University of Houston
Houston, Texas
Space Architecture
Masters of Science, 2006
NASA Academy Research Project:
“Miniaturization of a Scanning Electron Microscope for Martian Astrobiological Studies”
Principal Investigator: Brian Ramsey
Academic and Research Experience
• University of Houston, Houston, TX, 8/04 - present:
Currently pursuing an MS in Space Architecture at SICSA (Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture). Developing “big picture” designs for space missions, including human lunar and Martian landings.
• Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN, 9/86 - 5/90:
Earned a bachelor’s degree in physics. Researched pressure-related blood gas disorders, and investigated triboluminescence in wintergreen Lifesavers.
Work Experience
• Merchant & Gould, Minneapolis, MN, 11/99-7/04:
Patent agent: wrote, researched, filed, and prosecuted patents for inventions in a range of technologies.
• Detector Electronics Corp., Bloomington, MN, 8/98 - 9/99:
Certified smoke, gas, and fire sensors for hazardous locations.
• PAMI, Edina, MN, 10/94 - 7/98:
Product engineer: produced inflatables, MLI blankets, and laminates for spaceflight, including solar collector circuitry for the International Space Station.
• Sheldahl, Inc, St. Peter, MN, 9/91 - 9/94:
QA engineer. Qualified and tested materials and laminated products for air and space applications.
• Sheldahl, Inc, St. Peter, MN, 8/90 - 9/91:
Laboratory technician: tested optical, mechanical, and electrical properties of thin and thick films and laminates.
Memberships and Activities
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Planetary Society
Skills and Certifications
• Patent Agent registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• Computer Skills: AutoCAD
• basic reading skill in German
Honors and Awards
• National Merit Scholar 1986-1990
• Partners in Scholarship Scholar 1986-1990
Hobbies and Interests
• I collect hobbies. I have hands-on experience (to various degrees) in throwing pottery, silverworking, glassworking, woodworking, home-brewing, theatrical makeup, stage combat, and bookbinding.
• I make ice cream with liquid nitrogen.
• Anti-hobby: I am an appallingly bad photographer.
Personal Statement
I believe that the universe is the best toy around. I believe that humanity’s destiny is either in the stars or six feet under the Earth, and that it’s up to humanity to choose. I believe that the human race needs a frontier to be happy, healthy, and free, that space exploration is as good a frontier as any and a better one than most, and that a frontier of dreams will do if a frontier of homesteads isn’t available at the moment. I believe that the universe can be known and understood, that it can be a good and even a noble thing to try, that knowledge and understanding are always provisional, and that anyone who tells you they know The Absolute Truth (TM) should be watched very, very carefully. I believe in self-medicating with dear friends and really good ice cream.
I believe that you don’t have to stay anywhere forever. I believe that the important things are very simple, and the simple things are very hard. I believe that someone with no sense of humor probably has no understanding of serious things, either. I believe in passion, compassion, imagination, intuition, daydreams, hardheadedness, doubt, making decisions based on hard data, that all decisions are made with insufficient data and that everyone should know how to make at least one thing with their own hands.
