Walker Tuff Email & Phone Number

South Bend, IN, US

South Bend, Indiana, United States

Notre Dame, Indiana, United States

• Developed fabrication techniques to produce structurally complex metal and metal-oxide nanostructures for publication in high-impact journals.
• Sealed liquids within an oxide capsule on a substrate to produce nano- and micro-scale plasmonic structures with surface lattice resonances and active plasmonic properties (in progress).
• Developed a fabrication technique using atomic layer deposition to produce sub-5 nm internal and external nanogaps between 2-D plasmonic metal nanostructures (in progress).
• Designed and implemented a symmetry breaking technique using ion beam milling to fabricate arrays of Janus nanocrystals for publication in ACS Nano.
• Constructed oxide nanoshells as substrate-immobilized nanoreactors using atomic layer deposition of Au and Ag nanoparticles for publication in Nanoscale.
• Combine a 2-D liquid synthesis with the on-chip fabrication of Au nanoparticles to produce large-area arrays of atomically flat Au triangles bound to a substrate for publication in Small.

Notre Dame, Indiana, United States

• Assumed responsibilities in aiding the professor of materials and photovoltaic courses in the instruction of up to a hundred students to streamline the education process.
• Provided one-on-one guidance and support to students outside of the classroom for course work in material science and photovoltaic systems.
• Graded coursework in a timely manner while providing constructive and insightful feedback to the students and the professor.
• Led laboratory sessions while demonstrating proper experimental techniques and safety protocols for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells.
• Assumed responsibility for lecturing class sessions in the absence of the course instructor to ensure uninterrupted learning experiences for the students.

New York, New York, United States

• Developed Excel, python, and C# programs to significantly optimize and expedite routine tasks.
• Wrote a Python application for the streamlined consolidation of multiple PDF documents into individual client-specific files and then followed it up with a more end-user friendly C# program.
• Created an Excel Macro using VBA to convert individual worksheets into PDFs for each entry in a master list of clients to drastically reduce the time investment from days to minutes.

Fresno, California, United States

• Assumed the role of instructor of record for the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory covering the course topics of strain measurements, two-stage compressor testing, turbine engine thermodynamics, and engine diagnostics.
• Conducted lectures on technical report writing while tailoring content to address specific challenges and areas of difficulty identified among students.
• Provided guidance and advisory support to students working on their design of experiments lab projects.
• Coordinated equipment procurement and scheduling between myself, the Mechanical Engineering Department's technician, and students.

Fresno, California, United States

• Delivered lectures and course materials for Intro to Engineering, Statics, and Engineering Graphics to facilitate student comprehension of core engineering concepts.
• Administered and graded exams and assignments while providing constructive feedback to improve student performance and mastery of engineering principles.
• Advised students on academic pathways, course selection, and career options in engineering to guide them in making informed decisions about their educational and professional goals.
• Developed and maintained up-to-date course syllabi, lesson plans, and assignments which aligned with established learning outcomes and academic standards.

Fresno, California, United States

• Led multiple teams investigating energy harvesting with piezoelectrics, water purification with graphene, and corona plasma discharge.
• Engineered multifunctional energy-harvesting composites through the integration of barium titanate, zinc oxide, and a polymer matrix for publication in the Journal of Electronic Materials.
• Initiated projects investigating energy harvesting textiles through the coating of metallic wires with piezoelectric composites.
• Collected and processed impedance data of a structural health monitoring piezoelectric device for publication in Dynamics of Civil Structures.
• Trained over 30 new recruits on appropriate laboratory safety procedures and equipment operation.

Fresno, California, United States

• Developed and delivered lectures on various mechanical engineering courses and laboratories.
• Lectured on product development which covered fabrication mentality and methodologies.
• Delivered lectures on Instruments and Measurements which covered the fundamental principles and limitations of measurements through the implementation of Arduino programming and experimental design.
• Facilitated hands-on laboratory sessions which guided students in the use of data collection and analysis to promote practical skills and gain hands-on experience.
• Provided individualized support and mentoring to students, offering clarification on course content, troubleshooting technical challenges, and assisting with project development.
• Fostered a positive and inclusive classroom environment to encourage student participation, critical thinking, and develop a passion for scientific inquiry.

Fresno, California, United States

• Provided hands-on training and guidance to new student workers to ensure they were proficient in using equipment and tools.
• Monitored and enforced lab safety regulations and implemented corrective actions to mitigate potential hazards.
• Troubleshooted and resolved technical issues to minimize downtime and ensure continuous lab functionality.
• Fostered a collaborative and inclusive work environment by encouraging knowledge sharing and teamwork among student workers.
• Provided technical expertise and support to faculty, researchers, and students to contribute to the success of academic and student projects.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Material Science & Engineering

Activities and Societies: NDnano Member

Master Of Science - Ms, Mechanical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Materials Research Society of Fresno State President (2018/2019) American Society of Mechanical Engineers Social.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Energy Devices and Plasma Applications Laboratory Member Tau Beta Pi Member