Department: Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Advisor: Devin MacKenzie
I am a second year Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, working in the Washington Clean Energy Testbeds with Dr. Devin Mackenzie. My research focuses on process optimization of scalable thin film photovoltaic technology. As a mechanical engineer, I have a unique perspective working in a largely material space, spending my time optimizing manufacturing processes such as slot die coating and gas quenching to control crystallization mechanisms, laser scribing for circuit integration, and building a large throughput physical vapor deposition system to expedite experiments. My degree also focuses in data science, where I plan to take these unique tools I have designed and develop machine learning algorithms that optimize perovskite efficiency for such a vast parameter space.Outside of my own research, I have a passion for teaching. I have designed over three projects for the WCET that involved weekly mentoring for two ME capstone groups during the school year and a CEI ALVA REU student over the summer. I thoroughly enjoy sharing my passion for renewable energy with others, and working with students only helps strengthen my understanding and reaffirms my dedication to the field. Upon graduation, I will continue my pursuit in becoming an astronaut, hoping to transition my expertise in renewable energy to space based systems and continue being a face for STEM.