Bridging Worlds: A Conversation with Caltech’s Morteza Gharib on Science, Innovation, and Iran’s Future

A Meeting of Minds: Science Without Borders

Professor Morteza (Mory) Gharib is the Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Medical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). He also serves as the Director of the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories (GALCIT) and the Director of the Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST).

Professor Gharib’s research is highly interdisciplinary, blending fluid dynamics with biomedical engineering. His work spans conventional aeronautics, vortex dynamics, and advanced flow-imaging diagnostics, including his pioneering work in Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV). In the biomedical field, he applies these principles to understand cardiovascular fluid dynamics and embryonic heart development.

This research has led to numerous bio-inspired medical devices, including a novel polymer heart valve and an FDA-approved eye stent for glaucoma patients.

An alumnus of Caltech (Ph.D. ’83), Gharib also holds a B.S. from Tehran University and an M.S. from Syracuse University. He joined the Caltech faculty in 1993 after working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and UC San Diego. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds over 170 U.S. patents.

The Conversation Partner: Dr. Mohammad H. Tasooji

Dr. Mohammad H. Tasooji is a professor at California State University San Marcos, and is an accomplished engineer, educator, and industry leader. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, an M.S. in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University, and a Doctorate in Communication Systems from USC. Dr. Tasooji has held senior management roles at leading technology firms, including Qualcomm, Ericsson, and Nokia. He contributes to clean-energy innovation as CEO of Sienza Energy.