Experience

FLEXOUS

• Netherlands
• Wholesale Luxury Goods and Jewelry
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Senior Research And Development Engineer

  • Aug 2022 - Present

  My role in this industry supports the development of precision components for the watchmaking industry and has involved work for many of the major watchmakers. While working in this sector, I have had the change to work with amazing people and develop skills in a range of areas such as team leadership, experimental design and software development for design automation and simulation. My role in this industry supports the development of precision components for the watchmaking industry and has involved work for many of the major watchmakers. While working in this sector, I have had the change to work with amazing people and develop skills in a range of areas such as team leadership, experimental design and software development for design automation and simulation.



Navajo Technical College

• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant Professor

  • Aug 2020 - May 2022

  While in this position, I made several contributions in research, teaching and service. My research collaborations with other faculty focus on origami-inspired solutions to problems affecting the Navajo people. This has included work on antennas in communication networks and water filtration systems. An important component of my teaching involves the development of a new mechanical engineering program and its associated courses. This has been done in addition to my normal teaching responsibilities. My experience has also been enriched by service on multiple faculty committees. Show less



TU Delft Department of Precision and Microsystems Engineering

• Delft Area, Netherlands

• Postdoctoral Researcher

  • Sep 2018 - Aug 2020

  My research at TU Delft focuses on the design of precision, origami-inspired deployable mechanisms. This research is being conducted together with other members of the NL-RIA project. Using my past experience in origami design, I have successfully created multiple, novel deployable designs that are being prepared for publication. My work has also involved the development of software suitable for simulating the precision characteristics of origami. In addition to gaining research experience, I have also supported instruction at the university. This has included participation in course design, teaching, grading and student mentoring. Show less



Brigham Young University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • Jan 2014 - Aug 2018

  While a doctoral student, I have participated in applied lab projects, conducted and published research and developed complex simulations of a variety of mechanical behavior. Some applied projects that I have worked on include developing compliant electrical connections for folding solar panels and writing an application for origami-inspired engineering design. My research has focused on modeling origami-based mechanism kinematics and stiffness and has been published in several venues. Finite-element simulation of mechanical behavior such as buckling, vibration and large-deflection using ANSYS has been an important component of my work. This simulation experience has been supported by several advanced classes in finite-element theory, design and simulation. Work in these classes culminated in my developing a non-linear finite element code in Python. Show less

• Undergraduate Research Assistant and Developer

  • Jun 2012 - Dec 2013

  My work in this laboratory focused on the testing and development of a real-time multi-user CAD environment. This technology allows multiple people to collaboratively construct complicated parts quickly and eliminate bottlenecks in 3D part modeling. Initially, I developed test cases that could be used to evaluate the capabilities of the software and ensure that any bugs in its implementation were found and corrected. Work in this phase also included creating demos of the software for project sponsors, including Ford and Boeing. Later, I helped develop the software that stored, transmitted and synchronized features between different CAD users. These components were written in C#, giving me significant opportunities to enhance my code-writing skills. I also supported project progress by assisting in the debugging process. Show less



NASA Langley Research Center

• United States
• Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Summer Research Fellow

  • May 2018 - Jul 2018

  While at NASA Langely, I developed techniques for designing tessellations of thick origami which resulted in a Best Paper award at the International Design Engineering Technical Conferences in 2019. My work also involved the development of methods for finding mechanical properties of randomly-wrinkled sheets. While at NASA Langely, I developed techniques for designing tessellations of thick origami which resulted in a Best Paper award at the International Design Engineering Technical Conferences in 2019. My work also involved the development of methods for finding mechanical properties of randomly-wrinkled sheets.



NASA Ames Research Center

• United States
• Aviation and Aerospace Component Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Summer Research Fellow

  • May 2017 - Jul 2017

  During my stay at Ames, I participated in multiple projects in the Cellular Structures group as well as conducting my own research. This included supporting intern research on cellular solids and assisting with the construction of experimental wing structures. I also developed multiple 3D, linkage-based cellular solids that were included in future papers. During my stay at Ames, I participated in multiple projects in the Cellular Structures group as well as conducting my own research. This included supporting intern research on cellular solids and assisting with the construction of experimental wing structures. I also developed multiple 3D, linkage-based cellular solids that were included in future papers.



NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Summer Research Fellow

  • May 2016 - Aug 2016

  While at JPL, my responsibilities included supporting three existing projects. The first was the Starshade program. The Starshade is a device that will be launched into space and will then be expanded from a small package through an elaborate folding scheme. On this project, my role was the simulation of the shade stiffness and deflection behavior. I also supported another project dealing with an expandable lunar reflector. Since this project was much more conceptual, my work in this area involved analysis of different concepts for the deployable structure. Different concepts were evaluated and with the support of other students, plans were made to construct prototypes for testing. A final contribution I made was to design flight hardware for the NASA RainCube mission launching in March, 2018. Specifically, I designed a housing for electronic components which successfully met requirements for weight, simplicity and radiation shielding. Show less



American Indian Services

• Utah State University, Blanding Campus

• Engineering Concepts Instructor

  • Jun 2015 - Aug 2015

  In my role as instructor, I taught basic engineering concepts to Native American middle school students. This instruction beneficially impacted student's understanding of basic math concepts that will increase their chances for success in STEM fields. In my role as instructor, I taught basic engineering concepts to Native American middle school students. This instruction beneficially impacted student's understanding of basic math concepts that will increase their chances for success in STEM fields.