The Student Advisory Committee (SAC) is a group of students who work to foster student engagement in the IGTI community and improve the Turbo Expo conference every year. Towards this goal, the SAC organizes various sessions and events during the conference, provides opportunities for students to work behind the scenes with leaders in their technical area, and awards travel funds to eligible degree seeking individuals.
Meet the 2026-2027 Student Advisory Committee (SAC) Leadership Team!
Michail Psaropoulos, Chair
Michail Psaropoulos is currently a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), Greece and Safran Tech, Paris, France. He holds a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. His current research focuses on the implementation of robust and explainable Artificial Intelligence in aircraft engines performance. Specifically, the implementation of Neural Networks to predict the engine steady-state and transient thermodynamic performance for the majority of engine architectures.
Davide Marino, Vice-Chair
Davide Marino is a PhD student in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and a Graduate Research Assistant at the Center for Advanced Turbomachinery and Energy Research (CATER). He earned a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Palermo, Italy, and a Master's degree in Space Science and Technology from Luleå University of Technology, Sweden.
His current research focuses on advanced power cycle technologies for lunar and space energy systems and on high-temperature heat pipes for nuclear applications. Prior to joining UCF, he conducted research at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in aerodynamics and flow control and contributed to a hybrid rocket propulsion project at Luleå University of Technology.
Davide has been actively involved in the ASME IGTI Student Advisory Committee and was elected Vice Chair for ASME Turbo Expo 2027.
Ethan Taylor, Secretary
Ethan is a graduate research assistant and PhD Student at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL. He is conducting research on ammonia fuel storage and delivery systems. Additionally, his work primarily focuses on sustainable aviation.
Janakiraman Thiyagarajan, Past Chair
Janakiraman Thiyagarajan is an Industrial PhD student at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Traton AB, Sweden. His research focuses on the design and development of radial compressors for heavy-duty applications, with particular emphasis on aero-thermal design and aero-acoustics. He participated in the Erasmus Mundus THRUST (TurbomacHinery AeRomechanics UniverSity Training) Master program, jointly offered by KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) and the University of Liege (Belgium). After earning a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, he worked in the aerospace industry, specializing in jet engine performance and auxiliary power unit (APU) design. He has served as a Student Advisory Committee (SAC) Liaison for ASME Turbo Expo 2024, as Vice-Chair and Chair of IGTI SAC for ASME Turbo Expo 2025 and 2026. He is currently the Past Chair for Turbo Expo 2027.