Meet John Dabiri, Nigerian aeronautics engineer who became a professor at 25
John Oluseun Dabiri is a Nigerian-American engineer and professor at Caltech who became popular for his research on how jellyfish swim and his design of wind farms inspired by fish movements.
He earned his PhD in 2005 at the age of 25. In 2020, Dabiri joined the board of NVIDIA. At that time, NVIDIA was valued at $323 billion. Today, it is worth $2.314 trillion, making it the third largest tech company.
Early Life and Education of John Dabiri
Dabiri was born in 1980, five years after his parents moved to Ohio from Nigeria. His father was a mechanical engineer and math teacher while his mother was a computer scientist who started her own software company. Dabiri attended a small Baptist high school and graduated as the top student in 1997. He went to Princeton University, where he studied mechanical and aerospace engineering. Later, he earned a Master’s and PhD at Caltech in Aeronautics and Bioengineering.
John Dabiri’s Career at Caltech, Stanford, and NVIDIA
Dabiri has received 28 research grants throughout his career, focusing on fluid mechanics and energy. At 25, he became a professor at Caltech. He worked there for 10 years, serving in different roles, including Dean of Students. In 2015, he moved to Stanford, where he taught engineering until 2019. In 2020, he joined NVIDIA’s board. During his time there, the company saw massive growth. By March 2024, NVIDIA’s value reached $2.314 trillion.
Research and Wind Solutions
Dabiri leads the Dabiri Lab at Caltech, where he studies energy, fluid mechanics, and biology. In 2011, he created a wind farm called FLOWE, which focuses on improving vertical-axis wind turbines. He also started a company, Scalable Wind Solutions, to place turbines in optimal spots. His ideas have even led to a project with the Navy for an underwater vehicle that uses 30% less energy. Dabiri also directs the Biological Propulsion Lab, which explores how fluids move in biology and energy.
Awards and Recognition
Dabiri received many honours for his work. In 2010, he won a MacArthur Fellowship, often called the “Genius Grant.” He also received the National Science Foundation’s Alan T. Waterman Award. In 2014, he was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society. Dabiri is also on several boards and advisory groups, including President Biden’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Family
Dabiri is one of three children. His brother, Gabriel Yomi Dabiri, is a lawyer in New York and a managing partner at Polsinelli law firm. Gabriel has received several awards for his leadership in law.
