Faculty Directory

Sunderland, Peter B.

Sunderland, Peter B.

Professor
Keystone Professor
Director, Undergraduate Studies
Fire Protection Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Center for Risk and Reliability
Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices
3104E J.M. Patterson Building

EDUCATION

  • 1995 Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
  • 1994 M.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
  • 1986 M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
  • 1983 B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca.

BACKGROUND

  • 2017 – present Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dept. of Fire Protection Engineering; Affiliate, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering; Affiliate, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; Keystone Professor, College of Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park.
  • 2010 – 2017 Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dept. of Fire Protection Engineering; Affiliate Associate Professor, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering; Affiliate Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park.
  • 2004 – 2010 Assistant Professor, Department of Fire Protection Engineering, and Affiliate Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park.
  • 1996 – 2004 Staff Scientist and Research Associate, National Center for Microgravity Research and National Research Council, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland.
  • 1991 –1995 Research Fellow and Research Assistant, Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
  • 1988 – 1991 Senior Engineer, Northern Research and Engineering Division of Ingersoll-Rand, Woburn, MA.
  • 1985 – 1987 Engineer, Pratt and Whitney Division of United Technologies, East Hartford. 1981 – 1982 Co-Operative Engineer, Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., New Castle, Delaware.

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Fellow, The Combustion Institute, 2021.
  • Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Faculty Mentor Award, Merrill Family Foundation, 2020.
  • Poole and Kent Teaching Award for Senior Engineering Faculty, University of Maryland, 2017.
  • Best Image, Fire Science Image Competition, IAFSS, 2014.
  • Best-Paper Award, Sixth International Seminar on Fire and Explosion Hazards, 2010.
  • Faculty Early Career Award, NSF, 2010.
  • Ralph H. Isbrandt Automotive Safety Engineering Award, SAE, 2008.
  • E. Robert Kent Junior Faculty Teaching Award, College of Engineering, University of Maryland, 2008.
  • Keystone Professor, The Clark School Academy of Distinguished Professors, University of Maryland, 2008.
  • Excellence in Oral Presentation, SAE World Congress, Detroit, 2007.
  • Best-Paper Award, Northern Ohio Section of AIAA, 2003.

  • ENES 100, Introduction to Engineering Design
  • ENFP 101, Introduction to Fire Protection Engineering
  • ENFP 300, Fire Protection Fluid Mechanics
  • ENFP 350, Professional Development Seminar
  • ENFP 415/651, Fire Dynamics
  • ENFP 420,  Fire Assessment Methods and Laboratory
  • ENFP 630, Diffusion Flames and Burning Rate Theory

DOE Ups Its Investment in UMD to Develop Eco-Friendly Heat Pumps

Agency awards UMD and partners $4.8 million to improve heat pump performance and safety.

Sunderland Selected for National Academies Decadal Survey

NASA-sponsored study will focus on research in space.

Unusual "cool flames" discovered aboard International Space Station

Maryland-led discovery is a first for microgravity flame research

Unusual Flames Discovered Aboard the International Space Station

Steady spherical cool diffusion flames could improve engines of the future.

Mildly Flamable Refrigerants: What you need to know

FPE Professor Peter Sunderland answers 'burning questions' for HPT magazine.

Four Mechanical Engineering Graduate Students Selected as Future Faculty Fellows

Althamer, Anderson, Greve and Singh Chosen for Clark School's 2014 Future Faculty Program

Clark School Freshmen Compete in Hovercraft Competition

ENES100 students build autonomous hovercrafts for final exam.

Is It Safe to Breathe Yet?

"Double-flame" research seeks to improve soot combustion, reduce pollutants.

Peter Sunderland Receives NSF CAREER Award

Mechanical engineering affiliate professor recognized by the National Science Foundation.

Clark School Holds 2009 Commencement

Conservation advocate Philip Hannam serves as student speaker.

Six New Keystone Professors Selected

Appointments to group of distinguished educators effective as of July 1.