Research Interests:
Thermosciences, Alternative fuels, Energy, Laser diagnostics and sensors, Shock wave physics and chemistry,Laser spectroscopy, Chemical kinetics, Combustion science, and Advanced propulsion.

Degrees:

• Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering (major)
  Management Science and Engineering (minor),
  Stanford University, Stanford, USA 2004-2010
  (adviser: Ronald K. Hanson)
  
  
• B.Tech (summa cum laude): Aerospace Engineering (major)
  Vibrations & Acoustics (minor),
  M.Tech (summa cum laude): Aerospace Engineering (major)
  Vibrations & Acoustics (minor),
  Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, India 1999-2004
  
  
• Post-doctoral Appointee, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, California, 2010-2011 (Mentor: Craig A Taatjes)

Recent Publications:

• Welz O.; Savee J. D.; Osborn D.; Vasu S. S.; Percival C. J.; Shallcross D. E.; Taatjes C. A., 'Direct Kinetic Measurements of Criegee Intermediate (CH2OO) Formed by Reaction of CH2I with O2', Science (accepted 11/18/2011).
  
  
• Vasu S. S.; Huynh L.K.; Davidson D. F.; Hanson R. K., 'Reactions of OH with Butene Isomers: Measurements of the Overall Rates and a Theoretical Study', J. Phys. Chem. A. 2011, 115 (12), 2549-2556.
  
  
• Hong Z.; Vasu S. S.; Davidson D. F.; Hanson R. K., 'Experimental study of the rate of OH+HO2= H2O+O2 at high temperatures using the reverse reaction', Journal of Physical Chemistry A 2010, 114 (17), 5520–5525.
  
  
• Tyagi Manav; Sujith R. I.; Vasu Subith, 'Nonlinear distortion of traveling waves in non-uniform gasdynamic flows', International Journal of Aeroacoustics 2008, 7 (Nos. 3&4), 243-266.
  
  
• Z. Hong; D. F. Davidson; S. S. Vasu; R. K. Hanson, 'The effect of oxygenates on soot formation in rich heptane mixtures: A shock tube study', Fuel 2009, 88 (10), 1901-1906.
  
  
• Hong Z.; Pang G. A.; Vasu S. S.; Davidson D. F.; Hanson R. K., 'The use of driver inserts to reduce facility effects behind reflected shock waves', Shock Waves 2009, 19, 113-123.
  
  
• Vasu S. S.; Hong Z.; Davidson D. F.; Hanson R. K.; Golden D. M., 'Shock tube/laser absorption measurements of the reaction rates of OH with ethylene and propene', J. Phys. Chem. A. 2010, 114, 11529-11537.
  
  
• Vasu S. S.; Davidson D. F.; Hanson R. K.; Golden D. M., 'Measurements of the reaction of OH with n-butanol at high temperatures', Chem Phys Letters 2010, 497, 26-29.
  
  
• Vasu S. S.; Zádor J., Davidson D. F.; Hanson R. K.; Golden D. M.; Miller J. A., 'High-temperature Measurements and a Theoretical Study of the Reaction of OH with 1,3-Butadiene', J. Phys. Chem. A. 2010, 114, 8312-8318.
  
  
• Vasu S. S.; Davidson D. F.; Hanson R. K., 'Jet fuel ignition delay times: Shock tube experiments over wide conditions', Combustion and Flame 2008, 152, 125-143.
  
  
• Vasu S. S.; Davidson D. F.; Hanson R. K., 'Shock tube experiments and kinetic modeling of toluene ignition', Journal of Propulsion and Power 2010, 26 (4), 776-783.
  
  
• Vasu S. S.; Davidson D. F.; Hong Z.; Hanson R. K., 'A shock tube study of methylcyclohexane ignition over a wide range of pressure and temperature', Energy and Fuels 2009, 23, 175-185.
  
  
• Vasu S. S.; Davidson D. F.; Hong Z.; Vasudevan V.; Hanson R. K., 'n-Dodecane oxidation at high pressures: Measurements of ignition delay times and OH concentration time histories', Proceedings of the Combustion Institute 2009, 32, 173-180.
  
  
• Vasu S. S.; Davidson D. F.; Hanson R. K., ‘OH time-histories during oxidation of n-heptane and methycyclohexane at high-pressures and temperatures’, Combustion and Flame 2009, 156, 736-749. Selected as Cover Feature Article title.

Scientific and Professional Societies:

• The Combustion Institute
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

Honors and Awards:

• Cover Feature Article: Combustion and Flame 2009 April issue
• First recipient of the Swami Chinmayananda Fellowship for undergraduate studies, 1999-2004
• Ranked 2nd in India for Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering, 2002