Doctoral candidate in engineering, John Antolik has been awarded the prestigious Joukowsky Dissertation Prize in the physical sciences for his thesis, Water Entry of Flexible Impactors. His research, bridging both experimental innovation and theoretical insight, he is already reshaping the field of fluid dynamics and its applications in naval and aerospace engineering.

“His thesis is a wonderful example of what a thesis should look like: the writing is clear, the figures are informative, and the document has a narrative arc that hangs together with a coherence that is enjoyable to read,” shares Kenneth Breuer, professor of engineering and ecology, evolution and organismal biology.

Antolik's journey began as an undergraduate at Brown University, where he completed his honors thesis under the mentorship of Daniel Harris, associate professor of engineering. Recognizing exceptional talent and drive, Harris encouraged Antolik to apply to a Ph.D. program and continue his research as a doctoral student in his laboratory.

Antolik’s dissertation explores how flexibility influences the behavior of objects entering water.  This work required design and construction of the experimental setup and the development of new theoretical models. Previously, research groups have attempted similar experiments with limited success, but Antolik’s creative approach overcame long standing challenges. 

The impact of his findings has been immediate, generating significant discussion among experts at major scientific conferences and signaling a fundamental shift in our understanding of water entry dynamics.

Antolik’s commitment to innovation extends beyond his research findings. In the latter half of his Ph.D. work, he began developing and integrating advanced electronic hardware and software with his experiments that have recently been certified as open-source hardware by The Open Source Hardware Association. 

What makes this achievement particularly remarkable is its accessibility: while the current industry-standard commercial equipment costs nearly $5,000, Antolik's device can be reproduced for less than $100. This dramatic cost reduction reflects his dedication to making cutting-edge science more open and accessible to researchers worldwide.

Building on this foundation, Antolik also developed an active impactor that can undergo structural rearrangements during water entry. He ultimately taught himself independently in order to develop the untethered robotic device, including custom control circuitry and printed circuit board design. 

“The final device is a remarkable achievement in electronics in addition to mechanics, and represents a first in the field which I expect many others to emulate,” shares Harris.

Harris describes Antolik's complete body of work as "nothing short of remarkable," noting that its technical scope pushes boundaries across numerous engineering and scientific disciplines.

The second chapter of Antolik’s dissertation has been published in Physical Review Fluids. The third chapter has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Open Hardware. The fourth chapter is in review as well, with a pre-print version of the article currently available online. 

Antolik's exceptional work has earned him multiple accolades, including the Simon Ostrach Endowed Fellowship from the Center for Fluid Mechanics and a NASA RI Space Grant Consortium Graduate Student Fellowship. His research was also featured in an award-winning poster at the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics Gallery of Fluid Motion.

“It is an incredible honor to be selected for this award which would not have been possible without the support from the Center for Fluid Mechanics, my advisor, collaborators, and colleagues and friends in the lab. It is very meaningful to receive this recognition of my research as I look forward to the next stages of my career,” shares Antolik.

Doctoral candidates and graduates, Ella Grunberger-Kirsh, Zhaowei Jiang, John Antolik, and Isabella Bellezza Smull were selected for the Graduate School's Joukowsky Family Foundation Outstanding Dissertation Award. Prizes are awarded at the Doctoral Ceremony on May 25, 2025.