Scott Dawson, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology, has been named an associate fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in its Class of 2026. Dawson joined the Armour College of Engineering in 2019 and has conducted research in aeronautics for more than a decade.
“It’s an honor to be elected...an honor to be recognized for my research and contributions to the field, which I look forward to continuing,” said Dawson.
The AIAA describes election as an associate fellow as recognition for individuals “who have accomplished or been in charge of important engineering or scientific work, or who have done original work of outstanding merit, or who have otherwise made outstanding contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics.”
Candidates must be senior members with at least 12 years of professional experience and require recommendations from three AIAA members. Dawson first became involved with AIAA in 2015 while still a graduate student. He has served on the organization’s Fluid Dynamics Technical Committee and chaired technical discussion groups at AIAA conferences.
“This distinguished group of professionals has performed extraordinary work and advanced the state of science and technology in aeronautics and astronautics. They exemplify a dedication to excellence in their specific technical disciplines,” said AIAA President Dan Hastings about this year’s class.
Dawson’s current research focuses on fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, especially developing simplified models for complex flows. In 2024, he received a five-year Early Career grant from the United States Department of Energy to support his project using mathematical methods to predict features within fluid flows. This research aims to improve designs across various fields such as aircraft, boats, HVAC systems, wind turbines, with potential energy savings.
He is also working on projects funded by grants from both the National Science Foundation and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.