Nicholas A. Pohlman

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Email: npohlman@niu.edu
Tel: 815-753-9913

Education

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Northwestern University, 2006
• S.M. in Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2002
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Dayton, 2000

Research Interests

• Granular Flows – Fundamental principles of granular materials such as boundary flow effects, energy loss in transportation devices, transient dynamics from unsteady forcing.
• Energy Optimization – Evaluating and designing mechanical systems and operational methods for optimal consumption and generation of total energy.
• Biomass Energy – Material handling and utilization for local energy conversion
• Estimation and Control – Create experimental systems with appropriate sensors for robust evaluation of state in order to conduct responsive, real-time control.
• Multi-phase Fluid Dynamics – Determining the changes in flow velocity profiles as related to phase concentration and mixing/separation of phases due to flow field.

Work Experience

• Facutly Associate, Institute for the Study of Environment, Sustainability and Energy, (September 2010 – present)
• Faculty Associate, Northern Illinois Center for Accelerator and Detector Development, (May 2009 – present)
• Faculty, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIU (2008 – present)
• Scientific Officer and Industrial Liaison, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University (2006 – 2008)

Professional Associations

• American Physical Society, Division of Fluid Dynamics
• American Society for Engineering Education

Selected Publications

1. Pohlman, N. A., Roberts, J. A., Gonser, M. J., “Characterization of Titanium Powder: Microscopic views and Macroscopic flow,” Powder Technology, Vol. 228, 2012, pp. 141-148.
2. Pohlman, N. A., Ghrayeb, O., Vohra, P., “Developing a disciplinary honours programme within an engineering college,” Global Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 14, 2012, pp. 20-26.
3. Pohlman, N. A., Ottino, J. M., and Lueptow, R. M., “Unsteady Granular Flows in a Rotating Tumbler,” Physical Review E, Vol. 80, September 2009, pp. 031302.
4. Blazey, G., Chakraborty, D., Dyshkant, A., Francis, K., Hedin, D., Hill, J., Lima, G., Powell, J., Salcido, P., Zutshi, V., Demarteau, M., Rubinov, P., Pohlman, N., “Directly Coupled Tiles as Elements of a Scintillator Calorimeter with MPPC Readout,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods A, Vol. 605, 2009, pp. 277-281.
5. Pohlman, N. A., Ottino, J. M., and Lueptow, R. M., “End Wall Effects in Granular Tumblers: From Quasi-2D Flow to Three-Dimensional Flow,” Physical Review E, Vol. 74, September 2006, pp. 031305.
6. Pohlman, N. A., Meier, S. W., Lueptow, R. M., and Ottino, J. M., “Surface Velocity in Three Dimensional Granular Tumblers,” Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 560, July 2006, pp. 355-368.
7. Pohlman, N. A., Severson, B. L., Ottino, J. M., and Lueptow, R. M., “Surface Roughness Effects in Granular Matter: Influence on Angle of Repose and the Absence of Segregation,” Physical Review E, Vol. 73, March 2006, pp. 031304.

Funded grants

1. Engineering support of high energy physics experiments mu2e and g-2, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
2. A continuous-operation variable-feedstock biomass gasifier design based on indigenous materials, Environmental Protection Agency – P3 Award: A National Student Design Competition.
3. Transport and processing of biomass stock materials, Sustainable Agriculture Grant Program (IL Dept. of Ag).
4. On-farm conversion of biomass to syngas, electric power or fertilizer, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA).
5. Modeling and evaluation of beamline components,” Advanced Photon Source – Argonne National Laboratory

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