Professor Anilkumar is a Space Scientist, Aerospace Engineer, and Educator.  His research interests are in the areas of aero-propulsion, energy conversion, and microgravity materials processing. He has been a scientific investigator of microgravity fluid physics and materials processing transport phenomena on experiments conducted on Space Shuttle Flights and on the International Space Station.  In 2007, Dr. Anilkumar founded the Vanderbilt Aerospace Design Laboratory  which is at the forefront of the design of novel, rocket-flyable, payload systems that highlight major challenges in space exploration and energy conversion.