The University welcomed Krishnaswamy Nandakumar, the second Gordon A. and Mary Cain chair professor in chemical engineering, according to a Nov. 10 University news release.Nandakumar previously served two years as the GASCO chair professor in chemical engineering at the Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, according to the release.Nandakumar was selected as a member of the World Council of Chemical Engineers in 2008.Nandakumar’s research interests include multiphase flows, computational fluid dynamics, computer-aided modeling of chemical, mineral, polymer and electrochemical processes, including fuel cells, according to the Cain Department of Chemical Engineering’s Web site.”So one can argue that the time is ripe to organize an effort to undertake such studies, and this is going to be my goal at LSU,” Nandakumar said in the release. “Significant computational facilities, resources and expertise are available at LSU, and so I feel fortunate to add a new dimension to these efforts.”Computational fluid dynamics uses computers to understand the flow processes of different fluids, he told The Daily Reveille.Nandakumar said he looks at the pumping of fluids from the ground up to the plant and processing the fluid into gasoline.His research focuses on efficiency of oil refineries and gasoline plants, but he said the study of fluid mechanics is difficult.”Fluid is involved in every aspect in the same way blood works in the human body,” he said.Nandakumar joined the University in August 2009 after working in Canada.A friend told him about the opportunity at the University, and Nandakumar was looking for a more moderate climate, he said.He currently teaches mechanics courses for master’s and doctoral students.—-Contact Kristen M’lissa Rowlett at [email protected]