Allie Dingfield, a junior in mechanical engineering at Missouri S&T, continues to build an extraordinary track record of research excellence. At the 2025 Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference, she was awarded the Best Undergraduate Research Poster for her project titled “Quantitative Shadowgraph for Turbulence Measurements in Supersonic Flows.”
This marks the third year in a row that Allie has earned first place in every category she has entered at the university-wide conference — a rare and remarkable feat that underscores her dedication to cutting-edge research and academic excellence.
Allie received a perfect score of 240 points, with judges praising her ability to explain complex engineering concepts in plain, accessible language and her strong command of the subject matter. Her winning poster details the use of a quantitative shadowgraph imaging technique to measure turbulence in supersonic flows. This research helps scientists better understand fluid dynamics in extreme conditions, which has important implications for the aerospace and mechanical engineering industries.
“Allie’s work exemplifies the rigor and innovation we strive for in our department,” says Dr. Davide Viganò, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and Allie’s faculty mentor. “Her consistency and leadership in undergraduate research set a fantastic example for her peers.”
The poster outlines the experimental setup and image processing used to quantify turbulence with precision. Allie worked in the Aerodynamics Research Laboratory to collect and analyze over 11,000 shadowgraph images as part of her statistical analysis.
Allie’s consistent success at the Miners Solving for Tomorrow Conference reflects not only her talent but also her passion for problem-solving and pushing the boundaries of engineering knowledge.
Congratulations, Allie, on your continued success and for representing the department with excellence!