Experience

Research Assistant, CFM Lab, University of Washington (2015-2024)
Algorithm Development

Developed a state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver for simulating gas-liquid flows with phase change that is mass conserving, accurately captures heat and mass transfer across the interface, is capable of handling evaporation and condensation, and parallelizes easily and efficiently.
Developed a novel method for applying shear-periodic boundary conditions to the Volume of Fluid method for tracking interfaces in multiphase flow simulations. This method allowed for the simulation of homogeneous shear turbulence, a type of turbulent flow with closer similarities to flows observed in engineering applications than previously studied flows.
Developed FastRK3P*, a CFD solver for variable-density multiphase flows in homogeneous shear turbulence which is 10-40 times faster than previous methods using multigrid solvers.

High-Performance Computing Simulations

Conducted a parametric study of 8 direct numerical simulations of droplet-laden homogeneous shear turbulence, with 432 million unknowns each, to study the effect of mean shear and varying surface tension on turbulence kinetic energy. Simulation parameters were selected for their engineering relevance to spray combustion devices.
Tested and validated massively parallelized Poisson equation solver on up to 16,384 cores for a simulation with half a trillion unknowns. The Poisson equation is a fundamental partial differential equation with engineering applications such as heat transfer, fluid mechanics, structural mechanics, and electrostatics.

Theoretical Analysis and Post-processing of Big Data

Derived the turbulence kinetic energy evolution equations for two-fluid homogeneous shear turbulence. Understanding these equations is crucial for modeling multiphase turbulent flows which are prevalent in many engineering applications.
Created Python scripts using the NumPy, SciPy, and pandas libraries to post-process over 20 TB of simulation data in minutes.
Performed spatial and temporal statistical analyses of relevant quantities to explain the role of surface tension in droplet-laden homogeneous shear turbulence.
Generated publication-quality figures using the Python matplotlib library to clearly communicate the results of my simulations to a broader audience.
Discovered the pathways of turbulence kinetic energy exchange for droplet-laden homogeneous shear turbulence.
Discovered two new physical mechanisms that explain the modulation of the TKE evolution equation budget terms by the presence of droplets.

Manufacturing Engineer, Ford Motor Company (2014-2015)

Analyzed stack-up calculations on 300+ features and determined machining order to meet required cycle time.
Engaged in simultaneous engineering with machine suppliers to ensure their manufacturing equipment produced parts that met GD&T specifications within cycle time.

Fracture Mechanics Intern, GE Aviation (Summer 2013)

Aided the introduction of the Passport jet engine by performing a fracture mechanics life analysis on the high-pressure compressor in conjunction with its redesign.
Conducted a probabilistic fracture mechanics life analysis on the GE F118 engine to determine if inspection times could be decreased at depot.
Gained practical understanding of a turbofan jet engine through the GE Jet Engine Teardown School by tearing down and reassembling a CF34 engine.

Operations Management Intern, GE Aviation (Summer 2012)

Utilized Lean Six Sigma to identify waste within the repair process, and optimized shelf setup to reduce average turnaround time from 32 to 26 days.
Supervised 17 technicians and scheduled 49 repairs in one month to meet all Hamilton Sundstrand deliveries on time in conjunction with their schedule.

Lecturer, Aeronautics & Astronautics, University of Washington (2024)

Developed and presented lectures on a variety of professional development topics to over 100 professional master’s degree students.
Topics covered: technology reviews, writing short reports, writing memos, three-minute oral pitches, utilizing large language models, basic AI theory and applications (machine learning, generative design, computer vision, predictive maintenance).

SURP Program Director, WA NASA Space Grant (Summer 2023)

Managed program operations, coordinating with 32 faculty members and 12 graduate student leaders to provide paid research experiences for 74 undergraduate students with minimal previous research engagement.
Developed and presented professional development workshops, equipping students with critical skills in resume building, research abstract writing, and academic presentations.
Organized the annual Space Grant Poster Symposium, showcasing research contributions from 74 students to 35 research projects through 10 five-minute pitch presentations and 45 poster presentations.

Lead TA, Aeronautics & Astronautics, University of Washington (2022-2023)

Onboarded all teaching assistants and graders through interactive presentations, to prepare them for their instructional and grading duties. Typically 20-25 teaching assistants and graders every quarter.
Created and facilitated instructional training sessions on fair and efficient grading, using the Canvas learning management system, and implementing active learning strategies in the classroom.
Facilitated mid-quarter check-ins and end-of-quarter evaluations for all teaching assistants to improve consistency in the student experience.

Predoctoral Instructor, STARS Program, University of Washington (2016-2022)

Developed and presented curriculum for two courses (STARS Math and STARS Physics) that prepare STARS cohorts for the rigor of the introductory departmental math and physics series. These courses focus on helping students develop strong engineering problem-solving skills.
Onboarded 8 teaching assistants and aided in their pedagogical training, which was focused on engagement with students and their development.
Created and led accompanying workshops to support students in the introductory physics course through group problem solving, emphasizing the use of correct definitions, and practicing test-taking skills under time pressure.

GPU Acceleration of 2D N-S Solver, Univ. of Washington ME 574 Project (2022)

Developed a 2D incompressible Navier-Stokes in Python from scratch.
Encapsulated the solver into an object-oriented class for easy deployment.
Accelerated the solver using the Numba library to achieve a speedup factor of up to 50 on AWS.

Design Build Fly of Model Aircraft, Univ. of Michigan Senior Lab (2014)

Constructed and flew a 1:6 scale model of the Lesher Teal aircraft in celebration of the Michigan Aerospace Centennial.
Ensured that the scale model would achieve stable flight using our program from Senior Design to model and analyze its flight characteristic.
Coordinated and headed the acquisition of materials, construction and integration of sub-systems, and wind tunnel and flight tests.

MDO of Electric Aircraft, Univ. of Michigan Senior Design (2013)

Developed a multi-disciplinary optimization program in Matlab using gradient based methods to design the optimum aircraft for our cost function.
Created an automatic file I/O from the optimizer to AVL in order to analyze the aerodynamic and stability characteristics of every design iteration.
Managed a five person team to design the propulsion system, structural layout, and aerodynamic layout of our aircraft within a semester.