Dr. Mayer is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He is a proud Cal Poly alumni, having graduated with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2003, and is honored to be working alongside many of his former professors. Before his promotion to a tenure-track position, Dr. Mayer worked as a lecturer at Cal Poly from 2006-2009 and 2013-2019 teaching primarily in the ME department, but periodically teaching in the AERO, BMED, and MATE departments during those times. As of July 2019 he has served as the Director of the Cal Poly Microfabrication Laboratory, having first started working in the lab in 2007. Dr. Mayer also serves as the advisor to the Micro Systems Technology (MST) club at Cal Poly, and is a member of the CENG Safety Committee. 

• fluid mechanics
• thermodynamics
• heat transfer
• turbomachinery
• microfluidics
• micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)
• microfabrication and semiconductor processing engineering
• history of engineering and technology

• Ph.D. University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 2016
• M.S. Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2005
• B.S. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California 2003

• 2019 – Present: Assistant Professor, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• 2013 – 2019: Lecturer, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• 2006 – 2009: Lecturer, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • History & Heritage Committee participant
• American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE)

Students interested in research opportunities should contact Prof. Mayer by email, scheduling a meeting through Outlook, or stopping by office hours. Please be prepared to fill out a short survey and provide a copy of your current resume.

• Nguyen, T., Gichigi, W., and H.C. Mayer,“Message in a Bottle: First Bubble High-Speed Imaging”, Physical Review Fluids 8, 110502, November 2023  
• Schwefler, C., P. Nienaber, and H.C. Mayer, “The Emptying of a Perforated Bottle: Influence of Perforation Size on Emptying Time and the Physical Nature of the Process”, Fluids 8 (8), August 2023 (Article Number: 8080225) 
• H.C. Mayer, Elzaurdia, A., Clephan, C., and A. Flores, “Heaving Homemade Buoys: A Project Leveraging Smart Phone Movies and MATLAB-Based Image Processing to Teach Dimensional Analysis in an Undergraduate Fluid Mechanics Course”, 2022 ASEE Conference Proceedings, June 2022 (Article Number: 40469)  
• H.C. Mayer, “Bottle Emptying: A Fluid Mechanics and Measurements Exercise for Engineering Undergraduate Students”, Fluids b (4) October 2019 (Article Number: 0404183) 
• Mayer H.C. and Krechetnikov R., “Flat Plate Impact on Water”, Journal of Fluid Mechanics 850, September 2018, pp. 1066-1116.
• Mayer H.C. and Krechetnikov R., “Liquid Film Dewetting Induced by Impulsive Joule Heating”, Physical Review Fluids 2, 094003 (2017).
• Mayer H.C. and Krechetnikov R., “Singular Structures on Liquid Rims”, Physics of Fluids 26, 032109 (2014).
• Mayer H.C. and Krechetnikov R., “The Nature of Chemical Reaction-Driven Tip-Streaming”, Journal of Applied Physics 113, 174907 (2013).
• Mayer H.C. and Krechetnikov R., “Walking with Coffee: Why Does It Spill?”, Phys. Rev. E 85, 046117 (2012).
• Mayer H.C. and Krechetnikov R., “Landau-Levich Flow Visualization: Revealing the Flow Topology Responsible for the Film Thickening Phenomena”, Physics of Fluids 24, 052103 (2012)
• Anna S.L. and Mayer H.C., “Microscale Tipstreaming in a Microfluidic Flow Focusing Device”, Physics of Fluids 18 (12) December 2006 (Article Number: 121512).
• R Savage, H Mayer, M Lewis, and DM Marrujo, “Utilizing Quantum Dots to Enhance Solar Spectrum Conversion Efficiencies for Photovoltaics”. Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 1120, 2009 (Proceedings Number: 1120-M09-06). 
• HC Mayer and SL Anna, “A Microfluidic Tensiometer”. Proceedings of the IMECE 2004, 2004 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Nov 13-19, 2004 Anaheim CA (Proceedings Number: IMECE 2004-62096).

• HC Mayer C. Schwefler, and P. Nienaber “The Emptying of a Perforated Bottle”, Presented at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 20-22, 2022.
• HC Mayer A. Elzaurdia, C. Clephan, and A. Flores, “Heaving Homemade Buoys: A Project Leveraging Smart Phone Movies and MATLAB-Based Image Processing to Teach Dimensional Analysis in an Undergraduate Fluid Mechanics Course”, Presented at the 2022 ASEE National Conference, June 26-29, 2022.
• HC Mayer and R Krechetnikov, “Short Time Phenomena in the Water Impact Problem”, Presented at the 7th Annual Southern California Symposium on Flow Physics, April 13th, 2013.
• HC Mayer and R. Krechetnikov, “Walking with Coffee: When and Why Coffee Spills”. Presented at the 6th Annual Southern California Symposium on Flow Physics, April 14th, 2012.
• HC Mayer and R Krechetnikov, “On the Evolution of a Retracting Straight Liquid Sheet Edge: Experimental Study”. Presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 20-22, 2011.
• HC Mayer and R Krechetnikov, “Walking with Coffee: When and Why Coffee Spills”. Developed for the 64th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 20-22, 2011. Presentation given by R. Krechetnikov.
• HC Mayer and R Krechetnikov, “Flow Visualization of the Landau-Levich Problem”. Presented at the 5th Annual Southern California Symposium on Flow Physics, April 16th, 2011. 
• HC Mayer and R Krechetnikov, “On the True Nature of Chemical Reaction-Driven Tipstreaming”. Presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 21-23, 2010. 
• HC Mayer, J Martyn, and R Krechetnikov, “Uniform Release of a Planar Soap Film via Film Boiling”. Presented at the 4th Annual Southern California Symposium on Flow Physics, April 17th, 2010. 
• HC Mayer and SL Anna, “Observations of Tipstreaming in a Microfluidic Flow Focusing Device”. Presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 20-22, 2005.
• HC Mayer and SL Anna, “Experimental Observations of Dynamic Surface Tension at Highly Curved Microfluidic Interfaces”. Presented at the 79th Colloids and Surface Sciences Symposium (American Chemical Society), June 13-15, 2005.
• HC Mayer and SL Anna, “A Microfluidic Tensiometer”. Presented at the 2004 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Nov 13-19, 2004.

• T. Nguyen, W. Gichigi, and HC Mayer “Message in a Bottle – First Bubble High-Speed Imaging”, Gallery of Fluid Motion Video #36, 75th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 20-22, 2022.
• T. Nguyen, HC Mayer, and W. Gichigi “Evolution of the ‘First Bubble’: Bubble and Jet Formation Within a Wine Bottle”, Experimental Student Research Poster #SO1.46, 75th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 20-22, 2022.
• M Houlahan, HC Mayer and R Krechetnikov “Gallium Splash”. Gallery of Fluid Motion Poster #28, 64th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 20-22, 2011.
• HC Mayer and R Krechetnikov “The Life of a Free Soap Film”. Gallery of Fluid Motion Poster #72, 63rd Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 21-23, 2010.
• R Diaz, HC Mayer, and R Krechetnikov “Flow Visualization of the Landau-Levich Problem”. Gallery of Fluid Motion Poster #73, 63rd Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 21-23, 2010.
• HC Mayer and R Krechetnikov “The Life of a Free Soap Film”. Gallery of Fluid Motion Video #107, 63rd Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 21-23, 2010.
• HC Mayer and SL Anna “Observations of Tipstreaming in a Microfluidic Flow Focusing Device”. Gallery of Fluid Motion Video #30, 58th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics (American Physical Society), November 20-22, 2005

• Recipient, 2022 APS-DFD Gallery of Fluid Motion – Milton Van Dyke Award Video Winner
• Advisor, 2022 APS-DFD Student Poster Competition 1st Place Experimental Winner
• Finalist, 2022 ASEE ELOS Division – ‘Best of ELOS’ Conference Paper Awards
• Constant J. and Dorothy F. Chrones Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Cal Poly SLO, 2021-2023
• Co-Recipient, Engineering Student Council Outstanding Faculty Award, Cal Poly SLO, June 2021
• Recipient, Don & Paula Heye Staff/Faculty Award for Safety, Cal Poly SLO, June 2021
• Co-Recipient, Engineering Student Council Outstanding Faculty Award, Cal Poly SLO, June 2020
• Recipient, Engineering Student Council Outstanding Lecturer Award, Cal Poly SLO, June 2018
• Nomination: SWE Most Supporting Professor Award, Cal Poly SLO, Dec 2017
• Nomination: Don & Paula Heye Outstanding Teaching Award, Cal Poly SLO, Dec 2016
• Recipient, UCSB GSA Excellence in Teaching Award (STEM Division) 2013, Honorable Mention
• Recipient, UCSB Department of Mechanical Engineering Excellence Award 2011 – 2012
• Recipient, Ig-Nobel Prize 2012 – Fluid Dynamics
• Recipient, UCSB COE & ESC Outstanding TA Award (ME Dept.) 2010 – 2011
• Co-recipient, UCSB Department of Mechanical Engineering Best TA Award 2009 – 2010
• Recipient, UCSB Barpal Family Fellowship, 2009 – 2010, 2010 – 2011, 2011 – 2012
• Participant, CSU Chancellors Doctoral Incentive Program, 2009 – 2013
• Graduated Summa Cum Lauda, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Cal Poly SLO, Summer 2003
• Winner, Efficiency Class, National Hydropower Student Competition, Summer 2003