Max I. Kessler Email & Phone Number

Stanford, CA, US

Stanford, California, United States

Methane is much more potent than CO2 and the one greenhouse gas that we may be able to restore to preindustrial levels in the atmosphere within a human lifetime. This will take rapid reductions in emissions and, perhaps, removal of methane from the air. I research atmospheric methane removal in the Majumdar and Jackson labs, studying whether it’s feasible.

Cambridge, MA

Working on a project improve the quality of life of people displaced from their homes in the Middle East. We have developed a multi-purpose sleeping bag to address the particular challenge for many refugees of staying warm. Today, we have raised over $185,000 and sent 1,350 bags to Syria and Lebanon.

Communicate science through filmmaking and have directed several short documentaries about energy and sustainability.

Virginia, United States

Addressing food insecurity by utilizing an under-utilized data source: wastewater.

Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Researched and developed a versatile suction cup to reduce the energy intensity of industrial processing. The suction cup was inspired by the suction disk of the northern clingfish, which can adhere to rough, wet, and irregular surfaces.

New York, New York, United States

Interned with the United Nations (UN) Department of Operational Support, improving a computer-aided facility management (CAFM) system to inventory UN building use and artwork. Compiled descriptions, copyrights, and conditions of gifts donated to the UN from its member states.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Conducted research with Prof. Anthony Patera to develop an “artificial heat transfer student”—software that accepts non-prescriptive problem statements and provides solutions as expected of real students. Applied object-orientated programming in MATLAB, implemented mathematical models with Monte Carlo algorithms, and utilized finite element methods.

Jerusalem

Volunteered to teach entrepreneurship to 111 Israeli and Palestinian high-schoolers in the same classroom, designing curriculum that implemented practices in negotiation from the Harvard Law School.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Spearheaded research on Egyptian blue, an ancient pigment that luminesces with modern applications in building technology. Discovered a new technique to characterize the pigment with with Raman spectroscopy.

New York City, New York

Examined climate data and consulted architects on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems that achieve comfortable, energy-efficient building. Calculated energy loads and modeled passive design strategies, such as natural ventilation, to optimize building efficiency.

Somerville, MA

Designed and prototyped components of a portable, cost-effective mass spectrometer, ran ion trajectory simulations, and interacted with vendors and potential customers.

MIT Office Of Experiential Learning, Cambridge, MA

Served as a teaching assistant for introductory Physics courses (Classical Mechanics and Electricity & Magnetism), hosting weekly office hours and helping conduct class recitations where students learned to solve problems in small groups.

Cambridge, MA

Analyzed astronomical data in search for coma activity in centaurs (small Solar System bodies). Worked with students and the public in astronomy outreach for the August 2017 solar eclipse.

Cambridge, MA

Investigated trophic and growth dynamics of aquatic microorganisms and contributed to the standardization and optimization of a novel technique for isolating labeled DNA, as part of an effort to understand the effect of desalination by global warming-induced ice melting on Antarctic microbial communities.

Friday Harbor, WA

Collaborated with a research team to understand the mechanics the northern clingfish’s sucker to engineer a suction cup that sticks to wet and rough surfaces, just like the clingfish. Characterized fish sucker tenacity and analyzed materials using an electromechanical testing system.

Friday Harbor, WA

Investigated the ecology and behavior of copper rockfish off the shoreline of San Juan Island using an acoustic telemetry system, monitoring hydrophones to track ten surgically tagged fish within the resolution of a fraction of a meter (with support from the UW Friday Harbor Labs Young Investigator Prize).

Friday Harbor, WA

Designed and taught sailing classes for youth and adults at beginner and intermediate levels, engaging with students on the chalk board and in the boat and maintaining safety on the water.

Friday Harbor, WA

Worked at the local bike shop throughout high school, building and repairing bicycles, gaining skills as a mechanic, and interacting with customers through service, sales, and rentals.

Friday Harbor, WA

Edited digital images of marine organisms in Photoshop and managed an online database for the Friday Harbor Laboratories.

Bachelor'S Degree, Mechanical Engineering

Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Mechanical Engineering

Knight-Hennessy Scholar, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Education record

Physics lab instructor, Math tutor