John Bal Email & Phone Number

Merritt Island, Florida, United States

Orlando, Florida Area

Orlando, Florida Area

Teaching Assistant for EAS 3810C "Design of Aerospace Experiments". In this position, I supervise multiple laboratory sections per week, with a focus on wind tunnel experimentation. The following is a list of experiments I am extremely familiar with due to this position:Thermodynamic heat engine lab: calculating the work performed due to heat addition to a closed system, as well as efficiency of the systemFlow visualization lab: visualizing flow over symmetric and cambered airfoils at a variety of angles of attack and Reynold’s numbers, as well as predicting stall angle based on flow separation.Airfoil lift and drag analysis lab: analyzing lift and drag across airfoils utilizing both static pressure taps and a force gauge. Flat plate boundary layer characterization lab: Using a series of pitot-static tubes and static taps to develop both a 2D and 3D model of the laminar boundary layer across a flat plate.In addition to these laboratory sessions, I grade homework and hold office hours every week to interact with students and help explain both lecture and laboratory section questions.

Orlando, Florida Area

In my position as an undergraduate researcher, I have worked in a team-oriented atmosphere with other undergraduates, master's students, and Ph.D. candidates, as well as outside professors and national laboratory scientists, on a number of different projects concerning microfluidics and heat transfer. I began in the laboratory working with a Time-Domain Thermoreflectance system for analyzing thin film properties. In this role, I also assisted with the possible implementation of a Frequency-Domain Thermoreflectance mode for the system, constructing 1st-4th order passive frequency filters. I am currently focused on a project concerning surface-tension-driven flows over systematically micropatterned surfaces, a phenomenon known as “hemiwicking”. As a consequence of this project, I have also studied the inertial wetting phase of microdroplet wetting, utilizing high speed photography with frame rates up to 400,000 fps. Through this project I have gained valuable experience manipulating large sets of data (10,000+ points) within Microsoft Excel for analytical and numerical examination, as well as presentation. Technical skills gained and equipment used:Microsoft ExcelProgrammable micro-syringe pumpLow and high power laser systemsBasic optical table equipment and techniques: collimating light, focusing light, shrinking and expanding laser beams, etc.Reflectometry and interferometryExperience operating and troubleshooting complex LabVIEW Vis. PDMS molding procedures LaTex document preparation systemGENPLOT

Orlando, Florida Area

Upon acceptance to the University of Central Florida, I became a recipient of their National Merit Scholarship. This scholarship has given me the financial freedom to pursue my undergraduate career. I now work part-time for this scholarship program, recruiting the next generation of National Merit students to UCF. I give personalized tours to prospective students and their families, reach out to possible awardees through phone, email, and written letter, and discuss campus life, academics, and scholarship details in small group and large group panel style settings. I have had the opportunity to hone my public speaking skills in these positions, speaking in front of hundreds of students and their families.

Mechanical Engineering Msme, Thermofluids, 4.00

Aerospace Engineering Bsae, 3.99