Aerospace Research Fellow

• Sep 2019 - Present

Propulsion Test Engineer

• Jun 2018 - Present

Ĥ-Lab: National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellow

• Aug 2016 - Aug 2018

• Developed in-house thermopower and electrical conductivity data acquisition system to enable rapid materials evaluation, focusing on semiconductors and 2D materials• Synthesized and characterized novel high performance thermoelectric (nano)materials for lower grade waste heat recovery• Authorized for operation of atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) for materials… • Developed in-house thermopower and electrical conductivity data acquisition system to enable rapid materials evaluation, focusing on semiconductors and 2D materials• Synthesized and characterized novel high performance thermoelectric (nano)materials for lower grade waste heat recovery• Authorized for operation of atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) for materials characterizationhttp://www.hu.seas.ucla.edu/Honors:• TEDxUCLA Speaker: "Big and Small: Where Space Meets Nanotechnology" Show more Show less

Visiting Research Scholar, Physiomimetic Microsystems Laboratory

• May 2016 - Aug 2016

• Machine prototyping and development for robotic, high throughput analysis of organs-on-a-chip• Supported manufacturing of organs-on-a-chip using a variety of tools and equipment, including SolidWorks, CNC milling machine, laser cutter, and stereolithographic 3D printing technologies• Mentored undergraduate student to support development and complete a second, improved stage based on my original work• Designed, built, and tested an automated sample collection system including a… • Machine prototyping and development for robotic, high throughput analysis of organs-on-a-chip• Supported manufacturing of organs-on-a-chip using a variety of tools and equipment, including SolidWorks, CNC milling machine, laser cutter, and stereolithographic 3D printing technologies• Mentored undergraduate student to support development and complete a second, improved stage based on my original work• Designed, built, and tested an automated sample collection system including a software and accompanying graphical-user-interface (see video, "El Colectador v0.91") Show more Show less

Research Assistant, Advanced Nanosystems Laboratory

• Aug 2015 - May 2016

• Completed one year of cleanroom experience, including profilometry, wet etching, photolithography, and sputtering deposition, for basic resistive heater devices for antibacterial coatings in collaboration with NASA Kennedy Space Center for the International Space Station• Developed microfluidic devices for isolation of circulating tumor cells, including fabrication and in-situ imaging• Familiarized with custom-made atomic force microscope development, and additive manufacturing of 3D… • Completed one year of cleanroom experience, including profilometry, wet etching, photolithography, and sputtering deposition, for basic resistive heater devices for antibacterial coatings in collaboration with NASA Kennedy Space Center for the International Space Station• Developed microfluidic devices for isolation of circulating tumor cells, including fabrication and in-situ imaging• Familiarized with custom-made atomic force microscope development, and additive manufacturing of 3D printed compositesPublications:• Celik, E.; Rongione, N.; Bahamonde, A.; Ao, Z.; Datar, R.,"Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells using Stiffness-based Filtration Platform," in ASME IMECE 2015, vol., no., pp., 13-19 November 2015 doi: 10.1115/IMECE2015-53241• Rongione, N. A.; Floerke, S. A.; Celik, E., Developments in Antibacterial Disinfection Techniques: Applications of Nanotechnology. In Applying Nanotechnology for Environmental Sustainability, IGI Global: 2017; pp 185-203.Award:• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Recipient, 2016 Show more Show less

Summer Intern NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Analyst and Systems Engineering

• Jun 2015 - Aug 2015

• Developed Matlab/Simulink based control algorithm for a remote-sensing, instrument pointing platform for external payloads on the International Space Station that fulfilled the preliminary requirements, including filtering, sensor integration, and jitter analysis• Presented weekly, technical reports to three tiers of managements in both written and oral formats to Systems Engineering Working Group• Performed orbital debris analysis under time pressure• Provided independent… • Developed Matlab/Simulink based control algorithm for a remote-sensing, instrument pointing platform for external payloads on the International Space Station that fulfilled the preliminary requirements, including filtering, sensor integration, and jitter analysis• Presented weekly, technical reports to three tiers of managements in both written and oral formats to Systems Engineering Working Group• Performed orbital debris analysis under time pressure• Provided independent consulting support services following internship to support continued project development Show more Show less

Robotics and Intelligent Systems Engineering Laboratory Undergraduate Researcher

• Feb 2013 - May 2015

• Used Matlab and Simulink to develop a six degrees of freedom control algorithm to upgrade existing US arsenal with smart munitions that can save both cost and lives• Initiated a CubeSat program at University of Miami, and managed the research and development of CubeSat proposal to demonstrate remote sensing capabilitiesPublication: • Vu, T.T.; Rongione, N.; Rahmani, A., "Minimalist control design of canard-actuated micro-projectiles," in SoutheastCon 2015, vol., no., pp.1-5… • Used Matlab and Simulink to develop a six degrees of freedom control algorithm to upgrade existing US arsenal with smart munitions that can save both cost and lives• Initiated a CubeSat program at University of Miami, and managed the research and development of CubeSat proposal to demonstrate remote sensing capabilitiesPublication: • Vu, T.T.; Rongione, N.; Rahmani, A., "Minimalist control design of canard-actuated micro-projectiles," in SoutheastCon 2015, vol., no., pp.1-5, 9-12 April 2015 doi: 10.1109/SECON.2015.7133052Presentation:• Rongione, N.; Sanchez, W.; Patterson, B.; Johnston, J.; Soto, G.; et al., Climate Analyzing Near Earth Satellite - CANESat. Poster presented at NASA Kennedy Space Center as finalist in Florida University Satellite Design Competition 2014, Merritt Island, FL.Award:• 2nd Place Finalist Florida University Satellite Design 2014 (Florida Space Grant Consortium FUNSAT Competition) Show more Show less

DAAD RISE Fellow - Research Associate - Robotics

• May 2014 - Aug 2014

• Developed embedded systems and aerial vehicle manipulation techniques for quadcopter in Human Perception, Cognition and Action Department in the Autonomous Robotics and Human-Machine Systems group• Implemented learning algorithm for variable stiffness arm operation on-board drone using Matlab and Simulink• Integrated software 3D simulation to visualize system dynamics utilizing ADAMS software running in sync with Matlab and SimulinkPublication Contribution:• B. Yüksel, S… • Developed embedded systems and aerial vehicle manipulation techniques for quadcopter in Human Perception, Cognition and Action Department in the Autonomous Robotics and Human-Machine Systems group• Implemented learning algorithm for variable stiffness arm operation on-board drone using Matlab and Simulink• Integrated software 3D simulation to visualize system dynamics utilizing ADAMS software running in sync with Matlab and SimulinkPublication Contribution:• B. Yüksel, S. Mahboubi, C. Secchi, H. H. Bülthoff and A. Franchi, "Design, identification and experimental testing of a light-weight flexible-joint arm for aerial physical interaction," 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Seattle, WA, 2015, pp. 870-876.doi: 10.1109/ICRA.2015.7139280 Show more Show less

Research Associate - NASA Propulsion Academy at MSFC

• May 2013 - Aug 2013

• Spearheaded ongoing research programs in electric propulsion in the Propulsion Research and Development Laboratory with electric propulsion that led to successfully project funding• Developed preliminary framework for theoretical: plasma physics research into magnetic nozzle design• Performed design, operation, and testing of arcjet plasma thruster, including PCB design for novel pulsed power "direct-drive" using solar cellsPoster:• Rongione, N. (August 2013), Direct Drive… • Spearheaded ongoing research programs in electric propulsion in the Propulsion Research and Development Laboratory with electric propulsion that led to successfully project funding• Developed preliminary framework for theoretical: plasma physics research into magnetic nozzle design• Performed design, operation, and testing of arcjet plasma thruster, including PCB design for novel pulsed power "direct-drive" using solar cellsPoster:• Rongione, N. (August 2013), Direct Drive of an Arcjet Thruster. Poster presented at NASA Intern Poster Expo at Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL.Award:• 3rd Place Propulsion & Flight Programs at NASA Poster Expo sponsored by Lockheed Martin Show more Show less