Materials-focused experimental research and characterization of additively manufactured maraging steel synthesized via wire-arc methods. Examination of material microstructure and mechanical properties of precipitation hardened materials. Additional research projects involved imaging, grain structure analysis, and porosity analysis of Al 6061 alloy materials.Highlights:• SEM/EBSD, XRD, hardness/tensile characterization, & imaging data analysis for additively manufactured maraging steel with high strength-to-weight application. Effect of post-process heat treatment methods analyzed on material properties.• Coordination with the Computational Mechanics & Materials Laboratory group at MSU in research direction of current & future projects with literature review and proposal writing.• Mentored undergraduate students with independent research study projects.

Electrochemical synthesis/characterization of chrome on copper for use in rare-event detector experiments requiring ultra-low backgrounds. Developed chrome-copper alloy methods to improve detector housing mechanical properties while attempting to maintain radiopurity of electroformed copper. Highlights:• Experimental design of electrochemical deposition methods for copper & chrome, followed by furnace alloying methods to synthesize solid solution alloy material.• Hardness indent characterization indicates hardness improvement for Cr-Cu alloy relative to Cu alone. • Characterization by XPS, TXRF, WDS performed to validate synthesis methods.

Electrochemical synthesis and materials characterization and spectroscopic characterization of nanoscale platinum particles on carbon-based supports for use as catalysts in fuel cell assemblies. Developed novel structures for catalyst architecture incorporating single-layer graphene both as a growth template and protective cap. Research has resulted in presentations and publications. Generated comprehensive texture analysis for Chevron Co, using Matlab as primary analysis software.Highlights:• Experimental design, data acquisition/analysis, and reporting on Pt monolayers in studying fuel cell catalysis mechanisms in lab and cleanroom environments.• Electrochemical methods: electrodeposition, voltammetry, reaction probing • Performed high-level spectroscopic experiments at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Synchrotron, including XPS, XAS, EXAFS, XANES, XRD methods• Analysis performed also includes Raman, TEM, AFM.• Managed multiple projects and mentored junior researchers.• Designed and ran undergraduate lab sessions for XRD analysis. • In charge of day-to-day laboratory functions, including purchasing decisions, inventory management and safety procedures • Performed comprehensive texture analysis of pipeline steel, including generation of Pole Figures and Orientation Distribution FunctionsSynthesis & Characterization:•Electrochemical Atomic Layer Deposition•Powder X-ray Diffraction•Texture analysis via multi-axis diffraction•X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy•Raman Spectroscopy•Synchrotron-based X-ray Absorption, including XANES and EXAFS analysis•Electrochemical Cyclic Voltammetry and Chronoamperometry•Electrochemical activity probing•Scanning Electron Microscopy

Used techniques such as X-ray Diffraction, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Raman Spectrometry, Micropycnometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry in research of lead silicate and lithium borovanadate glass systems. Studies focused on range order and structure based on varying stoichiometries. Vibrational spectroscopies were used to analyze micro-scale structure of the glass and assigning peak locations with structures present in the glass’ atomic structure. Created samples for data collection, which includes preparing various molar compositions of binary and ternary samples, some in a moisture controlled environment.