Background
I am currently working as a project formulation systems engineer on Phase-A projects at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric Space Physics. I work in systems engineering, instrument development, new business development, and science (planetary science & heliophysics). I have operated as a lead systems engineer, a proposal capture manager, and an instrument scientist at LASP. I am also a Co-I on the LunarVISE CLPS mission to the Gruithuisen Domes of the Moon, where I am contributing models to understand the effects of solar energetic particles and ground topography on the gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer (GRNS) signal. More recently, I was accepted to the South Pole Aitken Basin Sample Return Mission Science Definition Team.
I did a 1-year postdoctoral researcher and system engineering hybrid role at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, CO starting in July of 2022. I worked with Dr. Don Hassler on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) to study the effects of the sun on the Mars radiation environment. I learned a lot about heliophysics at Southwest and about how different solar observatory spacecraft can be used to track the propagation of solar storms in our solar system. I also doubled as a system engineer on a commercial lunar opportunities fast neutron spectrometer payload.
I did my PhD dissertation research at Arizona State University (ASU) from 2017 to 2022. I worked with Dr. Craig Hardgrove on development and/or characterization of a variety of nuclear spectroscopy instruments including SINGR, LunaH-Maps’ Mini-NS, MiniPNG, and various CLYC scintillator detectors. My responsibilities consisted of developing techniques using active neutron sample analysis with DT generators and dual scintillator detectors such as CLYC. Our testing was done in collaboration with both NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and Los Alamos National Labs (LANL); the above photo was taken during LunaH-Map calibration at LANL in 2018. I have experience debugging and characterizing electronic systems for use with CLYC pulse-shape discrimination algorithms, in collaboration with RMD Inc. and ASU’s EEE dept.
From 2013 to 2015 I attended the University of New Mexico in the Nuclear Engineering department. At UNM we collaborated with researchers at LANL on The Spectrometer for Ion Detection in Fission Research (SPIDER) project to understand fission fragments. My thesis project was to better optimize the mechanical and electrical aspects of an ionization chamber to enable charge and mass measurements.
From 2008 to 2013 I attended California State University Chico where I earned my dual major Bachelors of Science in Applied Physics and Mechanical Engineering in just five years while working part time for the physics department.
Prior to attending college I grew up working for my parents’ automotive repair shop. I graduated high school from College Park in Pleasant Hill, California in 2008.
Research Projects
Skills
*Stars denote confidence level from 1-3.
Computer: Python***, SolidWorks***, Matlab***, Excel***, MS Suite***, Atlassian Suite**, DOORS*, TRELLO***, LaTex***, IDL*, Capella*, MCNP***, LabView**, SW FEA & CFD**, C/C++*, ROOT*, Photoshop*, ZEMAX*, EagleCAD*, MultiSIM*, SimuLink*, Slack***, Discord***, SpicePy*, GEANT4*
Subject Knowledge: Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer; E&M, Circuit Design & Analysis; FEA & CFD; Materials Strengths & Science; Fluid, Quantum, & Classical Mechanics; Special Relativity; Lasers & Optics; Nuclear & Radiation Physics; Calculus & Statistics; Basic Geology & Petrology; Lunar Geoscience; Mars Geoscience; Titan “Geoscience”; Heliophysics Basics; Solar Energetic Particle Transport; Project & Schedule Management; System Architecture & Design; Engineering Requirements Development & Down-Flow; Risk & Reliability; Verification & Validation; Proposal Writing; Budgeting & Cost
Hands-On: Oscilloscopes***, frequency spectral analyzers**, radiation lab equipment (Ortec, Canberra, Caen, XIA)***, scintillators***, PMTs*** & SiPMs*, HPGE (LN & Mechanical)***, cryogens***, NaI**, ion/gas chambers***, soldering**, MIG & TIG welding**, plasma cutters***, gas welding**, drill-presses***, lathes**, PCB fab*, basic tools and lab equipment***
Workshops/Training: The New SMAD workshop class 2016; SmallSat DSN Ops workshop class 2021; NASA SMD Proposal Workshop (through GSFC) 2022; NASA SHINE Human Exploration Environments Workshop/Course 2023; NASA SPICE Workshop 2023; NASA Heliophysics Summer School 2022