Josh Heiner Email & Phone Number

Laramie, Wy, Us

Applied for multiple non-dilutive funding opportunists and was awarded over $500k and counting. Wrote the core of every proposal and had peers review/edit it. Currently finishing a Phase I DoD SBIR for a quantum spin-based deep UV solar blind detector. Applied for an SBIR grant that was accepted by the NSF for $256k in funding to further develop a single broadband detector from visible to near infrared using the quantum spin Seebeck effect. Sought for and was awarded $100k matching funds from the Wyoming Business Council. Received over $50k from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services for Internship Grants. Each funding opportunity required multiple interviews, budget adjustments, and project pitching.In charge of daily operations including setting up optical experiments for optical detection using a spin Seebeck-based detector, training employees in lab settings, managing employees, analyzing experiment results, and determining the next path/experiment to perform in order to increase detector efficiency, improve consistency, and determine/minimize noise. Actively pursuing a deeper understanding of the ultra fast quantum spin dynamics through simulations and femtosecond pump-probe measurements.Overseeing computational simulations including using scattering matrices, tracking photon absorption, simulating a steady-state spin current diffusion solution, and computing electric fields generated from the Inverse Spin Hall Effect. Processing this information to modify the sensor to produce a higher quantum efficiency. Etching samples using Electron Beam Lithography or Focused Ion Beam. Preparing substrates for experimentation including purchasing, dicing and cleaning (mechanical, chemical, and plasma etch) the substrate (YIG/GGG), DC sputtering thin films ~2nm of Platinum on the YIG surface using an ATC-2000F, and attaching contacts to the Pt film for readout using a custom 3D printed jig and custom circuit board.

SLD Photonics is the continuation of graduate work done by a fellow Physicist at the University of Wyoming. The company is focused on developing a spin light detector based off the spin Seebeck effect. The concept was proven in the attached manuscript and a patent has been issued.Currently we are focused on funding through the SBIR to further develop and commercialize the detector.

Laramie, Wy, Us

Building test beds to track model improvements and shortcomings. This includes real and artificial data from across the entire Raman spectra line from Metrohm Raman and from externally sourced library collection groups. Tested edge-ready models for latency and accuracy.Finalizing ML models for software implementation leading towards ML use on the CPU-limited hand-held device. Aggressively reduced program sizes and computational power to allow for a low latency in classification on the edge device. These techniques included quantization aware training, post training quantization, pruning aware training, post training pruning, architecture simplification, and knowledge distillation.

Laramie, Wy, Us

Aided the company to structure a pipeline for machine learning using Azure. Ran multiple simulations on a custom built pipeline with custom data augmentation and custom loss/cost functions. Built a GAN model for generating calibrated Raman spectra. Raman libraries are often built from external companies as contracts. The detector and instrument used to gather the spectra is not guaranteed to be the same instrument as what the end user will be using. Oftentimes, a library entry will have a single representation of a Raman spectra for that analyte. This would yield poor ML classification results. To overcome that I built the generator as a way of augmenting data which will be necessary for the end user. The GAN model loss function was a built-on-the-fly PCA model that would make sure real data fit within the generated PCA model - and vise versa.For mixture samples, such as caffeine and cocaine, the cutting agents sometimes have peaks that are more than an order of magnitude more than the illicit drug. It is common place to 'subtract' the Raman spectra off a cutting agent to enhance the remainder. Since spectra do not match up perfectly, and most spectra are taken from different devices, it is industry standard to weight the peaks while subtracting the cutting agent and force the residue at the peak location to zero. If the illicit drug has similar peak locations to the cutting agent, those peaks are also removed. To combat this issue, I built a subtraction generation ML model that takes as input the mixture spectra and the positively identified cutting agent spectra. The ML model will stretch and alter the positively identified analyte spectra to fit within the mixture spectra. When subtracting this 'mask' from the mixture spectra, peaks within the cutting agent are preserved leading to a higher probability of correctly identifying the illicit drug.

Laramie, Wy, Us

Built a Raman classification ML model - using a custom 1D architecture - to detect illicit drugs while greatly reducing false positives. As most carries of a Metrohm Raman device are in law enforcement, a positive identification of an illicit drug will lead to the arrest of an individual or group of individuals. True positive detection allows the law enforcement officer to have more confidence in the equipment and lead to less conflicts with arresting innocent individuals.Often street drugs, such as cocaine, have cutting agents in them to dilute the drug or enhance it's effect, e.g., caffeine. These cutting agents can be more responsive to Raman scattering than the illicit drug itself, resulting in a low signal for the illicit drug. Part of my responsibilities was to try and enhance the limited signal to verify with a strong correlation illicit drugs with a weak Raman scattering.In addition to drugs with cutting agents some drugs that originate from natural materials, like heroin, produce a high fluorescent signature. The fluorescent signature floods the detector and results in Raman peaks that are on the same order of magnitude as the fluorescence. Extracting the Raman signature from the fluorescent background with high precision is difficult. I also worked on classification of illicit drugs within a fluorescent background.

I am the Owner and Founder of Penumbra Optics LLC. I handle the finances, proposals, and technical research.The company was founded in June of 2019. Penumbra specializes in advanced optical components which rely heavily upon theoretical simulation of metasurface structures and mediums to accomplish a specific task. The metasurface is determined using Matrix Fourier Optics and Mueller Matrices which is run on a computing cluster to theoretical predict possible metasurface structures. Currently we are working on a nanophotonic thin film for machine learning inference, where Maxwell's equations are used to simulate light passing through the material and the Adjoint State Method is used for back propagation.Although the company is new, key personnel have extensive experience in technology development and have been successful in evolving research innovations to marketplace products. The company has lab collaboration space at the University of Wyoming along with facilities at the Wyoming Technology Business Center. Penumbra works with the University of Wyoming to use optical laboratories, optical/electronic instrumentation devices, and fabrication facilities.

Briefly stated, I am an R&D Consulting Analyst.I help technical companies to develop a new product and increase revenue by analyzing global research literature. There is a glaring gap between industry and research. It is as though the industry is unaware of the research being done, and progresses slowly on its own. Several conclusions are significant and could be adopted into businesses immediately to produce a substantial difference. Here's the problem though. The amount of research literature papers in a given field is out-of-control huge, i.e. just in 2018 there were 74,000 literature papers on solar cells, 22,000 on strawberries, and 18,000 on serology (the study of blood). Out of 10 papers, maybe only one has something of significance. Out of those, maybe only 1 in 10 are relative to the business.I help businesses bridge that gap. Heiner Consulting captures the significant findings in a given field and presents it so the business can rapidly gain up-to-date competence of the important research in their field. With this information the business can stand out in the marketplace by moving forward and developing one or more applicable research results.For example, I am currently helping a handheld Raman spectrometer company to implement deep learning and artificial intelligence methods in matching an unknown spectra to a compound for Raman and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Laramie, Wy, Us

Expanded a nonlinear quantum spin model into a coupled multi-body anti-ferromagnetic quantum spin representation. Originally constructed a 2D perturbation semi-classical quantum spin model with dissipation (refer to media attachment). Further developed the model into a complete 3D rotational kinematics and carrier kinematics for a nonlinear semi-classical model of a quantum spin with dissipation to obtain standard quantum spin statistics. Used distributed computing to run millions of simulations on the Mt. Moran IBM high performance computing (HPC) cluster. Examination of chaos using bifurcation diagrams, fractal dimension and Lyapunov exponents.Once the large data set is pulled from the supercomputer it needs to be analyzed. Since the behavior was repetitive, a bash script was written that would call a self-written code to combine and analyze the data, create a new folder associated with a sequential run (i.e. trial_205) and store the necessary files to recreate the simulation, plot the analyzed data against quantum statistics, and finally ask and record changes in a file. For example, "What changed from this run to the last run?", "How does the data compare with quantum statistics". The output is recorded and other information as follows: TRIAL 205: CHANGES: (user input) COMPARISON: (user input) ERRORS: (different yellow flags along the way) FIDELITY: (the output from a single simulation falls within an acceptable range) RUNS: (number of individual simulations).Classification was used along with cluster analysis to help in the data mining process. This often involved deep visualization into multiple parameter dimensions to predict and optimize further simulations (the end goal was to successfully replicate quantum statistics using a nonlinear differential equation and the emergent behavior from the associated chaos).

Greenbelt, Md, Us

Quantum Communications and Computing: Optical communication using orbital angular momentum of light as a modulation. Explored an implementation for a cyclic chaotic encoder/decoder using quantum key distribution for one chaotic delta parameter. (This information is sensitive, but unclassified; therefore details are limited to personal interactions at NASA's discretion) Upon arrival at NASA GSFC, my mentor presented past, current, and work of interest. Upon realizing that I had a limited knowledge on optical phase vortices, he changed my project completely (originally suppose to be DFT related). Instead I was given the detailed instruction, "Work on proposing an idea to incorporate optical phase vortices as a communication modulation. Oh, and make it secure." After accomplishing the first part with another intern, I was surprised to see the simplicity and unsecured nature of encoder/decoders i.e. linear, polynomial, etc. From my nonlinear chaotic background, and the other intern's background on coding theory, a cyclic chaotic encoder/decoder was suggested for security and the ability to decode with high fidelity.This internship is now an ongoing collaborative work effort.Nonlinear Dynamic Interpretation of Quantum Spin: A highly nonlinear, semi-classical, muti-body, anti-ferromagnetic ordering quantum spin model reproduced quantum statistics. Further validated the model showing quantum entanglement lifetime predictions and limitations. (refer to media attachment)

Palmerston North, Palmerston North, Auckland, Wellington, Nz

Collaborated and problem solved with the host researcher: compared the model to the standard quantum model to modify and test a 3D driven nonlinear dissipative semi-classical quantum spin model which incorporates a two-sided semi-classical torque function with two stable equilibria. Modeled quantum spin interactions using the Center for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics HPC cluster. A makefile was used in the C++ code so only newer dependencies were used to update the executable.One particular aspect of difficulty was the development of a two-sided 3D torque function that was continuous and would follow a dynamically evolving magnetic field. After a few days working on the representation, my mentor mentioned lemniscate curves and I realized I could mathematically dot the function into the evolving magnetic field and it would track it appropriately. Twenty minutes later a working model was presented that satisfied our expectations.Represented the East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) program while interacting with members of the US Embassy, Ministry of Business, and the Royal Society of New Zealand. Presented technical and complex ideas in a simple understandable way to the previously mentioned members who were limited in technical and deep scientific knowledge.

Designed and built a steel building with the inside usable area being 45 feet wide, 22 feet tall, and 75 feet long. Constructed the steel inlay footings for each vertical structural beam. Calculated snow load bearing and needed structural support. This included a structural analysis and design in SolidWorks for 100 lbs snow load, fatigue, and natural harmonics. Welded the vertical beams, trusses, and support beams.Used physics and calculus knowledge to simplify different processes. For example the problem arose how to cut the 13 inch diameter steel beam at a precise angle. I grabbed a poster board, cut it to length of the circumference of the pipe, wrote down the sinusoidal equation that would describe the needed curve, drew it out to scale, and cut the poster board accordingly. The poster board was then wrapped around the pipe and a perfect line could be drawn representing the angle to be cut. When the truss was placed on top of the beam, the accuracy was within 1/16th of an inch (which was awesome to weld).

This is a personal project in the effort to create more horsepower for a dirt bike (with a snow kit attachment). To create more horsepower, a turbo was used. The exhaust plumbing to the turbo and the exhaust out of the turbo were fabricated (welded) on site. The intake was also assembled on site. Multiple additions were made including a fuel pump, turbo fuel pressure regulator, boost reference line, fuel return line, oil turbo line, a regulator/rectifier for AC to DC conversion, and a air/fuel exhaust ratio gauge. For such additions, wiring and further needed fabrication was done.During this project multiple problems arose under which management, observation, and thorough problem solving skills were used to present a modified, or innovative approach to overcome the issues. For example the turbo was initially installed vertical. It was discovered that the turbo had a float bearing, preventing a vertical installation from being sufficient. A complete re-assembly mounted the turbo in a new horizontal location. Another example, the jetting in the carburetor was not correct with the addition of the turbo. Further research led to plugging pressure equalizing vents to boost reference and a more appropriate needle and seat.

Rexburg, Idaho, Us

Modeled electron structure in ice 1h and silicon dioxide using Density Functional Theory. Calculated the positron annihilation spectroscopy for ice 1h and silicon dioxide. Studied Kohn’s theorems and the Kohn-Sham equations. Modeled copper with Density Functional Theory using Multi-grid Instead of K-Space (MIKA Doppler, written in Fortran with personal additions in C++). Calculated the electron density, positron annihilation spectroscopy, momentum distribution, and momentum decomposition for copper, ice 1h, and silicon dioxide.

Rexburg, Idaho, Us

Maintained the grounds at BYU-Idaho. This included but was not limited to cutting grass, trimming trees, snow removal, trash clean-up, and planting flowers.

Salt Lake City, Ut, Us

Leadership responsibility for 6-18 other volunteer representatives. This included motivating, setting goals, pre and post evaluation performance and expectations, teaching/leading meetings, resolving problems/conflicts, and reporting the activity to the head volunteer representative. Gained experience in cold-contact techniques and interpersonal skills working 70+ hours per week. Furthermore, the location was in the French isles and as a result a fluency in French was obtained.

Provo, Utah, Us

Installation of Honeywell and General Electric home security systems. On-site inspection to determine the best placement for motion detectors, smoke alarms, glass breaking detectors, and other critical sensors. Panel installation and programming. Communicate with customer the use of the security system.Also worked in Elk Grove CA, Mesa AZ, and Miami/Fort Lauderdale FL.

Construction of the concrete dome included a ring beam footing, an inflated airform, polyurethane sprayed foam, framework of rebar, and shotcrete.

Complete indoor and outdoor residential home construction. Experience pouring concrete walls and flat concrete work. Painted interior and exterior walls using brushes, rollers, and spray guns. Installation of metal and shingle roofing. Assisted with construction projects in all phases from rough to finished product.

Part of an advanced three student team charged with designing and drafting public bathrooms and a crow's nest on top for a local baseball field. Met with local government representatives who presented their ideas on the look, structure, and requirements of the proposed building. Developed a draft in AutoCAD which met building codes: exterior doors, interior doors, handicap access (doors, bathroom stall, and sink), stairs, etc.

My father owned a farm so I was naturally recruited at quite a young age. Our daily tasks included, but were not limited to milking cows, moving irrigation lines, operation of heavy equipment, and general farm work.

Doctor Of Science - Phd, Physics

Master Of Science - Ms, Physics

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Physics

High School Diploma, General