Prof. Ir. Lavi Rizki Zuhal, Ph.D., currently serves as the Vice Rector for Research and Innovation (WRRI) for the 2025–2030 term. He is a Professor in the Fluid Dynamics and Propulsion Expertise Group at the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB).
He completed his Bachelor's degree at the University of Maryland in 1996, followed by a Master's and a Ph.D. in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1997 and 2001, respectively. After completing his doctoral studies, Prof. Lavi spent a year as a postdoctoral researcher at the Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories of Caltech before joining ITB as a faculty member.
He also served as a strategic policy advisor for research at the National Innovation Council of the Republic of Indonesia from 2010 to 2013. In recognition of his dedication to research, he was awarded the ITB Award for Excellence in Research in 2016.
In November 2024, he received the prestigious Nurtanio Award from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in recognition of his significant contributions to the advancement of science and technology in the aerospace sector.