Personal Statement
I received my Mechanical Engineering BSE from the University of Michigan in 2011. I then went on to work at Ford Motor Company for 3.5 years in the umbrella organization of Interiors, specifically Seating group. I worked in an advanced team working on vehicle programs 3-5 years out. While there, I played a leading role in two projects and a supporting role in half a dozen more. My main project was to develop an electrically capable Mounting Dock on the seat back and accompanying iPad Holder from scratch. I co-lead the designing of the project and lead the prototyping process, drafting of the complete FMEA, creation and execution of the test plan and was single point of contact for all relevant aspects of the financial business plan related to commodity costs. I am currently pursuing my MSE in Sustainable Energy Engineering at Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden. I participated in an Dual Master's exchange program and took one semester of classes at Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV). I am currently performing my thesis project at Michigan Tech University (MTU), it is an exergetic comparative analysis of equivalently sized photovoltaic farms and coal plants with technical and/or biomass CO2 sequestration. Equipped with my experience in innovation and product development, I would like to direct it towards a more sustainable future that utilizes pioneering alternative sources of energy generation to supplant our current, centralized model.
Education
Kungliga Tekniska Hӧskolan (2015 - Present)
MSE in Sustainable Energy Engineering with concentration in solar thermal and photovoltaics
Topics of study:
- PV and Hybridization
- Sustainable Power Generation
- Sustainable Power Utilization
- Advanced Renewable Energy Technology
- Energy and the Environment
Projects to date:
Team of 4 who used Long-Range Energy Alternatives Planning system (LEAP) to map the current web of power generation in Chad, Africa. We projected a business-as-usual scenario out to 2040 based on historical data, scholarly articles and press releases on the countries strategic goals. We also constructed two more potential scenario’s for Green House Gas mitigation and a pragmatic implementation of more renewable energy generation with a focus on jobs and easing the populations daily grind.
Team of 4 who designed a hybrid PV system for both a grid connected and off grid single family home. Given a specific home, location and tariff scheme, initial hand calculations were used to roughly estimate the size of the PV array and inverter that would output the most economical grid connected home system. The software PVsyst was used to refine these calculations by inputting hourly load and meteorological data. In regards to the of grid house, a specific home, location and hourly load were provided and excel was utilized to compare the area required by several different PV panel manufacturers to power the home at a 5% capacity shortage. Then we used the software program Homer to hybridize the system with wind turbines and generators to understand the effect on NPC and LCOE compared to a PV only system.
Team of 7 who designed a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant with a Tower configuration and molten salt storage. KTH is involved in the NOOR projects ongoing in Morocco right now and our project was to suggest a design as a continuation of the current work. Using the current NOOR projects as reference, we researched the benefits and drawbacks of Tower vs. Parabolic Trough and Thermal Storage vs. Hybridization with natural gas turbines. We then used the software program System Advisor Model (SAM) to design the solar field, tower and receiver, thermal storage and power cycle. We ran several sensitivity analyses to determine the best LCOE based on the current electricity grid in Morocco.
University of Michigan from 2007 - 2011
BSE in Mechanical Engineering
Topics of study:
- Grid Integration of Alternative Energies
- Hydrogen Fuel Cells
- Internal Combustion Engines
Senior Project:
Team of 4 whose goal was to optimize a patent pending Kinetic Energy Conversion Device (KECD) that employs Faraday’s law. It harvests ambient vibrational motion that is normally wasted as heat by shock absorbers in a passenger vehicle and turns it into electricity. We designed and modeled in SolidWorks and then built a test apparatus and 18 unique KECD’s. We utilized the Teguchi method and tested six variables at two and three levels. We also performed an FEA analysis using the multiphysics program COMSOL and validated it against the empirical data gathered from our physical testing. The KECD is scalable and can be used in multiple applications such as automotive, wind and marine.
Work Experience
Ford Motor Company from January 2012- July 2015
Advanced Seating Engineer
- Co-designer of a new rear seat for the C2 platform; fully composite plastic structure with flexible TPE snap-fit suspension cushion that rotates/reclines about the CG of the occupant
- Provided engineering direction to CAD designers
- Created and maintained all foundation documentation (FMEA, timing plans and boundary/parameter diagrams)
- Co-designed a new Rear Entertainment System that is removable and holds a tablet; establishes structural and electrically capable mount for accessories on seat back
- Interfaced with Studio, Marketing and Program team to define targets
- Created design and managed team of CAD designers
- Managed 3-D print and aluminum tool prototype builds
- Led electrical implementation and connector selection
- Led foundation documentation (FMEA, timing plans and boundary/parameter diagrams)
- Co-led engineering drawings production design release
- Led testing and evaluation
Cone Drive from May-August 2010
Dynamometer Lab Assistant (internship)
- Responsible for tear down, build up and operation of two open loop and two closed loop double enveloping worm gear dynamometers
- Performed cyclic thermal testing of lube oils
- Utilized Solid Edge software to design “one-off” testing components as needed
Federal Screw Works, Inc. from May-August 2007, 2008
Quality Auditor
- Machine Maintenance on primary and secondary operations
- Updated and implemented the preventive maintenance scheduling, machine replacement parts and tooling programs from Xerox Business System to Plexus Online Business System
- Licensed Hi-Lo Driver responsible for loading/unloading steel and machined parts from semi-truck
- Parts Washer Machine Operator
Software Experience
Microsoft Office, C++, MATLab, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Catia V5, LEAP, Homer, PVsyst, Polysun, StarCCM+ and SAM.
References
Professor Gordon Krauss (gkrauss@umich.edu)
Professor Jason Martz (jmartz@umich.edu)
Advanced Seating Supervisor Johnathan Line (jline@ford.com)
Seating Supervisor Joe Talamonti (jtalamon@ford.com), now retired