"The pioneer spirit is still vigorous within this nation. Science offers a largely unexplored hinterland for the pioneer who has the tools for his task. The rewards of such exploration both for the Nation and the individual are great. Scientific progress is one essential key to our security as a nation, to our better health, to more jobs, to a higher standard of living, and to our cultural progress." ~Vannevar Bush, in a letter to F.D.R. of July 25, 1945 advocating for what would become the National Science Foundation
Researcher with experience & interests spanning space technology, nuclear science, and materials development. I leverage computational tools to design new metals systems and subsequently fabricate and characterize those systems.
I received my Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering degree in 2017 from the School of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue University. My undergraduate studies included declared minors in Materials Science and Engineering & Public Policy. I received my Doctorate of Philosophy in in Materials Science and Engineering in 2023 from the University of Florida under the supervision of Professor Michele V Manuel, PhD, FASM, MNAE. My dissertation work was supported in part by funding from the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship under an award for A Lightweight, Multifunctional Hybrid Metal Matrix Composite for Neutron Shielding. I am presently a civil servant in the Materials Science and Metallurgy Branch at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
My research interests leverage my dual background in materials and nuclear sciences towards space applications. I am particularly focused on computationally guided design of alloys, casting & powder metallurgy, space radiation shielding composites, radionuclide power systems, and in-space laser manufacturing. Please see further detail at my ResearchGate profile, my Google Scholar listing, and my ORCID record.