About Me
I am in my fourth year of graduate school, working on a Ph. D. in mechanical engineering. I completed a M. S. degree in mechanical engineering in May of 2010 at University of Colorado Boulder. I received a B. A. in physics from Covenant College in May of 2008. I currently live in Ithaca, NY and study at Cornell University, in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. My research interests lie within the realm of fluid dynamics, both experimental and computational. My undergraduate research involved experimentally measuring chaotic behavior of a flag flapping in the wind. Other previous research includes developing a computational design tool for micro air vehicles (MAVs), experimental measurements of synthetic jets for active flow control, identification and analysis of coherent vortical structures in homogenous isotropic turbulence, and magnetohydrodynamics relevant to solar meridional circulation. I am thankful to have a broad range of research experiences up until this point. I am currently a member of the Computational Modeling of Energy Systems (CMES) group, led by Professor Olivier Desjardins. We model complex, turbulent flows in the context of multiple phases that, as the name suggests, have ramifications for energy consumption. My current project aims toward modeling the turbulent gas-liquid flow that undergoes phase change while traveling through loops of piping for Direct Steam Generation (DSG). The project is in collaboration with Abengoa Solar, a Spanish company that has a plant in Golden, CO.
When I am in Colorado, the majority of my free time is spent in the mountains on my snowboard. In New York I enjoy the many waterfalls and gorges that Ithaca has to offer. I also enjoy playing in a couple different soccer leagues, a variety of intramural sports, spending time my friends and amazing family, laughing with my wonderful girlfriend Sarah, and a cold beer combined with quality conversation. It's easy to engage me in talks about the mysteries of modern physics, classical western thought, the interface between science and philosophy, or really any question that does not have a trivial answer (or one at all, for that matter). I have a genuine curiosity about life, and I'm always looking to learn or try something new. Biology and language are other things I have a passion for. I enjoy a good read and a good laugh.