Academic and Research Experience

Graduate Research Assistant Vanderbilt University, August 2007 - Present
Researched, designed, and aided in manufacture of prototype Free Piston-Stirling cycle engine. Modeled as dynamic systems, optimized using control theory.

NASA Intern, MSFC Summer 2006, 2007
Manufactured, tested, and documented findings on composite materials. Wrote preliminary stress analysis software for composite intertank in Matlab.

Undergraduate Research, Adaptive Optics Research Group, September 2005 - May 2007
Designed and fabricated deformable fast-steering mirror using micro-electromechanical systems. Designed, built, and manned testing apparatus. Developed comtrol system.

Intern Stress Engineering, Goodrich Cargo Systems, January-July 2005
Performed failure analysis on aerospace components. Extensively used Ansys, Catia V5 and Unigraphics. Wrote reports using standard with aerospace design manuals.

SPOT Presenter, Montana Space Grant Consortium, May-August 2004
Space Public Outreach Team (SPOT) researched the solar system, NASA, and Mars rovers. Gave 30+ educational space-related presentations to high schools, museums, etc.

Memberships and Activities

Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Spring 2006 - Present

Skills and Certifications

E.I.T., Catia, V5, Ansys, ProE, Solid Works, AutoCAD, MATLAB, C++

Honors and Awards

Deans List 8 out of 9 semesters, in undergraduate
Vice Chair American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Tau Beta Pi
Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Productions (CAMP) Fuel Cell Car team

Hobbies and Interests

Welding, Machining, Writing, Basketball, Tennis, Golf

Personal Statement

I attribute my interest in engineering/research to spending much of my childhood working on projects that I was severely under qualified to complete. At the age of six, my brother and I attempted to make a go kart even though we were poor craftsmen and even worse designers. After several weeks of labor we created an unsteerable death machine whose maiden voyage left me with lifelong scars on my elbows. I have spent the years since recovering from my injuries and developing skills to become a more competent researcher. To accomplish this goal, I have attained a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree and am currently pursuing a PhD at Vanderbilt University. This is my third internship with NASA, and I have returned because my past experiences have been enjoyable and I have been very satisfied with the things I have accomplished as an intern. Under my mentor, I was able to participate in and contribute to advancing spacecraft development. Working at a NASA facility excites me because they are well-equipped with both the faculty and the facilities to conduct advanced research. Eventually, I would like to direct a research lab that develops spacecraft. I have viewed my mentors at NASA as role models and someday I want to lead my own research project. I would like to work in the aerospace industry because the extreme demands of launch and of outer space itself present formidable challenges. The complexity and importance of such problems is such that I believe I could happily spend my career trying to overcome them.