About

Prof. Luís F. N. Sá

Professor of Mechatronics Engineering Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo Department of Mechatronics and Mechanical Systems Engineering (PMR)

Luís F. N. Sá is a faculty member at one of Latin America’s leading engineering schools, where he bridges computational methods and real-world engineering challenges. His work sits at the intersection of topology optimization, computational fluid dynamics, and machine learning — developing numerical tools that reshape how engineers design everything from biomedical implants to clean energy devices.

Before joining the faculty in 2023, he spent over a decade at USP as student and researcher, culminating in a Ph.D. focused on designing ventricular assist devices through topology optimization — work that demonstrated how mathematical optimization can directly impact healthcare engineering. His postdoctoral research at the Research Centre for Gas Innovation (RCGI) expanded his scope to energy transition problems, including CO₂ geological storage and renewable energy systems.

He leads the DO&GE Lab (Design Optimization & Generative Engineering), where his team combines classical optimization with AI-driven generative design to tackle multiphysics problems across structural, thermal, and fluid domains.

Academic Background

Research Areas

Topology Optimization — Development of density-based and integer programming methods for fluid and structural systems. Applications range from turbomachinery rotors and labyrinth seals to fuel cell channel layouts (PEMFC and SOFC), with published results showing significant performance gains in energy efficiency and device longevity.

Computational Fluid Dynamics — Numerical simulation of laminar, turbulent, and compressible flows coupled with optimization frameworks. Recent work addresses subsonic compressible turbulent flows, rotor-stator interactions, and multiphase transport in electrochemical devices.

Machine Learning for Engineering Design — Surrogate models and generative AI approaches to accelerate optimization cycles, predict structural performance from binary mesh representations, and explore design spaces beyond human intuition.

Energy & Biomedical Applications — From ventricular assist pumps to solid oxide fuel cells, the common thread is using computational design to solve problems where geometry critically determines performance. Ongoing projects also include fluidic diodes for respiratory devices and magnetohydrodynamic propulsion systems.

Teaching

In the Mechatronics Engineering program at Poli-USP, he teaches courses spanning dynamic systems, digital electronics, information systems, computational mechanics, and capstone projects — reflecting the same multidisciplinary philosophy that drives his research. See the full list on the Teaching page.