Benjamin Lawler
Professor
bjlawle@clemson.edu
(864) 283-7224
4 Research Drive
Greenville, SC 29607
Benjamin Lawler joined the Automotive Engineering department at Clemson University in August 2019. Prior to joining CU-ICAR, he served as an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Stony Brook University since January 2015 and as a postdoctoral researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory from 2013 to 2014. He received his doctoral and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
His research interests are centered on improving the efficiency and emissions characteristics of internal combustion engines. This includes a strong focus on the advanced, low-temperature combustion (LTC) strategies, including HCCI, RCCI, TSCI, GCI, and others. His research also focuses on the use of alternative and sustainable fuels such as alcohol fuels (methanol, ethanol, and butanol), biodiesel, natural gas, and hydrogen as a potential pathway toward a net carbon-neutral transportation solution for future engine-powered vehicles.
Lawler has prior experience with and an interest in alternative engine designs, including free-piston engines, opposed-piston engines, and others. Ultimately, with all new engine combustion concepts, it is crucial to consider how they integrate into the vehicle as a system and the resulting system-level interactions. His research interests also include drive-cycle modeling and simulation of various vehicle architectures, including hybrid-electric vehicle configurations, to evaluate the fuel economy benefits of each next-generation technology.
Lawler is a member of ASME and SAE and has served as an organizer for SAE World Congress and other powertrain conferences since 2014.