Jacob Halpern Email & Phone Number

Princeton, New Jersey, United States

My project involved combining a promising new turbulence simulation code, GX, with existing NTFT theory. A NTFT does not twist due to magnetic shear and can increase the efficiency and accuracy of these simulations. • Validated existing theory and developed a strategy for modifying gyrokinetic equation in GX• Altered hundreds of lines of code written in CUDA while maintaining backwards compatibility• Benchmarked results using Princeton’s Traverse cluster for tokomak and stellarator simulations

West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

Graded homework and exams for NUCL 351 - Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics II

Purdue University, Indiana, United States

My project extended previous work from the lab to use variational calculus to solve for electron emission in multiple diode geometries. SCLE is relevant to many vacuum devices, such as thermionic converters and electric thrusters. As part of this project, I have:• Developed a generalized theory from first principles using variational mechanics and Lie point symmetries• Utilized Mathematica and MATLAB for nonlinear, second-order boundary value problems• Extended initial analysis to include relativistic effects by incorporating Lorentz factorI have presented my work at 4 national/international conferences: APS Division of Plasma Physics (DPP) in 2020/2021 and the International Conference on Plasma Science (ICOPS) 2021/2022. I published the work in Plasma Science Sources and Technology (PSST) as a first author, and am a second author in Physical Review E on an associated manuscript.

West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

In this position, I graded homeworks/exams for students in NUCL 200 (Introduction to Nuclear Engineering), as well as held weekly office hours and answered any questions the students had.

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Working in the electric propulsion group, I gained experience with low temperatures plasmas and rarefied gas flow for the use in hollow cathodes. Specifically, I conducted experiments measuring small and large scale oscillations in the near-keeper region of the plasma plume, as well as pressure profile measurements for a collimated gas flow in vacuum. Additionally, I developed a COMSOL model to approximate capacitance profiles for complicated electrode geometries in thrust stand calibration testing.

West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

I engaged in personalized tutoring in various mathematics disciplines at the college level, developing lesson plans and helping students achieve consistently better grades in their courses.

For two years I was a lab aide in my school’s science department. Daily tasks included: taking out/putting away labs, making solutions, restocking used labs, and managing inventory. During my second year I trained the new lab aides.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Applied Physics And Applied Mathematics

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Nuclear Engineering

Activities and Societies: John Martinson Honors College, American Nuclear Society, Purdue Student Engineering Foundation (PSEF), Purdue.

Education record

Activities and Societies: Wind/Brass Ensemble, Academic Decathlon, German Club