Postdoc Portrait: Shilpa Vijay | The Scientist

This postdoctoral researcher connects fundamental turbulence research to real-world technologies.

Shilpa Vijay is a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University. Her work explores how air moves over complex surfaces at high speeds. In this Postdoc Portrait, she discusses how she is fueled by her curiosity and shares insights in her current project.

Q | How did you first get interested in science?

I have always been drawn to the hidden rules behind how the world works. As a child, I was fascinated by questions like why a ball curves in flight, how ripples form on water, or why a breeze can feel cooling. To me, science was a way of uncovering these everyday mysteries—revealing the patterns that connect natural phenomena to larger principles. That sense of curiosity, of wanting to see the unseen, shaped my path into engineering and research.

Q | How did you first get interested in your field of research?

As I pursued my studies, I found myself captivated by fluid mechanics, where motion, heat, and energy intertwine in complex but beautiful ways. My undergraduate projects introduced me to the process of research, while my PhD focused on designing porous materials to understand and control turbulence. Now, as a postdoctoral researcher, I use wind-tunnel experiments to explore how rough and engineered surfaces affect heat and flow. My goal is to transform curiosity-driven insights into practical designs that enhance performance and sustainability.

Pursuing graduate studies, I became captivated by the challenge of turbulence—the unpredictable, yet structured behavior of fluids. Through experiments with porous and rough surfaces, I discovered how small design changes could have large impacts on drag, heat transfer, and performance. Today, my research is driven by the same wonder that sparked my early curiosity: uncovering the hidden physics of flows to design solutions that improve how we interact with the world.

Q | Tell us about your favorite research project you’re working on.

Right now, my favorite project is exploring how rough surfaces affect the way heat and air move together in turbulent flows. While turbulence is often thought of as chaotic, it hides intricate structures that control how energy and heat are transported. In my experiments, I use a wind tunnel with custom-built rough surfaces and advanced imaging tools—like high-speed cameras and infrared thermography—to capture both the flow of air and the transfer of heat at the same time.

What excites me about this project is the chance to uncover where the “rules” that usually connect heat and momentum in smooth flows start to break down over rough surfaces. This dissimilarity is not just a scientific puzzle but also a practical challenge: predicting heat transfer in real-world systems is critical for cooling electronics, designing efficient vehicles, and even advancing energy technologies. By linking careful experiments with physical insights, my goal is to provide a foundation for designing surfaces that adapt to their environment and improve performance in diverse applications.

Q | What has been the most exciting part of your scientific journey so far?

I love being able to meet people from all kinds of backgrounds and discover the different ways they approach problems. Science, to me, is as much about people and perspectives as it is about equations and experiments. I have loved seeing how the same question can spark entirely different ways of thinking depending on who asks it, and how each conversation reveals new possibilities. In science, no question is too small or too bold—sometimes the simplest “why does this happen?” can open doors to whole new areas of exploration.

Alongside these interactions, I’ve also found that science constantly pushes you to learn more about yourself. Facing unknowns, designing experiments that may or may not work, or defending an idea in front of experts all test your resilience and creativity. Each challenge has taught me not only new science but also new strengths, reminding me that curiosity thrives at the edge of the boundaries we’re willing to push.

Q | If you could be a laboratory instrument, which one would you be and why?

I would be a camera. As a researcher, I often feel like a camera myself—I sit, observe, and record without interfering, letting the flow of events unfold naturally. The value comes not from changing the scene but from paying attention to it closely enough that patterns begin to emerge.

Like a camera, what I learn depends on fidelity and interpretation. A low-resolution glance may capture the broad outline, but increasing focus and clarity can reveal intricate details that change the story entirely. Similarly, in research, the deeper I look, the more hidden structures reveal themselves.

I like this metaphor because it reflects how I approach science: patiently observing, adjusting my focus, and recognizing that even the act of interpretation shapes the insights we take away. The challenge—and the joy—comes from learning how to “see” better every time.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

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