Welcome! I recently finished my Mechanical Engineering PhD from Georgia Tech working in the David Hu laboratory for biolocomotion. This site is dedicated to showcasing some of my graduate research. For information on my current startup, WasteWizer Technologies, please head over to WasteWizer.com to learn how we are applying novel sensing technology to revolutionize the waste industry and enable sustainability.
At Georgia Tech, I studied smell. The sense of smell is one of the major human senses yet it is often overlooked. I have always been personally fascinated with the fact that humans and animals can easily recognize many different types of chemical traces in the air and how many different ways animals have evolved to accomplish this task better than the best artificial chemical sensor. Follow the tabs at the top of this page to learn more about each aspect of my smelly studies.
I also have a personal passion for teaching the next generation of students. Forexample, an event I titled “Our Hairy World,” (pictured on right) a local preschool class came in and learned about the many different functions of hair. The students also were able to tour our lab and look at different types of hair under a microscope including the sensing hairs on the moth antennas I studied. It is extremely rewarding for me to have the opportunities to inspire children at a young age to pursue STEM education and careers knowing what that spark of interest can do for their futures.
Another avenue I pursue my passion for teaching students is as a member and leader of the Georgia Tech Invention Studio. The Invention Studio is an entirely student run makerspace open to all majors on campus and filled with cutting-edge prototyping equipment such as 3D printers, laser and water jet cutters, and much more. All of the equipment is available for students to use for free to create experimental devices for sponsored research or innovations of their own interest. For example, the wind tunnel and first versions of the antennae mimic I created were both fabricated using the Invention Studio facilities. While the access to specialized tools is invaluable in research, the student run aspect of the studio is what truly makes the Invention Studio unique from other makerspaces across the country and has provided me with incredible opportunities for mentorship and leadership.
Through the Studio I have had the opportunity to teach hundreds of students in one on one instructional sessions and give tours to teach many different groups across the nation and the world about mechanical engineering and fabrication (pictured on right). My research success 3D printing on the nano scale at Oak Ridge also largely had to do with my prior experience 3D printing on the macro scale in the Studio.
My current career path is in creating start-up companies to translate basic research findings into products that will help the world’s needs. Many people I have come to know while at GT have successfully created start-ups from their academic research and I am continuing to increase my network in order to also achieve that kind of success. Please reach out to me through the “connect” tab if you want to talk more!