Prof. Subith Vasu, Ph.D., received his graduate degree from Stanford in Mechanical Engineering (2010) and an undergraduate degree from IIT Madras, India. He has extensive experience in characterizing fuels and chemical kinetics using laser spectroscopy and shock tube. Prof. Vasu is a world-leading expert in shock waves, spectroscopy, reacting flows, shock tube, and species diagnostics. Dr. Vasu is a professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Dr. Vasu’s group develops and uses laser diagnostic sensors and shock tubes for a variety of applications, including energetics, power generation, propulsion, transportation, and explosions. Since his appointment at UCF in 2012 (after his Ph.D. from Stanford University and postdoc training at Sandia Combustion Research Facility) he has authored a plethora of journals (more than 110, including breakthrough publication in the prestigious journal Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) and conference articles (more than 200) for a variety of combustion and chemical kinetics problems. An example of high-quality student mentoring is reflected in the fact that more than 85 of these journal publications have been co-authored with his students.  He has been involved with numerous fuel research and contract efforts through agencies such as the US Government and industry. Dr. Vasu’s team has been a key participant in the Department of Energy (DOE’s) Co-Optima program and contributed to the development of understanding the autoignition, sooting, and combustion chemistry of several fuels for their use in engines, including advanced ether compounds. They are also leading hydrogen and ammonia projects for DOE for the gas turbine application. Dr. Vasu served as the Siemens Industrial Faculty fellow during 2012-2013, working as an industry person on the development of the hydrogen turbine program. In this role, he spent a year at Siemens Gas Turbine Division. He was responsible for implementing/correlating the fundamental research outcomes for design changes to develop high hydrogen, low-NOx syngas combustors.