Joachim Hodara

Georgia Institute of Technology

After receiving two Masters' degrees from France (Ecole Centrale de Lille) and the UK (Cranfield University), Joachim Hodara came to Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. Joachim was very excited by the wide variety of rotorcraft concepts flying out there and decided to concentrate his research focus on helicopter aerodynamics. During his time at Georgia Tech, he completed several internships with AIRBUS, ONERA and Dassault Systemes.

What impact has receiving the VFF scholarship had for you?

"Winning the VFF scholarship twice has been a truly fantastic experience. Beyond the monetary benefits, it was a wonderful opportunity to attend two AHS Forums (69th in Phoenix and 70th in Montreal) as a VIP! The rotorcraft community is much smaller than the fixed-wing community, so most faces become familiar after meeting at just a few conferences. It is truly an amazing opportunity to learn and network, which has been a considerable help to my job search process so far. Additionally, these trips were also a great way to discover new places, such as the opportunity to hike the Grand Canyon!"

What are some of your current projects or research interests?

"[In 2015] I am developing new turbulence models to accurately capture complex problems, e.g., reverse flow and dynamic stall."

Tell us about your future plans.

"I should graduate early 2016 and would like to join a research center to pursue my passion for rotorcraft aerodynamics."

2016 Update: After receiving his Ph.D. in spring 2016, Joachim currently works at Dassault Systèmes's SIMULIA division as a R&D Manager.