Principal Investigator

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Contact

maclarke@illinois.edu

Talbot Laboratory, Room 321A

UIUC Affiliations

Department of Aerospace Engineering

Center for Sustainable Aviation (C.S.A.)

Center for Power Optimization of Electro-Thermal Systems (P.O.E.T.S.)

Matthew A. Clarke, Ph.D.

Matthew Clarke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University. He is a V/STOL Aircraft Systems Technical Committee member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Before joining UIUC, Professor Clarke was a Boeing Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has also worked on the advanced concepts team at A3 by Airbus and briefly as a battery modeling data scientist at Toyota Research Institute in the Accelerated Materials Design & Discovery Division.

Professor Clarke is the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Electric Aircraft Design and Sustainability (L.E.A.D.S.). The core research interests of L.E.A.D.S. are electric propulsion architecture design and aircraft noise modeling. These efforts position L.E.A.D.S. to address some of the technical challenges at the intersection between the key domains of energy and noise that impede progress toward sustainable aviation.

Postdoctoral Associates

Positions Open!

L.E.A.D.S invites qualified individuals holding a Ph.D. to apply for an open postdoctoral position focussed on battery systems modeling efforts. Anticipated responsibilities include 1) assisting the construction of the L.E.A.D.S experimental facilities and the development of operating processes for students, 2) leading experimental test campaigns to characterize battery cells and modules, 3) simulating both nominal and failure state operating loads of all/hybrid/parallel electric aircraft powertrains simulations to inform future aircraft certification and 4) develop a computational to validate experimental data and accelerate data mining.

Candidates are expected to be self-motivated and able to work independently and as an integral team member. The postdoctoral appointment will entail performing research, mentoring students, and helping with project management and fundraising activities, including presentations to sponsors and the preparation of proposals. Strong oral and written skills are essential, as evidenced by refereed journal publications and conference presentations.

Excellent postdoctoral candidates are encouraged to email me with the subject line including the words "Prospective Postdoc" to discuss current openings. In your email please include:

Your CV with a publication list
Short description of past and future research interests
Names and contact info of 2 academic references

I encourage you to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship and am happy to work with you on this.

Students

Graduate Students

Positions Open!

L.E.A.D.S. is looking for highly motivated students seeking to pursue a PhD in either emerging electrochemical systems for aircraft propulsion or aeroacoustics modeling of multi-rotor aircraft. Students should be willing to work in teams, mentor undergraduate students, engage in technical writing and oral presentations, and engage with their respective academic communities. Students with a background in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Material Science are encouraged to apply. No prior experience is required, however, presentation of demonstrated competency (academic publication) in relevant research is highly encouraged. Interested students should contact Prof. Clarke.

It is recommended that prospective PhD students apply to graduate fellowships since this will give you more flexibility throughout your Ph.D. For domestic students, the most common fellowships are the NSF GRFP and the NDSEG. For a broader list of fellowships, please see UIUC's page on graduate fellowships.

Sai Sankalp Shekar

Education

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2025
B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, India, May 2023

Research at UIUC:

Investigation of thermal management requirements for electric aircraft; Optimization of energy networks for efficient and safe electric aerial transportation solutions.

Outside the Lab:

I'm all about hiking and rock climbing, love the thrill of the outdoors, and find peace in swimming. When it comes to Formula One, you can bet I'm a die-hard fan, never missing a race, even with Max winning everything.

Matteo Guidotti

Education

Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, May 2028
M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, May 2023
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Jul 2020

Research at UIUC:

My research explores novel electrified architectures, with a focus on battery technology and aircraft design, aiming to pave the way for sustainably viable aviation solutions.

Outside the Lab:

I'm a licensed private pilot and a food enthusiast. In my free time, I love playing basketball and traveling.

Niranjan Nanjappa

Education

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2025
BS in mechanical engineering from BITS PILANI Hyderabad Campus

Research at UIUC:

I am working on developing multi-fidelity approaches for reduced order modeling of far-field noise from rotorcraft with a specific focus on EVTOL applications

Outside the Lab:

I love playing and watching soccer, and I’ve been a die hard fan of Barça for as long as I can remember. I watch f1 on the weekends. I’m a metal enthusiast and I’m usually trying to find new bands to listen to.

Cade Boggan

Education

Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, May 2029
B.S. in Physics, B.S. in Mathematics, Howard University, May 2024

Research at UIUC:

My research revolves around the resolution at which batteries can be modelled to capture the effects of aircraft on battery performance and degradation.

Outside the Lab:

If not found biking around the Champaign-Urbana area, I’m either at the climbing gym or volleyball courts.

Aidan Molloy

Education

M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, May 2026
B.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Purdue University, May 2024

Research at UIUC:

My research focuses on stability of unconventional aircraft with novel propulsion architectures.

Outside the Lab:

I love building remote control airplanes, unicycling, and playing the cello.

Undergraduate Students

Jared Dost

Education:

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2025

Research at UIUC:

I am currently assisting in the development of a GUI for the RCAIDE tool, with the aim of increasing its accessibility globally.

Outside the Lab:

I love to play soccer and go hiking.

Chris Zhang

Education:

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2027

Research at UIUC:

I am currently assisting in the development of a GUI for the RCAIDE tool, with the aim of increasing its accessibility globally.

Outside the Lab:

I love photography, working on cars, and weightlifting.

Ava Cipriani

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2026

Research at UIUC:

Assisting in the research on noise pollution and the disparity of its effects against marginalized groups.

Outside the Lab:

I am in a band here at UIUC, and I love to read and write

Dhairya Mehta

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2025

Research at UIUC:

I am currently assisting in the development of a GUI for the RCAIDE tool, with the aim of increasing its accessibility globally.

Outside the Lab:

I love learning songs on my guitar and jamming together with my friends. When the weather allows it, I also like biking off campus in the downtown areas of Urbana and Champaign

Nicole Artemyev

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2025

Research at UIUC:

I currently working with the noise team to model aircraft noise with census data and analyze the effects of noise on urban areas.

Outside the Lab:

I am involved in the Illinois Space Society, Women in Engineering, and Vitality Dance Team!

Yair Guerrero

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2025

Research at UIUC:

Characterization of noise impacts from next-generation aircraft on urban communities.

Outside the Lab:

I enjoy playing sports with friends like volleyball and spike ball. I am also a big coffee enthusiast and enjoy making my own coffee drinks at home.

Aadit Kolar

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2026

Research at UIUC:

Development of a GUI for the RCAIDE tool, and will be working on integrating it with DFDC (Ducted Fan Design Code) in the future

Outside the Lab:

When I'm not working, I will almost always be found outside on my bike

Ram Velamuri

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, May 2026

Research at UIUC:

Development of the LEADS Sustainable Aviation Technology Dashboard

Outside the Lab:

I love to play basketball, watch sports, and take photos.

Shared Values

As a group, we value:

Open science: We strive to open-source our data and code to facilitate reproducible science and help move the field forward.
Inclusivity: We are committed to maintaining an inclusive and supportive atmosphere within the group where each voice is heard. Diversity of thought and background are celebrated in our lab, and all are welcome.
Mutual respect: We believe in treating each other with respect and kindness.
Growth and reflection: We continuously learn, adapt, and strive to improve together. We will agree on shared values, which may change and grow over time.
Work-life balance: Creative researchers need breaks. Research is a marathon, not a race, so please take your weekends, evenings, and vacations to enjoy your life and refresh your mind for creative thinking!

Lab Handbook

LEADS_Lab_Handbook.pdf

Google Sites

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