Mohammed Kamel
Computational Physicist & Simulation Architect

Professional Overview

Computational scientist and R&D engineer with more than 20 years of experience in high-performance computing (HPC), numerical methods, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), computational geometry, and scientific-software development. Experienced in translating mathematical and physical models into scalable, high-fidelity simulation capabilities for academic, government-funded, and industrial applications.

My work combines fluid dynamics, numerical analysis, parallel algorithms, and software architecture. It has included turbulence and reacting-flow simulation, aero-optics, conjugate heat transfer, fluid–structure interaction, multiphysics co-simulation, domain decomposition, linear solvers, dynamic mesh methods, and heterogeneous CPU/GPU workflows. Applications have spanned aerospace, defense, automotive, electrification, renewable energy, and oil and gas.

I also have extensive experience supporting engineering education through graduate and undergraduate teaching, research mentoring, curriculum advice, and professional technical service.

Areas of Expertise

• CFD and high-fidelity simulation: turbulence, wall-modeled large-eddy simulation, compressible and reacting flows, aero-optics, conjugate heat transfer, and multiphysics
• HPC and parallel computing: distributed-memory algorithms, MPI, OpenMP, GPU acceleration, scalability analysis, and heterogeneous CPU/GPU execution
• Numerical methods: finite-volume methods, Krylov iterative solvers, algebraic multigrid, preconditioning, solver stabilization, and convergence analysis
• Computational geometry: domain decomposition, graph partitioning, mesh morphing, remeshing, adaptation, and dynamic load balancing
• Scientific software: architecture and development of robust, maintainable, production-scale simulation systems
• Data-driven methods: machine-learning applications for simulation analysis and computational acceleration

Research and Development Experience

Aramco Americas — Strategic Modeling Technologies Team

High-Performance Computing and Gridding Scientist · Cambridge, Massachusetts · September 2025–Present

• Lead meshing and partitioning research projects, connecting gridding algorithms and parallel decomposition with the robustness and scalability requirements of large engineering simulations.
• Local Grid Refinement (LGR): Implement a state-of-the-art parallel LGR technique for large-scale reservoir simulation, providing the required resolution in targeted regions with minimal increase in total mesh size.
• Dynamic refinement: Apply LGR around well perforations during history-matching/verification and forecast runs; at oil-water, oil-gas, and water-gas phase interfaces; and around fractures in unconventional reservoirs.

Ansys, Inc. — Fluent HPC/Parallel Team

Senior R&D Engineer · Lebanon, New Hampshire · August 2017–August 2025

• Led architecture and development of multidomain, multiphysics, and heterogeneous CPU/GPU capabilities in Ansys Fluent.
• Directed advances in domain decomposition, linear solvers, conjugate heat transfer, aero-optics, and dynamic-mesh workflows.
• Delivered more than 50× speedup in parallel mesh morphing while improving robustness and scalability across complex industrial simulations.
• Provided cross-team technical leadership from concept and design through implementation, validation, customer support, and product delivery.

University of Notre Dame — Flow Physics and Control Laboratory

• Graduate Research Assistant · Notre Dame, Indiana · October 2010–August 2017

  • Led doctoral research on scalable, wall-modeled large-eddy simulation for aero-optical flows at practical Reynolds and Mach numbers.
  • Developed high-performance algorithms in major research CFD codes and established cost-effective approaches for high-fidelity optical prediction.
  • Helped shape proposals, computing allocations, publications, presentations, and the mentoring of new graduate researchers.

• Graduate Research Assistant · Notre Dame, Indiana · June 2009–October 2010

  • Investigated Possio’s integral equation for unsteady thin-airfoil and flow interaction at subsonic speeds.

Cairo University — Aerospace Engineering Department

• Graduate Research Assistant · Cairo, Egypt · September 2006–June 2009
  • Developed and validated a point-implicit finite-volume solver for turbulent, chemically reacting flow in scramjet-engine applications.
  • Assisted with the supervision of two aerospace graduation projects, each completed by a five-student team.

Professional Leadership and Service

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

• Chair, Computational Environments Subcommittee, Meshing, Visualization, and Computational Environments Technical Committee (MVCE TC)
• MVCE TC Deputy Discipline Chair, AIAA SciTech 2026
• MVCE TC Discipline Chair, AIAA SciTech 2027
• Member, AIAA Society and Technology Outreach Committee (SAT OC)

University of Notre Dame Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Industry Advisory Board

• Advise faculty and staff on aligning undergraduate and graduate curricula with industry needs, including AI/ML integration, and data-driven engineering.
• Promote teamwork, professional ethics, continuous learning, constructive feedback, and accountability.
• Strengthen connections between academic research and industry practice.

Egypt Scholars

• Volunteer mentor and advisor to students seeking graduate study at U.S. universities, helping them plan their academic paths and prepare for the next stage of their education.

Selected Publications

1. R. Jia, M. Kamel, et al., “Ansys Fluent HPC Capabilities for Large-Scale CFD Engineering Simulations,” AIAA Paper 2025-1950. — Download PDF.
2. M. Kamel, et al., “Aero-Optical Simulation in Ansys Fluent: Application and Validation,” AIAA Paper 2024-1029. — Download PDF.
3. S. LaCava, M. Kamel, et al., “Optical Fluids: Modeling the Near-Field and Far-Field Optical Effects of Atmosphere and Turbulent Flow of an Airborne Laser Communication System or Imaging System,” Free-Space Laser Communications XXXVI, Vol. 12877, SPIE.
4. C. Normanshire, M. Kamel, et al., “Simulation of the Impact of Propagation Through Optical Fluids and Turbulent Flow on Optical System Performance,” Optical Design and Engineering IX, Vol. 13019, SPIE.
5. M. Kamel, K. Wang, and M. Wang, “Numerical Prediction of Aero-Optical Distortions by Transonic Flow over a Cylindrical Turret,” AIAA Paper 2019-0472. — Download PDF.
6. M. Kamel, “Aero-Optical Prediction of High-Reynolds Number Flows Using Wall-Modeled Large-Eddy Simulation,” doctoral dissertation, University of Notre Dame, 2017. — Download PDF.
7. M. Kamel, K. Wang, and M. Wang, “Predictions of Aero-Optical Distortions Using LES with Wall Modeling,” AIAA Paper 2016-1462. — Download PDF.
8. M. Kamel, K. Wang, and M. Wang, “Aero-Optical Predictions Using Wall-Modeled LES,” Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Vol. 59.
9. M. Kamel, F. Owis, M. Idris, and A. Hashem, “Numerical Simulation and Validation of High-Speed Turbulent and Chemically Reacting Flows,” International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 111–124, 2015. — Download PDF.
10. M. Kamel, F. Owis, M. Idris, and A. Hashem, “Numerical Simulation of Supersonic and Turbulent Combustion with Transverse Sonic Fuel Injection,” International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 35–61, 2015. — Download PDF.
11. M. Kamel, F. Owis, and M. Idris, “Towards a Numerical Simulation of Supersonic Mixing & Combustion: Development & Validation of a Computational Solver for Two-Dimensional Compressible Chemically Reacting Turbulent Flows,” LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, 2013. — Download PDF.
12. M. Kamel, “Numerical Analysis of Turbulent Chemically Reacting Flows in Scramjet Engines Using a Point-Implicit Finite-Volume Scheme,” master’s thesis, Cairo University, 2009. — Download PDF.

Grants, Computing Awards, and Honors

Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) / High-Energy Laser Joint Technological Office (HEL-JTO) Grant

• Support Ph.D. research in Airborne Aero-Optics Laboratory (ND-AAOL) through High-Energy Laser Joint Technological Office (HEL-JTO) funding administered by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) under Grant FA9550-07-1-0574. Years: 2013–2017.

National Science Foundation (NSF) XSEDE Research Computing Allocation

• Research computing allocation grant of 2.5 million CPU hours and 25 TB of storage on the Comet cluster at the San Diego Supercomputer Center. Years: 2016–2017.

University of Notre Dame Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Graduate Fellowship

• Years: 2009–2017.

San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) Summer Institute scholarship

• Summer Internship 2016.

Cairo University Award of Academic Distinction - National Ceremony of Science

• Recognized as the Aerospace Engineering Department’s top student for four successive years. Year: 2006.

Teaching Experience

University of Notre Dame

• Graduate Teaching Assistant · 2009–2017

  • Prepared homework problems and solutions, graded assignments and examinations, and conducted office hours for classes ranging from approximately 10 to 150 students.
    • Graduate courses:
      • Turbulence
      • Numerical Methods
    • Undergraduate courses:
      • Differential Equations, Vibrations and Control I
      • Differential Equations, Vibrations and Control II
      • Introduction to Engineering Computing

Cairo University

• Lecturer Assistant · 2006–2009
• Prepared exercises and solutions, led recitation sessions, graded coursework and examinations, and conducted office hours for classes of approximately 40 to 60 students.
  • Undergraduate courses
    • Combustion and Heat Transfer
    • Jet Engine Propulsion and Turbomachinery
    • Airplane Engine Design
    • Internal Combustion Engines
    • Structural Analysis Using Finite Elements
    • Theory of Plates and Shells
    • Mechanical Design
    • Mechanical Drawing

Training and Early Industry Experience

San Diego Supercomputer Center Summer Institute

• University of California San Diego.

Arab Organization for Industrialization

• Saqr Missile Factory
• Helwan Engine Factory
• Helwan Aircraft Factory

Education

University of Notre Dame

• Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering
  • Dissertation: Aero-Optical Predictions of High-Reynolds Number Flows Using Wall-Modeled Large-Eddy Simulation
  • Advisor: Meng Wang

Cairo University

• M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering
  • Thesis: Numerical Analysis of Turbulent Chemically Reacting Flows in Scramjet Engines Using a Point-Implicit Finite-Volume Scheme
  • Advisor: Aly Hashem
• B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering
  • Graduated first in the Aerospace Engineering Department after holding the top departmental rank for four consecutive academic years.