Education  

2007–2011 Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, University of Nice–Sophia Antipolis, France.

Thesis: Influence of confinement on the spatio-temporal development of wake flows.

2004–2006 M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, University of L’Aquila, Italy.

Final grade: 110/110 cum laude.

2000–2004 B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, University of L’Aquila, Italy.

Final grade: 110/110 cum laude.

Academic Appointments

10/2023–present Associate Professor, University of L’Aquila, Italy.

07/2022–09/2023 Associate Professor, Bilkent University, Turkey.

01/2016–07/2022 Assistant Professor, Bilkent University, Turkey.

10/2013–01/2017 Research Fellow, Imperial College London, UK.

09/2012–08/2013 Research Associate, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.

01/2012–08/2012 Research Associate, Imperial College London, UK.

09/2011–12/2011 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Nice–Sophia Antipolis, France.

Research Grants and Funding

Secured more than 1 million euros in research funding:

2024 Fundamental Research — Starting internal grant, University of L’Aquila.

2022–2025 TÜBITAK 1001, Multiscale modelling and texture design for lubricated interfaces with non-

Newtonian fluids.

2022–2024 TÜBITAK 1001, SOFICOOL: SOlar falling-FIlm COOLing for photovoltaic thermal modules in

greenhouses.

2021–2024 TÜBITAK 2507 (Bilateral TÜBITAK–DFG), Distribution of particles in a droplet and positioning

during evaporation.

2020–2022 TÜBITAK 2509 (Bilateral TÜBITAK–CNR), Self-assembly of complex-shaped active particles in

controlled optical potentials.

2019–2024 European Training Network, Active Matter: From Fundamental Science to Technological Applications.

2018–2021 TÜBITAK 3501 (CAREER), Phase-changing falling liquid films sheared by a turbulent gas.

2017–2021 TÜBITAK 1001, A theoretical–computational framework to model fluid lubrication.

2014–2016 Imperial College Junior Research Fellowship, Unravelling complexity in elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication.

2012–2014 Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship, Stability and transition to turbulence in polymeric shear

flows.

2012–2013 Göran Gustafsson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Science, Stability of non-Newtonian shear flows.

Awards and Distinctions

2020 Mustafa Parlar Research Incentive Award.

Teaching

2024–present University of L’Aquila.

Automotive Aerodynamics (M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, 60 h); Computational Fluid Dynamics (M.Sc.

Mathematical Engineering, 60 h).

2021 ETN Active Matter workshop.

Computational Fluid Dynamics of Active Fluids (2 h).

2018–2023 Bilkent University.

Thermo-Fluids I (UG, 56 h); Principles of Turbomachinery (UG, 42 h); Thermo-Fluids II (UG, 56 h); Fluid

Mechanics (M.Sc., 42 h); Introduction to CFD (UG, 42 h).

2015–2016 Imperial College London.

Fluid Mechanics II tutorials (UG, 30 h).

2008–2011 University of Nice.

Probability/Statistics (UG Business School, 66 h); Mathematics (UG Business School, 96 h); Calculus (UG

Chemistry/Biology, 36 h); Algebra (UG Computer Science, 64 h).

Supervision (Graduate Students and Postdocs)

M.Sc. students

09/2016–08/2019 Hammam Mohamed — Linear stability analysis of evaporating falling liquid films.

09/2017–08/2019 Humayun Ahmed — Non-linear modelling of non-Newtonian hydrodynamic lubrication.

09/2017–11/2019 Omair Mohamed — Spatio-temporal evolution of evaporating falling liquid films sheared by a gas.

01/2018–11/2020 Samuel Shari Gamaniel — Viscoelastic effects in lubricated contacts in the presence of cavitation.

09/2017–12/2020 Solmaz Khoshavaz — Spectral vanishing viscosity method for LES of two-fluid flow.

02/2019–01/2022 Mert Yusuf Çam — Wall slip and cavitation in 2D hydrodynamically lubricated contacts.

09/2019–09/2022 Ali Kerem Erdem — Dispersion and deposition of particles in evaporating sessile droplets.

09/2020–09/2023 Umar Rauf — Modelling a Janus particle activated by an optical potential.

09/2021–07/2024 Mehmet Hakan Sarı — Fluid viscoelasticity in soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication.

09/2021–08/2024 Sarp Ilgaz Koç — Multiscale analysis and texture design for lubricated interfaces with variable

viscosity and density.

09/2021–08/2024 Ahmet Burak Yıldırım — Molecular rheology of unentangled polymer melts in nanochannels.

12/2024 Maria Beatrice Rocchi — Dynamic modelling and experimental verification of the thermal behaviour

of a climatic chamber.

12/2024 Luca Bonanni — Experimental analysis and thermodynamic modelling of a climatic test chamber.

Ph.D. students

08/2019–12/2023 Humayun Ahmed — Modelling lubricants enhanced by finite elasticity polymers.

11/2019–08/2024 Omair Mohamed — Investigations into the evolution of heated liquid films.

01/2020–08/2024 Ayten Gülce Bayram — Complex dynamics of sheared active particle suspensions.

11/2024–ongoing Christian Utreras Silva — Viscoelastic effects on the tribological capabilities of lubricants with

polymeric additives.

Postdoctoral researchers

09/2020–08/2022 Iryna Kasianiuk — Trapping Janus particles with a focused optical potential.

09/2020–08/2022 Denis Kasyanyuk — Clustering of non-spherical Janus particles with optical potentials.

10/2022–06/2024 Aida Abdallah — Modelling particle flocculation in evaporating sessile droplets.

Esteem, Service, and Professional Activities

Evidence of esteem

09/2024 Keynote lecture, XVIII Italian Society of Rheology Conference, Capri (Italy).

08/2023 Keynote lecture, 19th International Congress of Rheology, Athens (Greece), session Microfluidics,

nanofluidics, thin films and confined flows.

05/2022–08/2022 Visiting Professor, Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy).

02/2024 Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale 09/A1 (Aerospace and Naval Engineering), Full Professor level

(Italy).

02/2022 Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale 09/A1 (Aerospace and Naval Engineering), Associate Professor

level (Italy).

08/2019 Docentlik in Mechanical Engineering (Turkey), Associate Professor qualification.

Visiting and invited research positions

09/2017–09/2025 Visiting academic researcher, Imperial College London (UK).

09/2013–10/2013 Invited researcher, EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland).

Editorial and community service

Referee Journal of Fluid Mechanics; Physics of Fluids; Computers & Fluids; Journal of Turbulence;

European Journal of Mechanics B/Fluids; Proc. IMechE Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering;

Meccanica; International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow; Fluid Dynamics Research; Engineering

Science and Technology, an International Journal; Journal of Applied Physiology; Tribology

International; Proc. IMechE Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science; Proc. IMechE

Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology; Proc. IMechE Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical

Engineering; Physical Review Letters; Physical Review Fluids; Soft Matter.

06/2018 Minisymposium: Modelling of low-Reynolds-number fluid–structure interactions, 6th ECCM–7th

ECFD, Glasgow (UK).

07/2026 Conference: 11th Bifurcation and Instabilities in Fluid Dynamics (BIFD), L’Aquila (Italy).

Invited Seminars

11/2024 The role of viscoelasticity in thin lubricated contacts, Princeton (USA).

10/2024 Improving tribological performance in hydrodynamically lubricated contacts: the role of polymer

additives, University of Udine (Italy).

12/2023 Improving tribological performance in hydrodynamically lubricated contacts: the role of polymer

additives, University of Naples – Federico II (Italy).

05/2023 Improving tribological performance in hydrodynamically lubricated contacts: the role of polymer

additives, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy).

01/2023 Heated confined falling liquid films, University College Dublin (Ireland).

10/2022 Improving tribological performance in hydrodynamically lubricated contacts: the role of polymer

additives, University of L’Aquila (Italy).

07/2022 Heated confined falling liquid films, Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy).

06/2022 Improving tribological performance in hydrodynamically lubricated contacts: engineered surfaces

and polymer additives, Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy).

10/2021 The kernel wave perspective: from geophysics to engineering, University of Bayreuth (Germany).

11/2019 The kernel wave perspective: from geophysics to engineering, UC Merced (USA).

09/2019 The kernel wave perspective: from geophysics to engineering, Otto von Guericke University

Magdeburg (Germany).

06/2019 The kernel wave perspective: from geophysics to engineering, University of Genoa (Italy).

01/2019 The kernel wave perspective: from geophysics to engineering, ETH Zurich (Switzerland).

07/2018 The kernel wave perspective: from geophysics to engineering, ISSI, Bern (Switzerland).

06/2018 The kernel wave perspective: from geophysics to engineering, University of Rome – La Sapienza

(Italy).

12/2017 The kernel wave perspective: from geophysics to engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of

Technology (Haifa, Israel).

12/2017 Fluid dynamics modelling in an optically manipulated environment, Weizmann Institute of Science

(Rehovot, Israel).

10/2017 The kernel wave perspective: from geophysics to industry, Göteborg University (Sweden).

09/2015 Why confinement and surface tension destabilise shear flows?, Bilkent University (Ankara, Turkey).

05/2015 Capillary effects in planar shear flows, LHEEA, Ecole Centrale Nantes (France).

02/2015 Why confinement and surface tension destabilise shear flows?, Koç University (Istanbul, Turkey).

11/2014 Capillary effects in planar shear flows, LMSC, Paris 7–Diderot (France).

05/2014 2D vs 3D turbulence in shear flows, LMFA (Lyon, France).

11/2013 Confined turbulent wakes, LIMSI (Orsay, France).

11/2013 Influence of confinement on spatially evolving wakes, IRPHE (Marseille, France).

07/2013 Interaction between counterpropagating Rossby waves and capillary waves in planar jets and wakes,

Weizmann Institute of Science (Rehovot, Israel).

05/2013 Influence of confinement on spatially evolving wakes, IMFT (Toulouse, France).

10/2012 Confined turbulent wakes, KTH (Stockholm, Sweden).

Administrative Service

07/2024–present Member, Committee for Internationalisation.

07/2017–09/2023 Departmental Seminar Coordinator (Mechanical Engineering). Organised the seminar series; invited

internationally recognised speakers.

10/2020–04/2021 Member, Faculty Search and Hiring Committee, Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent University.

08/2017–06/2018 Departmental Exchange Programme Coordinator. Managed activities related to exchange programmes

(e.g., Erasmus).

Research Interests

Lubrication theory; non-Newtonian fluids; rheology; CFD (DNS, LES); molecular and meso-scale simulations; hydrodynamic

stability; interfacial flows; active matter.

Publications (peer-reviewed)

35) H. Ahmed & L. Biancofiore, Leveraging viscoelasticity for load enhancement in rotating contacts, Rheologica Acta, 2025.

34) S. I. Koç, I. Temizer & L. Biancofiore, Multiscale analysis and texture design for interfaces hydrodynamically lubricated by

variable viscosity and density liquids, International Journal of Solids and Structures 323, 113640, 2025.

33) H. Ahmed & L. Biancofiore, Viscoelastic thin-film lubrication in finite-width channels, Journal of Fluid Mechanics 1018,

A16, 2025.

32) M. H. Sarı, H. Ahmed, C. Putignano, G. Carbone & L. Biancofiore, The role of viscoelastic stress in an abrupt converging/

diverging channel under the thin-film approximation, Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics 345, 105469,

2025.

31) A. Magazzù, I. Kasianiuk, D. Kasyanyuk, A. Callegari, G. Volpe, O. M. Maragò & L. Biancofiore, Optical levitation of a

Janus particle within focused cylindrical vector beams, Nanophotonics, 2025.

30) A. G. Bayram, L. Biancofiore & H. Löwen, Dynamics of an active chiral polymer in shear flow, Journal of Chemical Physics

162, 174903, 2025.

29) O. A. A. Mohamed & L. Biancofiore, Stability analysis of volatile liquid films in different evaporation regimes, Physical

Review Fluids 9, 094006, 2024.

28) A. K. Erdem, F. Denner & L. Biancofiore, Numerical simulations of dispersion and deposition of particles in evaporating

sessile droplets, Langmuir 40(26), 13428–13445, 2024.

27) M. H. Sarı, C. Putignano, G. Carbone & L. Biancofiore, The effect of fluid viscoelasticity in soft lubrication, Tribology

International 195, 109578, 2024.

26) A. B. Yildirim, A. Erbas & L. Biancofiore, Molecular rheology of nanoconfined polymer melts, Journal of Rheology 68,

285–299, 2024.

25) H. Ahmed & L. Biancofiore, Modelling polymeric lubricants with non-linear stress constitutive relations, Journal of

Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics 321, 105123, 2023.

24) D. Bronte Ciriza, A. Callegari, M. G. Donato, B. Çiçek, A. Magazzù, I. Kasianiuk, D. Kasyanyuk, F. Schmidt, A. Foti, P. G.

Gucciardi, G. Volpe, M. Lanza, L. Biancofiore & O. M. Maragò, Optically driven Janus micro-engine with full orbital motion

control, ACS Photonics 10(9), 3223–3232, 2023.

23) A. G. Bayram, F. J. Schwarzendahl, H. Löwen & L. Biancofiore, Rheology of dense active colloidal suspensions, Soft Matter

19(24), 4571–4578, 2023.

22) H. Mohamed, J. Sesterhenn & L. Biancofiore, The effect of side walls on the stability of falling films, Journal of Fluid

Mechanics 964, A40, 2023.

21) M. Y. Çam, M. Giacopini, D. Dini & L. Biancofiore, Wall slip and cavitation in 2D hydrodynamically lubricated contacts,

Tribology International 184, 108444, 2023.

20) H. Ahmed & L. Biancofiore, A modified viscosity approach for shear-thinning lubricants, Physics of Fluids 34, 103103, 2022.

19) O. A. A. Mohamed, M. C. Dallaston & L. Biancofiore, Spatio-temporal evolution of evaporating liquid films sheared by a

gas, Physical Review Fluids 6, 114002, 2021.

18) S. S. Gamaniel, D. Dini & L. Biancofiore, Viscoelasticity in lubricated contacts with cavitation, Tribology International 160,

107011, 2021.

17) H. Ahmed & L. Biancofiore, A new approach for modelling viscoelastic thin-film lubrication, Journal of Non-Newtonian

Fluid Mechanics 292, 104524, 2021.

16) T. V. Zaqarashvili, M. Albekioni, J. L. Ballester, Y. Bekki, L. Biancofiore, A. C. Birch, M. Dikpati, L. Gizon, E. Gurgenashvili,

E. Heifetz, A. F. Lanza, S. W. McIntosh, L. Ofman, R. Oliver, B. Proxauf, O. M. Umurhan & R. Yellin-Bergovoy, Rossby

waves in astrophysics, Space Science Reviews 217, 15, 2021.

15) H. Mohamed & L. Biancofiore, Linear stability of evaporating falling liquid films, International Journal of Multiphase Flow

130, 103354, 2020.

14) S. M. Mousavi, I. Kasianiuk, D. Kasyanyuk, S. K. P. Velu, A. Callegari, L. Biancofiore & G. Volpe, Clustering of Janus

particles in an optical potential driven by hydrodynamic fluxes, Soft Matter 15, 5748–5759, 2019.

13) L. Biancofiore, M. Giacopini & D. Dini, Interplay between wall slip and cavitation, Tribology International 137, 324–339,

2019.

12) L. Biancofiore & O. M. Umurhan, Stability of a quasi-geostrophic mixing layer, Physical Review Fluids 4, 013803, 2019.

11) F. Schmidt, A. Magazzù, A. Callegari, L. Biancofiore, F. Cichos & G. Volpe, Microscopic engine powered by critical demixing,

Physical Review Letters 120, 068004, 2018.

10) L. Biancofiore, E. Heifetz, J. Hoepffner & F. Gallaire, Surface tension in planar shear flows via wave interaction, Physical

Review Fluids 2, 103901, 2017.

9) L. Biancofiore, L. Brandt & T. A. Zaki, Streak instability in viscoelastic Couette flow, Physical Review Fluids 2, 043304,

2017.

8) L. Biancofiore, F. Gallaire & E. Heifetz, Rossby–capillary interaction in planar shear flows, Physics of Fluids 27, 044104,

2015.

7) L. Biancofiore, F. Gallaire, P. Laure & E. Hachem, DNS of two-phase immiscible wakes, Fluid Dynamics Research 46,

041409, 2014.

6) L. Biancofiore, Crossover between two- and three-dimensional turbulence, Journal of Fluid Mechanics 745, 164–179, 2014.

5) L. Biancofiore & F. Gallaire, Counterpropagating Rossby waves in confined wakes, Physics of Fluids 24, 074102, 2012.

4) L. Biancofiore, F. Gallaire & R. Pasquetti, Obstacle-free turbulent wakes under confinement, Computers & Fluids 58, 27–44,

2012.

3) L. Biancofiore, F. Gallaire & R. Pasquetti, Confinement effects on a 2D wake, Journal of Fluid Mechanics 688, 297–320,

2011.

2) L. Biancofiore & F. Gallaire, Shear-layer thickness and stability of confined wakes, Physics of Fluids 23, 034103, 2011.

1) L. Biancofiore & F. Gallaire, Temporal stability of plane jets and wakes under confinement, Physics of Fluids 22, 014106,

2010.

Proceedings

1. H. Ahmed & L. Biancofiore, Modelling cavitation in viscoelastic thin lubricating films, Mechanisms and Machine Science 160,

Springer, ITS-IFToMM 2024, 2024.

2. F. Schmidt, A. Magazzù, A. Callegari, L. Biancofiore, F. Cichos & G. Volpe, A critical microscopic engine in optical tweezers,

Latin America Optics and Photonics Conference, 2018.

3. L. Biancofiore, F. Gallaire & R. Pasquetti, Large-eddy simulations of confined turbulent wake flows, J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 318,

042044, 2011.

4. L. Biancofiore, F. Gallaire & R. Pasquetti, Influence du confinement sur un sillage bidimensionnel, 19ème Congrès Français de

Mécanique, Marseille, 2009.

Conference Presentations

Dr. Biancofiore or group members have presented their work on more than 100 occasions at major conferences

in fluid mechanics and rheology, including the APS DFD Annual Meeting, the International Congress of Rheology,

the International Symposium Bifurcations and Instabilities in Fluid Dynamics, and the Euromech Fluid Mechanics

Conference.