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Saikat Basu, assistant professor in South Dakota State University's Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, traveled to the 76th annual American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting in Washington, D.C., this past November. A group of graduate assistants who conduct research in his lab — the Basu Lab — accompanied him on the trip.

The Division of Fluid Dynamics annual meeting is the largest conference focusing on the field of fluid dynamics, with more than 3,500 attendees from around the world each year. Due to its size, the meeting typically rotates between the large US cities, with access to big convention centers. This year, the conference was held at the Walter E Washinton Convention Center in Washington, D. C., with a special session arranged at one of Washington's most iconic venues, the National Air and Space Museum.

"This is the biggest flagship fluid dynamics conference globally and gets participants from all over the world," Basu said. "Every serious fluid mechanics researcher makes it a point to showcase their work at this conference yearly."

The Basu Lab — represented by Basu, his graduate students Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Akash and Abir Malakar and his postdoctoral fellow Azadeh A.T. Borojeni — gave a combined four talks on their fluid mechanics research from the past year.

"Attending the APS DFD conference for the third time since joining the Basu Lab in 2021 has been pivotal in expanding my knowledge as a graduate student," Mehedi Hasan Akash said. "This year, I had the opportunity to present my Ph.D. research on 'Computational and theoretical modeling of solute transport in solid tumors' through both a talk and a poster."

The Basu Lab has been assessing how targeted drug delivery to dense, often cancerous tumors can benefit from fluid mechanics principles. The group has also been assessing the targeted drug delivery for nasal sprays and respiratory illnesses using similar principles.

"I attended the APS DFD 2023 November conference to present my research with two talks on the application of fluid dynamics for respiratory infections," Malakar said. "Attending this conference with eminent professors from all over the world and their recent advances profoundly inspired fluid mechanics enthusiasts like me."

Malakar’s research focuses on the role of fluid mechanics in respiratory drug delivery and airborne infection onset – some of the key topics of ongoing research at the Basu Lab.

"The event provided a unique platform to explore a wide spectrum of fluid dynamics research, and engaging with well-established researchers in our field has proven invaluable for my academic growth," Mehedi Hasan Akash said.

While showcasing one's own research at conferences like this is important, learning about other developments in the field is also beneficial. The Basu Lab took advantage of the conference by connecting with other top researchers and listening in on talks and presentations.

"For graduate students like me, such conferences serve as crucial forums for learning, networking and gaining insights from seasoned professionals in our research fields," Mehedi Hasan Akash added.