Dawson Named Researcher to Know
Illinois Tech Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Scott Dawson has been recognized as one of the 2026 Illinois Researchers to Know by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition.
Dawson’s work in developing and applying new methods for modeling fluid mechanics and aerodynamic systems earned him a spot on the list of 12 researchers from Illinois universities and laboratories.
“I was surprised and very grateful to receive this recognition, particularly given the large amount of high-quality research that is done across Illinois,” Dawson says. “To me, the recognition is an affirmation that the questions and directions that my research group are pursuing are both scientifically meaningful and relevant beyond our immediate field. It also reflects the environment and freedom that Illinois Tech provides for pursuing ambitious research. I see it as recognition not only of my own work, but also of the students, colleagues, and institutional support that make that work possible.”
Over the past year, Dawson and the graduate students in his lab have published several papers broadly related to developing and applying methods for discovering simple models for understanding features of complex fluid flows. They also worked with collaborators to develop a set of challenge problems for the research community to compare methods for the compression, estimation, and prediction of fluid flow data.
“The project I am most excited to advance in 2026 is based on a simple idea,” he says. “Even very complex fluid systems may be understood through a small set of carefully chosen building blocks. I am exploring whether simple, analytically defined wave-like functions can capture the key features of complicated flows and support models that are both accurate and interpretable.”
Dawson is also pursuing several related projects that address different scientific questions about complex physical systems. These include modeling flows over compliant surfaces, understanding and predicting turbulent flow separation, and developing physics-based methods for identifying causal relationships in complex systems. Across all of these efforts, the goal is to find simple, meaningful descriptions of the mechanisms that matter most, so that complicated behavior can be understood, predicted, and ultimately manipulated in a desired manner, he says.
Faculty across the state whose work shapes innovation are spotlighted by ITSC by naming Researchers to Know each year. Their research spans disciplines that range from health and sustainability to data science, education, and more. ISTC celebrates the powerful role that research plays in economic growth, public impact, and the long-term vitality of Illinois with its Researchers to Know list.
