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Professor Carey is a widely recognized expert in near-interface micro- and nanoscale thermophysics, focusing on transport in liquid-vapor systems, computational modeling, and simulation of energy conversion processes. His research includes modeling at multiple scales, spanning from molecular dynamics simulations at the molecular level to system-level multidevice models. He explores the use of machine learning strategies to enhance the performance of energy conversion and transport applications. Since joining the faculty at Berkeley in 1982, his work has covered a variety of applications, including high-performance solar thermal power systems, air conditioning in buildings and vehicles, aluminum smelting and casting, phase change thermal energy storage, aerospace heat pipes, high heat flux cooling for electronics, and energy efficiency in digital information systems. His research contributions have advanced heat rejection technologies for cooling electronics, developed performance models for Tesla turbines and expanders in green energy technologies, and explored thermionic power generation concepts for space applications. Currently, he focuses on developing strategies that employ machine learning tools to understand and model flame spread processes and enhance the physics of boiling heat transfer on surfaces treated with hydrophilic nanostructured coatings, alongside innovative instrumentation and data analysis techniques.
University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA
Engaged in research and teaching in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, focusing on thermophysics and energy efficiency.
The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.