Zhao Pan, University of Waterloo

Research

Data Assimilation Flow Diagnostics Flow Reconstruction Particle Image Velocimetry Particle Tracking Velocimetry Pressure Field Uncertainty Quantification

Latest papers

Adaptive gyration mechanism in fan worm gill filaments for enhanced filter-feeding efficiency.
Fundamental research · 2026
Maximum Droplet Volume on Horizontal Cylindrical Surfaces.
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids · 2026 · senior author
Droplets Suspended Beneath a Fiber Hub.
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids · 2025 · senior author

All 6 publications

Latest funding

Optimal estimation and uncertainty quantification for velocimetry-based pressure field reconstruction
NSERC · 2020 · Principal investigator
$160,000
Optimal estimation and uncertainty quantification for velocimetry-based pressure field reconstruction
NSERC · 2020 · Principal investigator
$12,500
CREATE Program on Next-Generation Innovations in Ultrasonics (N-GENIUS)
NSERC · 2019 · Co-investigator
$1,650,000

All 3 grants and awards

6 publications.

01

Adaptive gyration mechanism in fan worm gill filaments for enhanced filter-feeding efficiency.

Chen X, Jiang W, Wei J, Chen Z, Pan Z, Rajabi H, Wu J

Fundamental research2026

DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2026.03.009 PMID: 42539649

02

Maximum Droplet Volume on Horizontal Cylindrical Surfaces.

Zhang Y, Tambe A, Pan Z

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6c00368 PMID: 41793327

03

Droplets Suspended Beneath a Fiber Hub.

Zhang Y, Pan Z

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c01175 PMID: 40464357

04

Splash-free urinals for global sustainability and accessibility: Design through physics and differential equations.

Thurairajah K, Song XM, Zhu JD, Shi M, Barlow EA, Hurd RC, Pan Z

PNAS nexus2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf087 PMID: 40201236

05

Rapid manoeuvre of fan worms (Annelida: Sabellidae) through tubes.

Jiang W, Sun Y, Wu Z, Pan Z, Bok MJ, Wu J

The Journal of experimental biology2023

DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245731 PMID: 37073720

06

Cavitation upon low-speed solid-liquid impact.

Speirs NB, Langley KR, Pan Z, Truscott TT, Thoroddsen ST

Nature communications2021

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27383-5 PMID: 34903716

Optimal estimation and uncertainty quantification for velocimetry-based pressure field reconstruction

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Pan, Zhao

Keywords: flow diagnostics; particle image velocimetry; uncertainty quantification; pressure field; data assimilation; particle tracking velocimetry; flow reconstruction

$160,000

Optimal estimation and uncertainty quantification for velocimetry-based pressure field reconstruction

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Launch Supplement

Principal investigators: Pan, Zhao

$12,500

CREATE Program on Next-Generation Innovations in Ultrasonics (N-GENIUS)

Co-investigatorNSERC2019Collaborative Research and Training Experience

Principal investigators: Yu, Alfred ACH

Keywords: ai-centric imaging; application development; cellular biophysics; drug delivery; next-generation ultrasonics; theranostics,; ultrasound imaging innovation; wave simulation and modeling

$1,650,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2020

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Data Assimilation Dear Professor Pan, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Adaptive gyration mechanism in fan worm gill filaments for enhanced filter-feeding efficiency." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Optimal estimation and uncertainty quantification for velocimetry-based pressure field reconstruction" (2020), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]