My work for my dissertation will include the following:• Working to create a high entropy alloy (HEA) that exhibits shear banding and “self-sharpening” behavior for further penetration of projectileso Focus: Mechanical testing and characterization of an alloy containing Tungsten, Molybdenum, Nickle, and Iron o Responsibilities: My main responsibility in this project is to understand the mechanical behavior of each phase within the HEA via nanoindentation. I also run compression tests with the Gleeble, a dynamic thermal-mechanical tester. In addition to the experiments I run, I also mentor the younger graduate students in coming up with experiments and how to further our research.o Skills: Nanoidentation, Gleeble, SEM• High speed mechanical mapping of nanoporous goldo Focus: Understanding the indent spacing required for best resolution of mechanical mapping of nanoporous materialso Skills: Nanoindentation (Nanoblitz 3D mapping)o Other: Independently run research• In situ coarsening of nanoporous goldo Focus: In situ SEM heating of nanoporous gold to capture how ligaments coarsen in real timeo Skills: SEM, ImageJo Other: Independently run research • Developing and characterizing scandate cathodeso Focus: Comparing scandate cathodes to other tungsten-based cathodes o Responsibilities: Improving a lab specific Cathode Characterization Chamber (CCC) to understand the emission of scandate cathodes at operational temperature via kelvin probe, pyrometer, and RGA. Imaging the surface of cathodes before and after emission at elevated temperatures. I also characterized the precursor scandium used to create scandate cathodes. o Skills: Kelvin Probe, Pyrometer, Residual Gas Analyzer (RGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), ImageJ

Currently, I am the lead user of the Balk research group's iMicro (nanoindenter). This allows me to not only work on my research projects but other projects that require the understanding of mechanical behavior, It has also allowed me to work on a variety of materials and help departments outside of Materials Engineering.

My research for Professor Wendelin Wright was on the deformation statistics of metallic glass. The main focus was understanding shear banding which occurs in metallic glasses during compression via nanoindentation.

My REU at Stony Brook University focused on the mechanical properties of irradiated tungsten. I worked with a Ph.D. candidate to understand how the irradiation of tungsten affects its mechanical properties for future plasma fusion reactor material via nanoindentation.