Applied Physics Scientist specializing in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, with a strong focus on combustion, detonations, chemical kinetics, molecular energy transfer processes, aerodynamics, low-temperature plasma, and the kinetics of electrons, ions and excited particles. Extensive experience in experiment, theory, and numerical modeling. Doctor of Science (2000) in Physics and Chemistry of Plasma, Thermophysics and Molecular Physics. PhD (1991) in Mechanics of Gases and Plasma. BS/MS (1988) in Applied Mathematics and Physics. Author of 6 patents, 9 books/book chapters, 150+ journal papers, with 12,500+ citations and an h-index of 55. PI or Co-PI on 56 research projects. Skilled in interdisciplinary collaboration and mentoring. Passionate about advancing nonequilibrium plasma applications in aviation and space industry.
EXPERIENCE
Editor-in-Chief: PLASMA (MDPI)
Editorial board member: Energies (MDPI); Plasma Research Express (IOP)
CEO: NEQLab LLC (Plainsboro, USA) 2025-present
Chief scientist: USPlasmaEngineering LLC (Lafayette, USA) 2025-present
Consultant: GE GR; The Boeing; Chevron; Alcority Global Limited; Red Shift Energy; MetroLaser 2010-present
Academic Professional: Princeton University (Princeton, USA) 2010 – 2025
CTO: NEQlab BV (Delft, The Netherlands) 2007 – 2012
Head of Scientific Research Center: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Moscow, Russia) 2004 – 2008
Assistant/Associate Professor: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Moscow, Russia) 2001 – 2008
Scientist: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Moscow, Russia) 1991 – 1996
RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS
· Invented plasma-assisted combustion systems based on nanosecond pulsed discharges, improving flame stability and enabling ignition in high-speed flows, cold high-altitude engine restart
· Advanced plasma-assisted aerodynamics by nanosecond pulsed discharges, enhancing lift power of helicopter blades on 20%
· Demonstrated plasma formation in nanosecond and picosecond discharges that provides a controllable energy deposition into selected degrees of freedom of molecules
· Developed nanosecond pulsed plasma actuators for high-speed boundary layer separation control
· Developed of new operating media for gas-dynamic lasers and physical and chemical models for these lasers
· Designed deflagration-to-detonation control techniques based on non-equilibrium gas discharges and their applications to pulsed detonation engines
· Elaborated technique of lean and high-speed flames stabilization by pulsed nanosecond discharges for hypersonic vehicles
· Developed physical mechanisms for state-to-state chemical reactions and energy relaxation behind strong shock waves in Earth and Mars atmospheres during aero-capture maneuvers
· Developed chemical mechanisms for the ignition of C1-C10 hydrocarbons under thermal excitation at high pressures (up to 450 atm)
· Developed chemical mechanisms for NO-NO2-N2O and CO-CO2 kinetics at high temperatures. New reaction pathways were discovered and rate coefficients measured
· Discovered mechanisms for vibrational energy transfer in CO2-NO2-N2O system at elevated temperatures
· Discovered a physical model of the interaction of shock and detonation waves with entropy layers. Invented a new technique to control the detonation waves initiation and propagation
EDUCATION
GE Energy Environment Research Corp. (Irvine, CA) Internship program 2000
Institute for High-Temperature Studies, Russian Academy of Science (Moscow, Russia) Doctor of Science in Physics and Chemistry of Plasma, Thermophysics and Molecular Physics 2000
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Moscow, Russia) PhD in Mechanics of Gases and Plasma 1991
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Moscow, Russia) BS/MS in Applied Mathematics and Physics 1988
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
· Secured over $11M of fundings via grants from NSF, DOE, DOD
· PI/Co-PI of 56 research projects.
AWARDS
· AIAA Associate Fellow. 2019
· Best paper award AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting. 2011
PUBLICATIONS
Selected books and chapters:
1. Y.Ju, A.Starikovskiy. Plasma Assisted Combustion and Chemical Processing. Taylor&Francis. 2025.
2. A.Starikovskiy, N.Aleksandrov. Plasma Aerodynamics and Flow Control by Superfast Local Heating. In: Pulsed Discharge Plasmas Characteristics and Applications. Edited by T.Shao, Cheng Zhang. Springer Press. 2023.
3. A.Starikovskiy. High E/N Discharges: Applications. In: Encyclopedia of Plasma Technology, edited by J. Leon Shohet. CRC Press. 2016.
4. A.Starikovskiy, N.Aleksandrov. Plasma-Assisted Ignition and Combustion. In: Aeronautics and Astronautics. Ed: Max Mulder. 2011.
Selected papers:
1. A.Starikovskiy, N.Aleksandrov, M.Shneider. Analysis of the efficiency of MHD cycle supported by nanosecond pulsed discharge pre-ionization. (2023) Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 32 035005
2. M.Vorenkamp, S.Steinmetz, T.Chen, X.Mao, A.Starikovskiy, C.Kliewer, Y.Ju. Plasma-assisted deflagration to detonation transition in a microchannel with fast-frame imaging and hybrid fs/ps coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering measurements. Elsevier. (2023) Proceedings of the Combustion Institute.
3. A.Starikovskiy, N.Aleksandrov. Plasma-assisted ignition and combustion. (2013) Progress in Energy and Combustion Science. 39 61-110
4. V.Zhukov, V.Sechenov, A.Starikovskiy. Autoignition of n-decane at high pressure. (2008) Combustion and Flame. 153. 1-2. 130-136.
5. A.Starikovskiy, N.Aleksandrov, A.Rakitin. Plasma-Assisted Ignition and Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition. (2012) Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. 370. 740-773.
6. D.Roupassov, A.Nikipelov, M.Nudnova, A.Starikovskiy. Flow Separation Control by Plasma Actuator with Nanosecond Pulsed-Periodic Discharge. (2009) AIAA Journal. 47. 1. 168-185.
Selected patents:
1. A.Nikipelov, A.Rakitin, S.Pancheshnyi, A.Starikovskiy. An ignition method, an ignition plug and an engine using an ignition plug. (2011) Patent Application EP11176514.
Andrey Starikovskiy, PhD, D.Sc.
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=1rFO1vkAAAAJ
