People

Principal Investigator

Alison M. Ferris

Alison is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at Princeton University (July 2024).  Her research interests include using shock waves and optical diagnostics to study the design, chemical synthesis, and reaction kinetics of fuels for use in current and next-generation energy and propulsion systems. Alison received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University in 2021 (Hanson Research Group); her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Engine Research Center (ERC) in 2014; and her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University in 2012.  

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Postdoctoral Researchers

Mengdi Li
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Konrad Koschnick
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Graduate Students

Andrew Ahn
Ana Sofia Alonso Munera
Spectroscopy-driven fuel design, chemical kinetics
Carson Kamal
Chemical kinetics
Liam Krebbers
Contrail nucleation

Undergraduate Students

Sofia Zypman
Junior Independent Work, Spring 2026
Adrian Mak
SPRE Research Assistant, Summer 2026

Alumni

Arya Ollivierra
Senior Thesis, AY 25/26
Nestor Suarez
SPRE Research Assistant, Summer 2025

Prospective Students

If you are interested in joining the Ferris Research Group as a graduate student, please submit an application to the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; applications for Fall admission become available in September and the deadline for applying is early December. If you are interested in joining the Ferris Research Group as a post-doc, please contact Prof. Ferris directly to learn about available positions (amferris@princeton.edu). We currently do not have any postdoc position openings.