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Alexandre Cortiella

Aerospace Engineer, Ph.D.

Research & Projects

This section presents my current research as a researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder and the most relevant projects I worked on in the past.

Research Interests


  • Identification of Nonlinear Physical Systems
  • Computatonal Mechanics for Structural, Fluid and Thermal Systems
  • Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics and Control
  • Uncertainty Quantification
  • Inverse Problems and Machine Learning

Current Research


This is the research project I am currently working on

INSIEME PSAAP-III - Current project
INSIEME PSAAP-III
The objective of the INSIEME project under PSAAP III is to exploit Exascale computing systems to predict a complex multi-physics phenomenon with combined innovations in task-based programming, runtime environments, physical models, numerical algorithms, data analysis, learning at scale and uncertainty quantification. The overarching problem is the prediction of reliability of in-space ignition of cryogenic methane and liquid oxygen propellants in a rocket combustor by using pulsed high-energy lasers. The problem involves a broad set of physical phenomena, including multiphase compressible fluid dynamics, phase change, turbulence, mixing, laser-induced ignition, and combustion.
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Past Research


These are a selection of the most relevant research projects I worked on in the past.

Nonlinear SID - Current project
Identification of the governing equations of nonlinear physical systems from noisy observations
This project focuses on nonlinear system identification, where the goal is to identify, understand and predict the behavior of a physical system by constructing an approximate model from noisy measurements
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3Cat2 nanosatellite fully assembled
Attitude Determination and Control of the 3Cat-2 nanosatellite
Analysis, design and development of the attitude determination and control system of a 6-unit Cubesat
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Project - Topology optimization of an aircraft wing rib structure
Topology optimization of an aircraft wing rib structure
Structural topology optimization of an aircraft wing rib subject to aerodynamic loads using Finite Element and Nonlinear Optimization techniques
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Project - Development of a Jovial radiation model from Juno spacecraft data
Development of a Jupiter radiation model from Juno spacecraft data
Analysis and development of an electron radiation model of Jupiter magnetosphere using data collected by JEDI/JADE instruments onboard Juno spacecraft
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