I am a mechanical engineering PhD candidate characterizing the potential benefits and risks of breaking down atmospheric methane to mitigate its climate and health impacts. I research photochemistry-based technologies, drawing inspiration from the ways nature uses sunlight to clean the air of methane.I also have experience in humanitarian response and social entrepreneurship as a co-founder of TravlerPack—a nonprofit developing custom sleeping bags to improve the quality of life for refugees and displaced persons in vulnerable living conditions. To date, we have sent 6,750 bags to the Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
-
Phd CandidateStanford UniversityStanford, Ca, Us -
Phd CandidateStanford University Sep 2021 - PresentStanford, California, United StatesMethane 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 and what its benefits and impacts would be. -
Project LeaderTravlerpack Jul 2017 - PresentCambridge, MaWorking 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.
-
FilmmakerFreelance 2013 - PresentCommunicate science through filmmaking and have directed several short documentaries about energy and sustainability.
-
Co-FounderHaven Analytics Feb 2021 - Jul 2022Virginia, United StatesAddressing food insecurity by utilizing an under-utilized data source: wastewater.
-
Fulbright Germany ResearcherFulbright Association Jan 2021 - Aug 2021Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyResearched 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. -
Intern In Planning Design And Construction SectionUnited Nations Sep 2020 - Dec 2020New York, New York, United StatesInterned 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. -
ResearcherMit Department Of Mechanical Engineering (Meche) Jun 2020 - Dec 2020Cambridge, Massachusetts, United StatesConducted 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. -
Entrepreneurship InstructorMeet - Middle East Entrepreneurs Of Tomorrow Jul 2019 - Aug 2019JerusalemVolunteered 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. -
Undergraduate Researcher In Lab For Multiscale Characterization And Materials DesignMit Civil And Environmental Engineering Sep 2017 - Jul 2019Cambridge, Massachusetts, United StatesSpearheaded 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. -
Climate Engineering InternTranssolar Klimaengineering Jan 2019 - Feb 2019New York City, New YorkExamined 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. -
Engineering And Science InternTrace Matters Scientific May 2018 - Aug 2018Somerville, MaDesigned and prototyped components of a portable, cost-effective mass spectrometer, ran ion trajectory simulations, and interacted with vendors and potential customers. -
Physics Teaching AssistantMassachusetts Institute Of Technology Sep 2017 - May 2018Mit Office Of Experiential Learning, Cambridge, MaServed 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. -
Undergraduate Researcher In The Planetary Astronomy LaboratoryMit Department Of Earth, Atmospheric And Planetary Sciences Jul 2017 - Aug 2017Cambridge, MaAnalyzed 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. -
Undergraduate Researcher In Polz Lab For Microbial Ecology And EvolutionMit Civil And Environmental Engineering Jan 2017 - May 2017Cambridge, MaInvestigated 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. -
High School Researcher In Comparative Biomechanics LabUniversity Of Washington Sep 2015 - Apr 2016Friday Harbor, WaCollaborated 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. -
High School Researcher For Rockfish Acoustic Telemetry StudyUniversity Of Washington Jun 2015 - Aug 2015Friday Harbor, WaInvestigated 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). -
Sailing InstructorSan Juan Island Park And Recreation 2014 - 2016Friday Harbor, WaDesigned 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.
-
Mechanic & SalespersonIsland Bicycles 2012 - 2015Friday Harbor, WaWorked 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.
-
High School ResearcherUniversity Of Washington Jun 2012 - Aug 2012Friday Harbor, WaEdited digital images of marine organisms in Photoshop and managed an online database for the Friday Harbor Laboratories.
Max I. Kessler Education Details
-
Mechanical Engineering -
Mechanical Engineering
Frequently Asked Questions about Max I. Kessler
What company does Max I. Kessler work for?
Max I. Kessler works for Stanford University
What is Max I. Kessler's role at the current company?
Max I. Kessler's current role is PHD Candidate.
What schools did Max I. Kessler attend?
Max I. Kessler attended Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, Stanford University, Spring Street International School.
Free Chrome Extension
Find emails, phones & company data instantly
Aero Online
Your AI prospecting assistant
Select data to include:
0 records × $0.02 per record
Download 750 million emails and 100 million phone numbers
Access emails and phone numbers of over 750 million business users. Instantly download verified profiles using 20+ filters, including location, job title, company, function, and industry.
Start your free trial