International Fluid Power Researcher Profile: Emma Frosina

We’ve written before about the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP)—the network of fluid power research laboratories, academic faculty, graduate and undergraduate students at seven universities—that is making a difference when it comes to preparing a better educated workforce for the fluid power industry. The CCEFP has created a 500% increase in the number of fluid power focused advanced degrees awarded in the United States, with almost half of its graduates going on to work in the fluid power industry.

In addition to increasing interest in fluid power among students studying in the United States, the CCEFP has also hosted a number of international visiting researchers interested in fluid power. One such visitor is Emma Frosina.

Emma Frosina comes to the University of Minnesota from Naples, Italy where she was born and raised.  Emma is currently working on her PhD in fluid power, with a focus on hydraulics, at the University of Naples.  She plans to complete her thesis in 2016.  Emma has been to the U.S. four times.  On her first visit in early 2014, she met Professor Stelson at the IFPE conference in Las Vegas.  That meeting led to three subsequent trips to the University of Minnesota to assist Professor Stelson’s research on the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of vane pumps.  These pumps are a key enabling technology for a new transmission being designed at the University of Minnesota.  When Emma finishes this stint at the end of the fall semester, she will have spent a total of 10 months on the project.

 

Emma is an avid swimmer and bicyclist and has competed in triathlons.  When asked to compare Minneapolis and Naples, Emma cited one major difference – the weather.  The Mediterranean climate in Naples means that winters are mild and wet but there is never snow.  Emma enjoys the snow but could do without the extreme cold of the polar vortex.  In spite of the weather differences, Emma has enjoyed her time here.  She’s been really impressed with the technology at the University of Minnesota and finds the people to be super friendly.