Experimental Physics · Fluid Metrology · Turbulence

Christopher JCrowley

Physicist, Fluid Metrology Group — NIST

I develop measurement techniques for characterizing fluid flow — from laser velocimetry and image-based analysis to acoustics — and study turbulence through the lens of dynamical systems.

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About

Dr. Christopher J Crowley is a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he advances the frontiers of measurement science within the Fluid Metrology Group of the Sensor Science Division.

Chris develops innovative techniques for characterizing fluid flow and properties, spanning a wide range of approaches — from image-based analysis to acoustics to laser velocimetry. He is driven by a passion for making these measurements more robust, accurate, and cost-effective.

He is currently exploring the use of acoustics to measure fluid flow and improving optical techniques for understanding complex flow patterns. His expertise in algorithm development plays a crucial role in ensuring the Sensor Science Division continues to make groundbreaking advances in measurement technology.

Christopher J Crowley
Role
Physicist, NIST
Group
Fluid Metrology
PhD
Physics, Georgia Tech
Based in
Atlanta, GA

Trajectory

Experience & education

Research experience

2025–now
Physicist
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
2023–now
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Johns Hopkins University
2022–23
Postdoctoral Fellow
Johns Hopkins University
2014–22
Graduate Research Assistant
Georgia Institute of Technology
2007–13
Research Associate
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Education

2022
PhD in Physics
Georgia Institute of Technology
Minor in Mechanical Engineering
2015
M.S. in Physics
Georgia Institute of Technology
2013
B.S. in Physics
University of Maryland
Minor in Philosophy

Research interests

Measuring — and taming — turbulent flow

My work has centered on two intertwined areas: fluid flow metrology and fluid turbulence. Studying how to improve flow measurement made clear that turbulence sits at the heart of nearly every metering challenge — and that the tools of chaos theory and dynamical systems may finally let us predict and control it.

01

Flow metrology at NIST

Maintaining primary flow standards and improving calibration — from uncertainty analysis and wind-tunnel experiments to establishing safer, non-toxic surrogate calibration fluids.

02

Turbulence as dynamics

Testing a dynamical-systems description of turbulence: special unstable solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations whose connections act as a road map for where a chaotic flow goes next.

03

Time-resolved tomo-PIV

A custom fully time-resolved tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry rig captures 3-D turbulent velocity fields in Taylor–Couette flow, compared against spectral Newton–Krylov simulations.

Selected work

Selected publications

A selection from 10 journal articles, 17 conference papers, and 3 NIST publications — see the full list on Google Scholar →

01
Calibrating laser Doppler anemometers utilizing an optical chopper
C. J. Crowley, I. I. Shinder, M. R. Moldover, et al.
Metrologia 62, 025001 · 2025
02
Turbulence tracks recurrent solutions
C. J. Crowley, J. Pughe-Sanford, W. Toler, R. O. Grigoriev, M. F. Schatz
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119 (34) · Aug 2022
03
C. J. Crowley, M. C. Krygier, D. Borrero-Echeverry, R. O. Grigoriev, M. F. Schatz
Journal of Fluid Mechanics 892, A12 · 2020
04
D. Borrero-Echeverry, C. J. Crowley, T. P. Riddick
Physics of Fluids 30, 087103 · Aug 2018
05
I. Uzelac, C. J. Crowley, S. Iravanian, T. Y. Kim, H. C. Cho, F. H. Fenton
Frontiers in Physiology 13 · Feb 2022

Off the clock

Projects & demos

I like showing simple and exciting demonstrations of physical principles. A few things I'm tinkering with.

Resources

Tools & notes I've shared