Biography
I received
my Bachelor's of Science
in mechanical engineering from Tri-State University (renamed Trine University in 2008) in 2005. While there
I served as the ASME Student Chair, a Resident Assistant, and
was the project leader for my senior capstone program.
During the summer of 2004, I was selected to join the University of Michigan at Dearborn for a NSF REU program. While there
I performed numerical optimization studies of
P.E.M. fuel cells for automotive applications.
Although originally a mechanical engineer, my abilities in fluid dynamics spurred a shift in focus at the culmination of my undergraduate work.
I began working on my Master's of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in the fall of 2005
with Dr. Joseph Majdalani. I constructed analytical models of
the boundary layers in ORBITEC's Bidirectional Vortex Liquid Rocket Engine through asymptotic techniques. This work led to the completion of
my Master's degree in 2007, conference papers, and an invited presentation
on vortex flows.
I officially entered the PhD program at UTSI in January 2008. My work on nonlinear scaling in multiple scales theory has shown progress toward generalized
methods for determining scales a priori. However, my major focus is in the theory of
Hydrodynamic Instability applied to rocket motors. I hope to create
a general code for solving one or two dimensional eigenvalue problems
encountered in instability research, thus creating a mechanism for efficient analysis of a variety of rocket instabilities.
Education
Awards & Honors
- William Carter Fellowship, 2005
- Lloyd W. Crawford Fellowship, 2008
- Outstanding UTSI Student, 2008
- Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant, 2007
- AIAA Service Citation, 2009
Service
- Citizens for Space Exploration Representative in DC, May 2008
- UTSI Student Government President, 2008-2009
- UTSI Student Government VP of Finance and Records, 2007-2008
- UTSI AIAA Interim President, Spring 2008
- UTSI AIAA Vice President, Summer 2009-present
- Ex-Efficio Member of the UTSI Support Council, 2008-2009
- UTSI Recreational Club President, 2006-Fall '08
- Tri-State ASME Student Section Chair, 2004-2005
- UT Ex-Efficio Member of the University Student Council, 2007-2008
- UT Voting Member of the University Student Council, 2008-2009
- UTSI Student Growth and Recruitment Committee, 2008
- Minds-in-Motion, 2009
Professional Affiliations
- AIAA Student Member 2005-present
- ASME Student Member 2002-2007
- ASME Professional Member 2008-present
- SIAM Student Member 2007, 2008
My current academic interests include wave propagation in rocket motors with a focus toward the larger problem of combustion instability. I have also
developed a deep appreciation for perturbation methods and general asymptotic techniques. I have made significant efforts toward a deeper understanding of both
in hopes to develop applicable advanced techniques. Although not an active area of research for me, my affinity toward the theory of chaos cannot go unnoted.
I have accepted responsibility in a number of leadership roles for the student body at UTSI. I have served as the president and/or vice president for
the Student Government, AIAA student section, and Recreations club. These leadership positions extend beyond the student body to the UTSI Support Council
and the University Student Council. In May 2008, I was asked by the Citizens for Space Exploration
(press
release) special interest group to address several members of Congress on
the importance and benefit of an ongoing space exploration
initiative. I enjoy the added responsibility and expects to continue these roles in the future.
In my free time I enjoy golf, softball, and a myriad of
different athletics. I have developed a deep appreciation for music, art,
literature, and other areas of
cultural or intellectual significance. I believe strongly in
self awareness as the mechanism for generating personal and social
responsibility.
"The state of mind which enables a man to do work
of this kind is akin to that of the religious worshiper or the
lover; the daily effort comes from no deliberate intention or
program, but straight from the heart."
-Albert Einstein