Diaa Zekry
Email: dz5966@princeton.edu
Education
MA in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, Class of 2022
BS in Aerospace Engineering, Zewailcity University of Science and Technology, Class of 2019
Biography
Diaa Zekry is a PhD candidate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University, with a rich background in bio-inspired flight control aerodynamics. He holds an MA from Princeton and a BS from Zewail City University of Science and Technology, where he graduated summa cum laude. At Princeton’s BAM Lab, Diaa has excelled as a Graduate Research Assistant, contributing to groundbreaking research in aerodynamics, mentoring undergraduate students, and publishing in prestigious journals. Part of his practical experience includes an internship at Toyota Research Institute of North America, where he developed aerodynamic models using system identification for an energy harvesting kite.
In addition to his technical prowess, Diaa is committed to science communication and leadership. He is fluent in English and Arabic. Outside of his professional interests, Diaa enjoys tennis, piano, chess, and personal development. For more details, visit his Google Scholar profile or connect with him on linkedin.
Research
Diaa's research is interdisciplinary, situated at the intersection of bio-inspired aerodynamics, flight dynamics, and system identification. His primary focus is on studying covert flaps as devices for flight control. He employs various experimental and simulation techniques, including wind tunnel experiments, flight testing, and non-linear flight simulators, to develop mathematical models that describe the aerodynamic behavior of these flaps. To further understand their functionality, Diaa performs Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) experiments. His work is funded by the Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA) and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Additionally, Diaa applies his expertise to studying different feather groups, such as the Alula, enhancing the understanding of bio-inspired flight mechanisms.