Experience

Praxis, Inc.

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Propulsion Engineer

  • Nov 2013 - Present

  Research and development work in support of the Naval Research Laboratory, including micro-resistojet performance testing, micro-hydraulic pump design and development, and low temperature thermionic cathode testing. Research and development work in support of the Naval Research Laboratory, including micro-resistojet performance testing, micro-hydraulic pump design and development, and low temperature thermionic cathode testing.



Georgia Institute of Technology

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Researcher

  • Apr 2013 - Sep 2013

  Primary task is the development of a knowledge base for the RD family of liquid propellant, oxygen-rich staged combustion rocket engines with a focus on turbomachinery.

• Graduate Researcher

  • Aug 2006 - Apr 2013

  Spacecraft Thruster Prototype Design: Design, fabrication and testing of in-space RF ion engine. Design included magnetic field simulation, subsystem performance modeling, and component design. Performance testing included thrust measurements, plume characterization, and discharge chamber analysis.• RF System Design and Optimization: Design and setup of a 1.5 kW RF plasma source system, transmission line and power source. Optimization efforts included EMI elimination in diagnostics, transmission line power loss reduction, and impedance matching network design.• Carbon Nanotube Cathode Performance Analysis: Testing and performance evaluation of carbon nanotube field emission cathodes and failure mechanisms. Testing included cyclic stress testing and performance over the lifespan of the cathodes. Failure analysis included optical and scanning electron microscope review of the nanotubes.• Thermionic Cathode Fabrication and Design: Fabrication of lanthanum hexaboride thermionic cathodes for use with thruster operation. Designed alternative model for increased reliability and current output. • Plasma Diagnostics Design and Fabrication: Includes DC and RF compensated Langmuir probes, RF compensated emissive probes, and Faraday probes.• Vacuum System Restoration and Maintenance: Restoration of two bell jar vacuum systems to operational status, including all electrical work, pneumatic valve system and controls, and rotary vane and diffusion pump repairs. Show less

• Undergraduate Tutor

  • Aug 2004 - Dec 2007

  Areas of expertise included advanced mathematics, physics, chemistry, and mechanical engineering.