Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 2020
  • M.S., Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 2017
  • B.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 2013
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, 2013
Licenses & Certifications
  • 40-Hour Hazardous Waste Operation and Emergency Response Certification (HAZWOPER)
  • Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) (CA)
  • Certified Forklift Operator (CFO)
  • Fire Investigation 1A (Cause and Origin), California Office of State Fire Marshal
Professional Honors
  • 2019-2020 President’s Dissertation Year Fellowship, UC Irvine
  • 2017-2018 Faculty Mentor Program (FMP) Diversity Fellowship, UC Irvine
  • 2016-2017 Engineering Student Council Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) Graduate Student of the Year Award, UC Irvine
Professional Affiliations
  • The Combustion Institute
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  • National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)

Dr. Jaimes specializes in thermal fluid sciences with an emphasis on high temperature and pressure combustion, alternative fuels, and experimental design. He applies his expertise of fluid and thermodynamic principles to analyze the performance of high-efficiency combustion systems, specifically for a variety of gaseous fuels and at elevated conditions of temperature and pressure. 

Dr. Jaimes' work experience includes experimentation as well as computational modeling in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of complex engineering challenges. Dr. Jaimes has conducted a wide variety of laboratory combustion experiments including counterflow flames, constant-volume explosion vessels, high-pressure premixed jet flames, and low calorific fuel injectors. Regarding numerical simulation and computational modeling, his experience includes use of commercial software for chemical kinetic modeling (CHEMKIN), computational fluid dynamics (ANSYS Fluent CFD), and design of experiments (Design-Expert). At Exponent, Dr. Jaimes has conducted origin and cause investigations of structure, vehicle and wildland fires, and has also worked on wildfire litigation cases and insurance claims related to ash/char/soot contamination and thermal/smoke damage. Dr. Jaimes has also investigated the flammable properties of newly developed refrigerants, as well as matters involving carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Jaimes was a graduate student researcher at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). As part of the UCI Combustion Laboratory and the Advanced Power and Energy Program, he conducted research involving the influence of high temperature and pressure conditions on alternative fuel combustion for stationary power generation systems. His unique research efforts are directly relevant to rapidly expanding industries such as hydrogen combustion and fire safety, as well as fuel cell failure analyses. Dr. Jaimes developed a standardized test rig for the experimental determination of the lower flammability limits (LFLs) for various renewable fuels at elevated temperature and pressure conditions. His doctoral work involved a computational approach for investigating novel combustion challenges associated with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) gas turbine (GT) hybrid power system operating on a variety of gaseous fuels. In addition to his academic and research exploits, Dr. Jaimes was also active in outreach activities to engage current graduate students in professional development workshops as well as to recruit and prepare undergraduate students for graduate school careers.