Test Master Calendar (OCR)

Abstract:
Plasma science and aerothermochemistry are crucial for designing next-generation space and hypersonic systems, yet progress is hindered by limited understanding of plasma-matter interactions and their design implications. In particular, plasma-solid-electromagnetic wave interactions remain largely unexplored, introducing significant uncertainties in the modeling and ground testing of systems operating in these extreme regimes, including the characterization of thermal protection system (TPS) materials. 

This talk presents my group's research that integrates uncertainty quantification with scalable multi-physics coupling algorithms to enable advanced plasma modeling. Our approach is grounded in first-principles aerothermochemistry, bridged to computational efficiency through an advanced reduced-order model closure. By combining first-principles plasma dynamics with stochastic inference, we obtain high-fidelity predictions of hypersonic shock layers and the interaction manifolds governing their coupling with thermal protection systems. This framework enables non-intrusive interpretation of ground-based measurements and supports physics-aware aerothermodynamic design for next-generation space and defense systems.

Bio:
Dr. Sung Min Jo is an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF), specializing in hypersonics and plasma physics and their applications. He earned his Ph.D. in 2020 from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and later conducted postdoctoral research at CHESS, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining UCF, he served as a faculty member at KAIST, where he led research projects funded by defense agencies and the National Research Foundation of Korea, including the prestigious Young Investigator Award.

Since joining UCF in 2025, he has been one of the core faculty members of UCF Center of Excellence in Hypersonics and Space Propulsion (HYPERSPACE) and has been leading Hypersonics and Plasma Research Group (HPRG), focusing on uncertainty-aware plasma reaction dynamics, multi-physics coupled numerical methods, and space situational awareness. His work on plasma chemistry, stochastic modeling, and high-performance solvers has earned recognition, including the Best Paper Award at International Symposium on Shock Waves (ISSW), a Proceedings Front Cover Selection from the 2024 CTR Summer Program at Stanford University, and nationally recognized research funding from AFOSR High-Speed Aerodynamics program.