general dynamical systems, and geophysical and biological fluid dynamics. Optimal design, improved operating conditions, suppression of instabilities and noise contamination, and energy and process efficiency are key to his research activities.
Awards and Distinctions
- Highly ranked mechanical and aerospace engineering scientist, Research.com, 2024
- Ranked on Stanford University’s “Top 2% Scientists” list for research impact, Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier, 2020 - 2025
- Editorial board member, Physical Review Fluids, 2016 - 2025
- Editorial board member, IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics, 2020 - 2025
- Fellow, American Physical Society, 2011 - 2025
- Overseas Fellow, Churchill College, Cambridge, 2012 - 2025
- Moore Distinguished Scholar Program, 2023
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States, 1993
- Diploma
- Aerospace Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Germany, 1989