UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Stephen Lynch, the Shuman Family Early Career Professor and associate professor of mechanical engineering in Penn State’s College of Engineering, has received the designation of fellow from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). 

As the director of the Experimental and Computational Convection Laboratory (ExCCL), Lynch has established expertise in convective heat transfer and aerodynamics for power generation and propulsion applications. In particular, he conducts fundamental and applied research for gas turbine component cooling improvements and the design of advanced heat exchangers using additive manufacturing. Overall, his research goals are to study next-generation turbine cooling technologies and materials to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. 

This honor is conferred by the ASME Committee of Past Presidents on worthy candidates to recognize their outstanding engineering achievements, with only 3% of the organization’s membership being named fellows. Nominated by ASME members and existing fellows, an ASME member must have demonstrated 10 or more years of active practice and at least 10 years of active corporate membership in ASME to earn this accolade. 

During his academic career, Lynch received an Office of Naval Research Young Investigator award, as well as multiple research contracts with industry partners. He has published 19 peer-reviewed articles, including one that earned best paper at the 2019 ASME Turbo Expo and holds two patents. He is also an associate editor of ASME’s Journal of Turbomachinery. 

As the latest Penn State mechanical engineering faculty member to be honored with this distinction, Lynch has shown a particular commitment to the Penn State student chapter of ASME. Since he assumed the role of faculty adviser to the organization in 2018, the student group activity, including participation in national conferences and competitions, has doubled. 

“As a dedicated leader, educator and researcher, Dr. Lynch has demonstrated that he is well worthy of this honor,” said Karen Thole, distinguished professor and mechanical engineering department head. “His technical contributions and mentorship have helped elevate the department as a whole and we are very thankful.”