CV

Contact Information

Name Carlos A. Alvarez Zambrano
Professional Title Postdoctoral Researcher | Fluid Mechanics & Planetary Science
Email ca3alvarezzambrano@uwaterloo.ca
Location 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1

Professional Summary

I am a quantitative fluid dynamicist and geomorphologist studying how wind, water, and gravity shape planetary surfaces — from sand dunes on Earth to the windswept landscapes of Mars. My research combines experimental and numerical approaches — including wind-tunnel and flume experiments, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), high-speed imaging, and CFD/DEM simulations — to tackle problems at the intersection of fluid mechanics, geomorphology, and planetary science.

Experience

  • 2025 - present

    Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Postdoctoral Scholar
    University of Waterloo
    Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. Working on boundary layer separation and flow control.
  • 2022 - 2025

    Stanford, CA, USA

    Postdoctoral Scholar
    Stanford University
    Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Conducted low-pressure sediment-transport experiments at the NASA Ames Research Center to elucidate the origin of Mars’s large windblown ripples.
  • 2020 - 2022

    Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Postdoctoral Scholar
    University of California, Los Angeles
    Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Used large-eddy simulations to study how the combined effects of convection and topography enhance dust transport in the atmospheric boundary layer.
  • 2009 - 2014

    Quito, Ecuador

    Product Development Engineer
    General Motors of Ecuador
    • Certified Green Belt in Design for Six Sigma.

Education

  • 2016 - 2020

    Campinas, Brazil

    Ph.D.
    University of Campinas (UNICAMP)
    Mechanical Engineering, Thermal and Fluids
    • Dissertation honored with the ABCM-EMBRAER Prize 2020 for Best Ph.D. Thesis.
    • Visiting graduate researcher at Western University, Canada (2018).
  • 2014 - 2016

    Campinas, Brazil

    M.Sc.
    University of Campinas (UNICAMP)
    Mechanical Engineering, Thermal and Fluids
  • 2005 - 2011

    Quito, Ecuador

    Engineer
    National Polytechnic School (EPN)
    Mechanical Engineering

Awards

  • 2021
    ABCM-EMBRAER Prize 2020 for Best Ph.D. Thesis
    Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences

  • 2021
    Nominated for the CAPES Prize for Best Ph.D. Thesis
    School of Mechanical Engineering, UNICAMP

  • 2017
    Best Presentation of the Day
    Experimental Fluid Mechanics (EFM2017), Technical University of Liberec, Czech Republic

  • 2023
    Funded mentee, Mentoring Institute for Sediment Transport Researchers
    USA

  • 2023
    Funded participant, Earth Surface Processes Institute (ESPIn)
    University of Colorado, Boulder, USA

  • 2019
    Travel Grant, 72nd Annual Meeting, APS Division of Fluid Dynamics
    American Physical Society

  • 2016
    Full Doctoral Scholarship
    SENESCYT, Ecuador

  • 2014
    Full Master's Scholarship
    SENESCYT, Ecuador

  • 2017
    Scholarship, Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program
    Global Affairs Canada

Publications

Skills

Experimental (Expert): Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV), High-speed imaging, Wind tunnel experiments, Flume experiments
Numerical (Expert): Large-Eddy Simulations (LES), CFD, Discrete Element Method (DEM), OpenFOAM, ANSYS, LIGGGHTS, CFDEM
Programming (Expert): MATLAB, Python, FORTRAN, C++, Linux, Windows

Languages

Spanish : Native speaker
English : Fluent
Portuguese : Fluent

Interests

Planetary Geomorphology: Mars, Aeolian processes, Sand dunes, Ripples, Dust transport
Fluid Mechanics: Turbulence, Boundary layers, Sediment transport, Granular flows

Certificates

  • Green Belt in Design for Six Sigma - General Motors Company (2013)
  • Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic License - DGAC, Ecuador ()

References

  • Dr. Erick M. Franklin

    Ph.D. Advisor. Associate Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Email: franklin@fem.unicamp.br

  • Dr. Mathieu Lapôtre

    Postdoctoral Advisor. Assistant Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Stanford University. Email: mlapotre@stanford.edu

  • Dr. Ryan C. Ewing

    Collaborator. Pressurized Rover NASA Science Lead, NASA Johnson Space Center. Email: ryan.c.ewing@nasa.gov