Edwards Wins AIAA Best Student Paper Award in Fluid Dynamics

Sophia Edwards won the 2026 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Best Student Paper Award in Fluid Dynamics. 

Edwards, a graduate research assistant in hypersonics at the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI), was honored for her paper, “Experimental Analysis of Boundary Layer State and Shock Strength in Transitional Shockwave-Boundary Layer Interactions on a Hollow-Cylinder-Flare Model at 𝑀∞ = 7.” 

The paper examines how flow on the surface of hypersonic vehicles is affected by the presence of shockwaves, which are extremely strong, compressed boundaries of air that form in front of a vehicle traveling at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound or higher. These phenomena, known as shockwave-boundary layer interactions (SBLI), are extremely difficult to model. Additionally, the paper investigates how these interactions occur when the local fluid flow on the surface is between laminar and turbulent states, known as transitional. This is a region where there is little data to develop the sophisticated models needed to design better and more reliable hypersonic systems. 

Edwards’ paper was co-authored by fellow UTSI graduate research assistant Nicholas Webber, UTSI research scientist Cary Smith, and Mark Gragston, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.  

Edwards received a cash prize of $300 and was recognized with a certificate on June 12 at a plenary session at the 2026 AIAA AVIATION Forum. 

“I am honored to receive this award and grateful for the recognition from the fluid dynamics community,” Edwards said. “Research often involves working through challenging and uncertain problems, so it is especially meaningful to see this effort recognized. I am sincerely grateful for the guidance and support of my advisor and colleagues throughout this work.” 

Contact 

Rhiannon Potkey ([email protected])