Research

MIT Mechanosynthesis Group, Postdoctoral Associate (Nov. 2017 – Dec. 2018)

  • Investigated electroadhesion mechanisms and performance of carbon nanotube surfaces for robotic gripping.
  • Studied fluid flow from nanoporous flexographic printing stamps comprised of patterned carbon nanotube arrays and modeled the ink transfer process.
  • Advisor: Prof. A. John Hart

MIT Microfluidics & Nanofluidics Research Laboratory, Research Assistant (Sept. 2011 – Nov. 2016)

  • Designed and fabricated defect-tolerant macroscopic nanoporous graphene membranes for gas separation.
  • Obtained the first experimental evidence of gas molecule sieving through large area single layer graphene.
  • Fabricated centimeter-scale three layer graphene membranes achieving Knudsen selectivity. • Measured the inherent gas permeance of large area single and multi-layer graphene to quantify its barrier properties.
  • Simulated molecular dynamics of gas flow across graphene pores to predict performance and understand transport.
  • Demonstrated E. coli filtration using plant xylem, establishing its potential as a low cost water filter.
  • Advisors: Rohit Karnik & Nicolas G. Hadjiconstantinou

University of Waterloo Fluid Mechanics Research Laboratory, Research Assistant (Sept. 2008 – Aug. 2011)

  • Conducted experimental research on low Reynolds number airfoil operation, focusing on transition to turbulence in the separated shear layer and the formation of coherent wake structures.
  • Coded laminar flow stability solvers, wind tunnel wall adaptation routines, and data acquisition applications.
  • Applied hotwire anemometry, laser Doppler velocimetry, time-resolved surface pressure sensor arrays, flow visualization, and adaptive wall test section corrections to understand flow development.
  • Advisor: Serhiy Yarusevych