Luis Laguarda, PhD
Aerodynamicist & HPC specialist based in Rotterdam (local time: CEST)
I am a lecturer in the Aerodynamics section at TU Delft, where I conduct research at the intersection of numerical methods, physical modeling and high-performance computing to study complex turbulent flow phenomena. My role also involves developing advanced computational tools and delivering hands-on training in advanced scientific computing, including distributed, shared-memory, and GPU programming. I also support TU Delft's HPC community in the use of the DelftBlue supercomputer.
reasearch topics I care about
I have long been interested in the dynamics of shock-induced recirculation bubbles. In recent years, my work has expanded toward the practical application of flow control and the use of deep reinforcement learning to develop effective control strategies. Alongside this, I study compressible wall-bounded turbulence for physics-based modeling, including inflow turbulence generation and non-equilibrium wall models for large-eddy simulations. A list of selected publications highlighting my work is provided here. I also work extensively in massively parallel scientific computing across various architectures, with a strong focus on I/O performance and scalability.
compute grants
- 2025-2027: 72 mio CPU hours on the Dutch national supercomputer Snellius via NWO for research on shock-induced separation control (initial allocation awarded; full allocation still under review)
- 2021-2023: 60 mio CPU hours on the HLRS HAWK supercomputer through PRACE to investigate shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interactions with elastic structures
where to find me
what's new
- December 2025 — initial allocation awarded for NWO supercomputing proposal on the national supercomputer Snellius
- December 2025 — co-organizing the 15th ERCOFTAC Workshop on Direct and Large Eddy Simulation, hosted in Delft on 20-22 May, 2026. Call for abstract now open
- November 2025 — building on the success of our introductory CUDA course, we began developing an advanced GPU programming course. Stay tuned
- September 2025 — attended the 3rd Colloquium on Separation Control in High-Speed Flows in Munich (3–5 September), where I presented work on shock-induced separation control and chaired a technical session and plenary discussion. A highly engaging and productive event
education
I hold a Ph.D. in numerical aerodynamics from TU Delft (2024), with a thesis focused on shock-shock and shock-turbulence interactions. I previously earned my M.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt (2017); my master's thesis was carried out at TU Delft and investigated the bi-directional regular-Mach reflection transition in asymmetric shock interactions. I obtained my B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (2015), with my bachelor's thesis carried out at the University of California, Irvine under the Balsells fellowship, where I worked on the design of an axial four-stage low-pressure compressor.life outside work
mens sana in corpore sano. I try to live by it: exercising daily, eating a clean, plant-based diet, and making space for proper rest. Daily meditation has also been genuinely life-changing, despite having once dismissed it. I also love reading (check out my reading list), having meaningful conversations with friends, and when time allows, playing the guitar and messing around with a DDJ-FLX4. More recenlty, a trip to Guinea-Bissau marked another turning point in my life, something I hope to write about soon.