Michelle DiBenedetto

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington

About me: My research lies at the intersection of environmental fluid mechanics and particle-laden flows, with an appreciation for fundamental fluid mechanics. A large part of my work is motivated by understanding microplastics pollution in the ocean. Specifically, I study how to interpret observations, predict transport, and model degradation of plastic debris in the environment. In addition, I study problems in biological fluid mechanics such as the behavior of plankton in turbulence with applications to bio-inspired navigation and larval ecology. I use laboratory experiments, often in a wave tank or flume, as well as numerical and analytical tools to measure and predict how the properties of small particles control their dynamics in unsteady flows. In my free time, I like to cook extravagent meals for my friends, garden, and ferment vegetables.