Biography
Nathan B. Speirs joined the faculty of the BYU Mechanical Engineering Department in 2023. His research incorporates high-speed photography with various visualization techniques and theoretical modeling to study interfacial fluid dynamics. Areas of particular interest include how objects enter a body of water, the dynamics of vaporous cavitation bubbles, and the microphysical interactions of rain droplets, cloud droplets, and airborne particulate matter. Before coming to BYU, Dr. Speirs worked at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, RI and as a post-doctoral fellow at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. He received a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Utah State University in 2018 and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from BYU in 2015.
Office Hours
Winter 2026
Monday: 11am-12pm
Wednesday: 2-3pm
Friday: 2-3pm
Research Interests
Nathan's research incorporates high-speed photography with various visualization techniques and theoretical modeling to study interfacial fluid dynamics. Areas of particular interest include how objects enter a body of water, the dynamics of vaporous cavitation bubbles, and the microphysical interactions of rain droplets, cloud droplets, and airborne particulate matter.Teaching Interests
Nathan enjoys teaching fluid dynamics and how to take engineering measurements.Education
- Mechanical Engineering, Fluid dynamics , Utah State University (2018)
- Mechanical Engineering , , Brigham Young University (2015)
Honors and Awards
- Milton Van Dyke Award, American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics (2025 - 2025)
- Gallery of Fluid Motion Award, American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics (2023 - 2023)
- Milton Van Dyke Award, American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics (2017 - 2017)
- Milton Van Dyke Award, American Physical Society Division of Fluid Dynamics (2016 - 2016)
Professional Citizenship
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, American Physical Society (2025 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Fluids and Structures (2024 - Present)
- Reviewer, Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Fluid Mechanics (2023 - Present)
- Conference-Related Role, American Physical Society (2025 - 2025)
- Grant Proposal Reviewer, External, National Science Foundation (2024 - 2024)
- Conference-Related Role, American Physical Society (2024 - 2024)