Edward M. Greitzer

H.N. Slater Professor in Aeronautics and Astronautics
My research includes gas turbines, turbomachinery, propulsion system-airframe integration, active control of fluid systems, vortex flows, and industry-university collaboration.

Contact Info

Office Phone

617.253.2128

Email

Office

Website/Lab

Lab

Administrative Contact

Pam Fradkin
617.258.9729

Financial Contact

Jennifer Leith
617.253.4929

Specialization and Research Interests

Gas turbine engines, propulsion system-airframe integration, turbomachinery, internal flow and fluid machinery, propulsion, active control of aeromechanical systems, industry-university collaboration

Teaching Interests

Propulsion, fluid dynamics, experimental projects, thermodynamics

Biography

Edward M. Greitzer is the H. N. Slater Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, MIT, where he has been Director, Gas Turbine Laboratory and Interim Department Head. He received BA, SM and PhD degrees from Harvard University. Prior to joining MIT he was with United Technologies Corporation (UTC), at Pratt & Whitney, and, more recently, Director, Aeromechanical, Chemical, and Fluid Systems at UTRC. His research includes gas turbines, turbomachinery, propulsion system-airframe integration, active control of fluid systems, vortex flows, and industry-university collaboration. He was the MIT lead on the Cambridge-MIT Silent Aircraft Initiative, the Principal Investigator for the NASA sponsored D8 “double-bubble” aircraft project, and the MIT Founding Head of the Engineering Product Development Pillar at Singapore University of Technology and Design, a new university developed collaboratively by MIT and Singapore.

Dr. Greitzer is a four-time recipient of the ASME Gas Turbine Award and a recipient of the ASME Freeman Scholar Award in Fluids Engineering, the International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI) Scholar Award, and publication awards from AIAA and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He has received the IGTI Aircraft Engine Technology Award, the Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Award, the AIAA Reed Aeronautics Award, the ASME R. Tom Sawyer Award, MIT’s Everett Moore Baker Award for undergraduate teaching, and (twice) his departmental undergraduate teaching award. Dr. Greitzer has authored approximately 90 papers and is lead author of the book Internal Flow: Concepts and Applications (Cambridge University Press). He has been a Visiting Fellow of the Japan Society for Promotion of Science and twice an Overseas Fellow at Cambridge University and is an AIAA Honorary Fellow, an ASME Fellow, a National Academy of Engineering member, an Honorary Professor, Beihang University, and an International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Academic Degrees

B.A., Physics, 1962, Harvard College
M.S., Engineering, 1964, Harvard University
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, 1970, Harvard University

Positions Held at MIT

Interim Department Head, MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics, June-December 2018; Founding MIT Pillar Head, Engineering Product Development Pillar, Singapore University of Technology Design, 2009-2016; H.N. Slater Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1988-present; Vehicles Sector Head, 2008-2016; Deputy Department Head, 2006-2008; Associate Department Head, 1996–2002; Director Gas Turbine Laboratory, 1986-1996; Head, Propulsion and Energy Conversion Division, 1984-1996; Associate Professor, 1979-1984; Assistant Professor, 1977-1979

Positions Held outside MIT

United Technologies Corporation: Director, Aeromechanical, Chemical, and Fluid Systems, United Technologies Research Center, 1996-1998; Senior Research Engineer, United Technologies Research Center, 1976-1977; Research Engineer, Compressor Component Group, Pratt & Whitney Division of United Technologies Corp., 1969-1976; Cambridge University: Beaufort Visiting Scholar, St. John’s College, 2017; Visiting Fellow, Peterhouse, 1990-1991; Overseas Fellow, Churchill College, 1983-1984; Industrial Fellow Commoner, Churchill College (on leave from Pratt & Whitney), 1975; California Institute of Technology, Visiting Research Associate, July-August 1986; NASA Glenn Research Center, Aerospace Technical Specialist, August 1983

Affiliated Labs

Awards & Honors

Member, Member, National Academy of Engineering
Honorary Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
International Fellow, Royal Academy of Engineering (UK)
Exceptional Civilian Service Award, US Air Force
Reed Aeronautics Award, AIAA
R. Tom Sawyer Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Fellow, ASME
Aircraft Engine Technology Award, International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI)
Visiting Fellow, Japan Society for Promotion of Science
Everett Moore Baker MIT Undergraduate Teaching Award
Freeman Scholar Award in Fluids Engineering, ASME
IGTI Scholar Award, ASME International Gas Turbine Institute

Key publications