Greater St. Louis
I’m a recent M.S. graduate in Aerospace Engineering (4.0 GPA) from the University of Dayton, where I specialized in structural mechanics, advanced materials, and simulation. My work bridges physical testing and high-fidelity numerical analysis to improve how we design and certify aerospace components. As a Graduate Research Assistant on an FAA-sponsored project, I led efforts to develop and test novel fracture specimens capable of producing stress states that conventional designs couldn’t reach. I combined hands-on mechanical testing—using servo-hydraulic systems and stereo digital image correlation—with simulation tools like LS-DYNA, SolidWorks, and HyperMesh to validate and enhance predictive models. This experience taught me to think critically at the intersection of experiment and simulation. Before graduate school, I earned my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UD (Honors, Cum Laude), where I applied engineering fundamentals to practical design and manufacturing challenges. From creating an adaptive basketball launcher for children with special needs to optimizing hydroforming tooling during my internship, I developed a well-rounded engineering skillset that spans both innovation and execution.
FAA-sponsored project to facilitate simulation-aided certification Goal: Design novel Ti-6Al-4V test coupons that attain previously unachieved states of stress at fracture Conducted uniaxial compression testing on cylindrical coupons with geometric irregularities using an MTS servo-hydraulic testing machine Used stereo digital image correlation (DIC) for optical strain measurement | Correlated Solutions VIC-3D for DIC post-processing Performed finite element analysis (FEA) using Ansys LS-DYNA | SolidWorks for 3D solid modeling | Altair HyperMesh for specimen meshing
Focus: Optimization of the hydroforming process and maintenance Collected and analyzed key variables to provide recommendations for the frequency of tooling changes to optimize tool life without jeopardizing part quality Sub-projects: Laser-welding optimization and multiple production machine repairs