Naval Research Lab Scientist Receives Prestigious Early Career Award for Advances in Combustion Science

Washington D.C.   –   Brian T. Bojko, Ph.D., a U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) aerospace engineer within the Laboratories for Computational Physics and Fluid Dynamics, has received the Irvin Glassman Early Career Investigator Award from the Eastern States Section of The Combustion Institute.

Bojko’s research focuses on improving the performance and efficiency of propulsion systems by combining advanced modeling, simulation, and experimental collaboration. His work has addressed key challenges in solid fuel ramjet engines, including fuel pyrolysis, air-fuel mixing, and the use of metallic additives to enhance combustion efficiency.  

The Irvin Glassman Early Career Investigator Award is presented to outstanding early-career researchers who have made exceptional contributions to the field of combustion science. Bojko was recognized for his leadership in advancing next-generation propulsion technologies critical to the U.S. Navy.

“Since joining NRL in 2021, Brian has emerged as a leading researcher in computational combustion, specializing in solid fuel propulsion systems with direct applications to high-speed weapon platforms and future warfighting capabilities,” said David Kessler, Ph.D., director of NRL’s Laboratories for Computational Physics and Fluid Dynamics.  

Kessler said Bojko has quickly become an expert in combustion science.

“Brian continues to lead our efforts in solid fuel combustion,” he said. “His work developing new methodologies to reduce the computational cost of complex simulations and advancing new solid fuel materials has been incredibly impactful.”  

In addition to his propulsion research, Bojko has pioneered innovative computational techniques that significantly reduce the time and resources required to simulate complex chemical reactions. His use of artificial neural networks to compress large combustion datasets has transformed simulations that once required extensive computing power into more efficient, scalable tools.  

“Brian brings a level of passion and enthusiasm that makes it easy to build collaborations and move ideas forward,” Kessler said. “That ability to connect basic research to real-world applications is what will ultimately help transition this technology to the fleet.”  

Bojko called it an “extreme honor” to receive the Irvin Glassman award.

“When I first started doing numerical combustion research, it was on the importance of finite-rate chemistry for aluminum particle combustion,” Bojko said. “During my literature review, I discovered Glassman’s extensive work on metal particle combustion, which included the Glassman's criterion, stating that, ‘For metal to burn as a vapor, the oxide volatilization temperature must be greater than the temperature of the metal boiling point.’ To this day, I’m still researching metal combustion and referring to Glassman’s criterion to quickly grasp the fundamental nature of the combustion of different metals.”

Bojko also plays a key leadership role within, mentoring junior researchers and fostering collaborations across multiple divisions, as well as with academic partners including Purdue University, North Carolina State University, and Stanford University. His work supports the Navy’s strategic goals by advancing propulsion technologies that enable faster, more efficient, and more capable systems for future operations.

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