Archives:
2016-17 Graduate students
2017-18 Graduate students
2018-19 Graduate students
2019-20 Graduate students
2020-21 Graduate students
2021-22 Graduate students
2022-23 Graduate students
2022-23 Graduate Student Research Projects
Kenneth Buffo- University of Iowa
Assessing the Capabilities of Adjustable X-ray Mirrors with Thin-film Actuators
X-ray telescopes are critical for studying a myriad of high-energy sources: black holes, hot plasma surrounding galaxies, and the atmospheres of stars. Given this, the 2020 Decadal survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics, which guides the science priorities of NASA’s Astrophysics Division, recommended an X-ray flagship mission for launch in the 2040’s. However, the Astrophysics Division’s..Read more
Zachary Burton- Iowa State University
Exploring the Relationship Between Environmental Biofilms and the Corrosion of Metal Surfaces
My research involves the investigation of the roles that microbial biofilms have in metal corrosion. Since the beginning of the Space Program in 1962, NASA has been combating corrosion. This is especially true for the launch equipment at the Kennedy Space Center that is subjected to exposure to salinity through ocean spray and fog o combat this, current corrosion protection protocols employ the …Read more
David Fehr- University of Iowa
Theory of a Single Silicon Vacancy in Silicon Carbide as a Quantum Magnetometer
Solid-state magnetometers have recently stimulated interest due to their smaller size, weight, and power (SWaP) compared to existing magnetometers, and their potential to self-calibrate without expensive spacecraft maneuvers; two attractive features which help conserve spacecraft fuel. However, extensive research must be completed to optimize this new technology, and a detailed theory is the first step…Read more
Kenton Greene
Characterizing and Flight Demonstrating a New, High Stability Fluxgate Manetometer Design
Fluxgate magnetometers are important tools for measuring space plasmas. However, fluxgate baseline measurements are known to drift over time. This instability can make it difficult to resolve magnetic features like planetary crustal fields which are important to understanding…Read more
Sarah Henderson- University of Iowa
Characterizing Energy Spectra of Precipitation Solar Wind H+ and H- in the Martian Atmosphere
This research project focuses on how the solar wind interacts with the Martian atmosphere. As solar wind protons propagate towards Mars, they can interact with Mars’s extensive hydrogen corona through a process of charge exchange. These solar wind protons can obstain an electron from neutral atomic hydrogen in the corona, becoming fast energetic neutral atoms…Read more
Kristie Nault- University of Iowa
A Spectroscopic Study of the Symbiotic Star AG Draconis
My research focuses on the symbiotic star system AG Draconis (AG Dra), which consists of a red giant star and white dwarf. Most stars are low-mass and will go through each of these evolutionary phases at the ends of their lives, and stars are also commonly born in binaries. However, despite supposedly being common, high-quality observations of…Read more
Alexander Perruci- Iowa State University
Extended Target Tracking via LiDAR for Spacecraft Relative Navigation
My current work is concerned with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensing for spacecraft rendezvous maneuvers. Although LiDAR has been used in spacecraft relative navigation for decades, existing methods require target-mounted reflectors to identify and track the target. In many cases, such as spacecraft debris removal, on-orbit servicing, and asteroid rendezvous…Read more
Jacob Wheaton- Iowa State University
Development of Safe All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Thin-Film Glassy Solid-State Electrolytes
My research focuses on the synthesis and development of glassy solid-state lithium-ion batteries. I am working to develop novel glass compositions that exhibit high ionic conductivities, excellent electrochemical stability, and easy low-temperature processing. These novel compositions are being made in large-scale batches to generate a rectangular preform, which I then reheat and pull into a thin film less than 100 microns in…Read more