Erin Acuña Email & Phone Number

Reusable space vehicle aerophysics within Flight Sciences department of Space Systems Development rogram. - computational and experimental analysis of component-level and system-level reentry and entry, descent, and landing aerodynamics and aerothermodynamics.- develop aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic data across flight regime (subsonic to hypersonic) for various vehicle configurations using computational and experimental methods. - develop integrated systems and communicate aerodynamic impacts to product objectives and other subsystems.- develop OML of launch vehicle through series of testing and CFD studies and other analytical methods.

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Assist in teaching ASEN 2002: Introduction to Thermodynamics and Aerodynamics, an undergraduate course averaging 175 students per semester.Topics include: - Fundamentals principles of thermodynamics and fluid dynamics. - Quantitative and qualitative analysis of aerospace technology systems.Hold office hours, host and lead exam review sessions.Design and develop interactive lab assignments for thermodynamic systems.Grade reading assignments and exams.

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Molecular Beam Experiments and Materials Lab. Design, conduct, lead experiments studying gas-surface interactions in hypersonic flight for atmospheric entry/reentry.Design and oversee the construction of a laser-detonation atomic-oxygen beam source that will accommodate a high-power Nd:Yag laser.Operate various molecular beam sources and assess the performance of the molecular beam sources with a quadrupole mass spectrometer detector. Assist in the setup and design of vacuum hardware for molecular-beam experiments for studies of gas-surface collision dynamics.

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Assisted in teaching ASEN 4013: Foundations of Propulsion, an undergraduate course averaging 120 students per semester.Topics include: - Basic one-dimensional flows: isentropic; area change; heat addition. - Overall performance characteristics of propellers, ramjets, turbojets, turbofans, rockets. - Performance analysis of inlets and exhaust nozzles, compressors, burners, and turbines. - Rocket flight performance, single and multi-stage chemical rockets, liquid, and solid propellants. Held office hours, hosted and lead exam review sessions.Collaborated on course material.Revised the syllabus to meet accreditation standards.Coordinated meetings and grading for a team of 2 teaching fellows.Devised grading standards and point allocations for assignments.

Corvallis, Oregon, United States

Assisted in teaching ME 451: Introduction to Instrumentation and Measurement Systems, an undergraduate course averaging 100 students per semester.Topics include: - Function, operation, and application of instruments, measurement principles, and statistical analyses used in mechanical engineering practices. - Elements of data analysis of measurement systems, including transduction, signal conditioning, and data recording. - Construction and operation of digital data acquisition systems.Aided in office hours.Collaborated on course and exam material.Hosted lab sessions of 30 students.

Albany, Oregon

Undergraduate Research Fellow in Magnetohydrodynamics Laboratory. Design, conduct, present, oversee all enthalpy probe experiments. Continuation of research from Summer 2018 to determine enthalpy generated in a high-velocity oxy-fuel combustion jet. Created and implemented database for thermodynamic properties of combustion species.

Albany, Oregon

Magnetohydrodynamics Laboratory. Utilized revolutionary gas sampling system with mass spectrometer. Studied exhaust gas compositions, characterized combustion parameters to optimize process and validate CFD modeling. Enthalpy determination of magnetohydrodynamics combustion system.

Master Of Science - Ms, Aerospace, Aeronautical And Astronautical Engineering

Research and coursework focused on thermal fluids in hypersonic flight with applications.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering Minor

Associate Of Arts - Aa, Aerospace, Aeronautical And Astronautical Engineering