PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
(previously Lecturer / Visiting Scholar)
Mechanical and Civil Engineering Department
Utah Valley University, Orem, UT (Aug 2020 – Present)
COURSES TAUGHT
- Dynamics
- Introduction to Engineering
- Thermofluids Lab
- Developed four new labs
- Seminar
- Arranged for speakers from industry, government, each semester
- Developed new lectures and assignments
- Proposed and developed new ME course, including all new lectures, assignments, and projects
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES & ACTIVITIES
- Senior Capstone Design Coach (Since Fall, 2020)
- Mentored student research team for Airport Cooperative Research Program
national design competition- 8 undergraduate team members
- 1st place (2024)
- Design Winners 2024 | ACRP
- Vibrations and Controls Lab
- Arranged for speakers from industry, government, each semester
- Developed new lectures and assignments
GRANTS & FUNDING RECEIVED
-
Environmental Impact Hub funding for student research
- Used to pay undergraduate research assistant salary ($2,500)
- Research into semi-autonomous electric aircraft tugs
- UVU CET-SAC grant for undergraduate research assistant to travel to ASME conference ($1,500)
- UVU Advancement of Teaching Committee Faulty travel grant for ASME conference travel ($700)
- UVU GEL grant ($10,000)
- Rocky Mountain Power Foundation grants ($10,000 and $5,000)
DESIGN ENGINEER
Space Systems Group
Northrop Grumman
Magna, UT (Apr 2017 – Aug 2020)
Design of satellite components and test and tooling fixtures. Collaboration with virtual teams of designers, manufacturers, and analysts in San Diego, Virginia, and Utah. Advanced use of Siemens NX for modeling and drafting and TeamCenter PLM. Contributed to team success by developing continuous improvement tools and projects. Lead designer of test hardware for satellite bus structure project. Coordinated efforts among manufacturing, analysis, management, and design.
DESIGN ENGINEER
Aerospace Structures Group
Northrop Grumman
Clearfield, UT (Jul 2018 – Nov 2018)
Design of airplane structure components (both metallic and composite). Advanced use of Siemens NX for modeling and drafting and TeamCenter PLM, beginner’s level of experience using Siemens Fibersim. At manager request, proposed various ideas for process improvements.
DESIGN ENGINEER and ANALYST
Flight Systems Group, Propulsion Division
Orbital ATK
Bacchus, UT (MAY 2016 – APR 2017)
Analysis of solid fuel configuration and performance for rockets and missiles used by U.S. Military and other Orbital ATK customers. Basic 3D PMI and modeling (Siemens NX), Parts Lists and Notes (TCuA, ePIC), and similar documentation in support of GEM 63 and CBS programs. Proposed multiple improvements to department and company processes through formal proposal processes (several of which are currently being evaluated and investigated for implementation), including return on investment calculations.
ONLINE ADJUNCT
Flight Systems Group, Propulsion Division
Brigham Young University – Idaho
Rexburg, ID (Jan 2017 – Present)
COURSES TAUGHT
- Parametric Mechanical CAD (Computer Aided Design)
- Statics
- Dynamics
Helped hundreds of students to earn their CSWA certification as part of teaching the Introduction to Computer Aided Design Graphics course through BYU-Idaho's online Learning Management System.
Mentored and instructed students as they learned the basics of SolidWorks, including orthographic projection, sketching, parametric design, assemblies, basic drafting techniques, and design problem solving.
Assisted with evaluation of curriculum design and suggested changes to enhance student learning and help achieve institutional objectives. Recorded interviews with professionals working in relevant industries to share with students and help inspire them to work hard and envision where the skills they are learning can take them.
As part of teaching Statics, created step-by-step help videos in response to student requests for help on problems that not only explained principles to solve problems, but also demonstrated and encouraged use of Mathematica software tool. Worked one-on-one with students via online web-conferencing and participated in professional development activities with other online professors.
Served as TGL (Teaching Group Lead) mentoring and advising a group of 10 other professors teaching similar courses (4 semesters).
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University (Apr 2016)
Dissertation: "Maximizing Virtual MUCAx Engineering Design Team Performance”
Adviser: Dr. Edward Red
Abstract: Teams of design engineers are increasingly working as members of virtual teams, or teams whose members are distributed geographically and communicate mostly through electronic means. In addition, emerging multi-user (MU) applications engage complementary teams in synchronous design activities. These new MU tools are changing the way engineers work together. Together, these factors have created a new and interesting environment in which engineering design teams must function. The work presented here lays out two major themes that teams and their managers can effectively apply to organizing and managing MU teams: 1) teams can maximize their potential productivity by determining the optimal number of teammates for a given modeling effort and by implementing a profile and team formation system based on the principle of optimizing complementary team member characteristics; and2) to minimize process losses, teams can implement effective strategies for working in a MU and/or virtual setting and they can use novel new MU tools that address portions of the product development process that have previously not been addressed with such tools.
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Emphasis in Product Development Brigham Young University – Idaho (Apr 2012)
(Emphasis in Product Development)
PATENTS
(PRIMARY OR CO-INVENTOR, COMPLETED OR PENDING)
1. Concurrent design and analysis of an engineering object (US20150199454A1)
2. Optimizing Organization and Management of Teams (US20150066554A1)
3. Collaborative Project Management (US10048841B2)
4. Data Protection in CAX Applications (US20170337296A1)
5. Powered Wheelchair, Wheelchair Powering Device and Method (US20180280213A1)
6. Graphical view selection system, method, and apparatus (US20140118223A1)
7. Selection triggered collaborative cax editing (US20150271221A1)
8. Airport Tug (pending, applied for via UVU Tech Comm & Intel Prop Counsel)
9. Airport Tug Attach/Detach mechanism (pending, applied for via UVU Tech Comm & Intel Prop
Counsel)
10. Sirkel / Leg Roller Utility Patent (submitted,#19/226,957)
11. Sirkel / Leg Roller Design Patent (submitted, #30/006,593)
POSITIONS
Tester Team Manager at Brigham Young University CAD Laboratory, Provo, Utah from May 2014 to April 2016
Managed team of 5 to 14 undergraduate software testers and research assistants as part of effort to develop and improve multi-user CAD research and demonstration software and other products. Encouraged development of professional and technical skills among team members including individual mentoring. Led team’s vision development and achievement in fast-paced R&D environment. Led development of software tools and other research.
Boeing AerosPACE Assistant Researcher at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah from August 2013 to April 2016
Developed and applied novel research techniques regarding virtual engineering team performance to multi-disciplinary teams of senior engineering students from multiple universities from around the country working on a capstone project sponsored by Boeing. Assisted in administration of the program, including conferences, presentations to industry and government agencies, Institutional Review Board approvals, surveys, and more. Led research and authorship of two journal articles.
Advanced Vehicle Test Activity Internships, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho during the summers of 2011 and 2012
Awarded “Best Overall” at intern poster session for poster design, content, and oral presentation on results of original research on Chevrolet Volt. Designed and executed seven experiments to benchmark battery cooling system. Improved fuel economy calculations used for studying plug-in hybrids and other vehicles. Developed automated Matlab based route type determination method which greatly improved detail available to researchers.
Teaching Assistant and Tutor at Brigham Young University – Idaho, Energy Issues and Alternatives course, Rexburg, Idaho from January 2010 to April 2012
Tutored students in one-on-one and group settings to help increase understanding of principles of energy production and use. Led tutor sessions explaining and practicing basic thermodynamic principles such as conservation of energy. Pre-evaluated and gave feedback on student presentations. Corrected weekly papers. Maintained gradebook.
Scientific Communications Internships, Idaho National Laboratory – Communications and Governmental Affairs, Idaho Falls, Idaho during the summers of 2009 and 2010.
Produced more than 33 articles, press releases, and short videos in less than eight months. Facilitated efforts between three different groups in development of a web-page. Performed research on nuclear power sustainability program utilized in presentations given by senior laboratory directors on Capitol Hill. Enhanced effectiveness of social media outreach analysis techniques by automating spreadsheet calculations. Gathered and organized data regarding nuclear fuel cycle installations.
COMMUNITY
- Eagle Scout
- Volunteer Missionary – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Trujillo, Peru (2006-2008). Served in various leadership and training capacities.
- Youth group leader / Sunday School teacher in local congregation (2013-2017, present)
- Adult Sunday School teacher in local congregation (2018-2019)
CERTIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
- FE Certified (2012)
- UVU Online Teaching Academy Certified
- Siemens NX CAD certified
- UVU Sculpt Mentoring Academy
- SolidWorks CAD Certified (CSWA)
- UVU OSP Research and Grant Writing Training course
- Fluent Spanish
NOTABLE EXPERIENCES
UVU ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT HUB FELLOW
(SPRING/SUMMER, 2022)
Applied for and was selected along with two other UVU faculty members to research and create content for other UVU faculty and community members to present to students to increase environmental literacy and awareness of issues related to sustainability. Researched and created two presentations and accompanying learning activities and helped to review and refine content produced by other fellows (“Issues and Solutions Regarding Water Quality” and “Issues and Solutions Regarding Water Quantity”).
FACULTY IN BUSINESS EXTERNSHIPS
– Trove Brands, Inc. (Summer 2022)
Completed a two-week Faculty in Business (FIB) externship with Trove Brands, Inc., owner of Blender Bottle, AVANA, Owala, etc. Participated in brainstorming, design, fabrication, and testing of new products and made final presentation to design staff and senior management (including CEO and founders). Sought to establish connection with company and UVU to enhance internship and employment opportunities for UVU students. Gained skills and insights to enhance course content during the semester.
– U.S. Synthetic (Summer 2024 & 2025)
Completed two one month FIB externships with U.S. Synthetic, working to analyze and develop mitigation strategies for excessive noise on factory floor. Worked with full-time employees to research sources of noise in facilities using multiple measurement techniques and then develop and validate methods to mitigate unwanted noise. Included noise measurement with various tools, CAD, design for manufacturing and assembly, coordinating with various engineers, managers, and line workers. Presented findings to various groups of stakeholders from hourly employees to upper management. Gained experiences, skills, and insights to share with UVU students.
UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY
(WINTER SEMESTER 2016)
Substitute Instructor, Math 1050 Course
Engaged students in discussion of mathematical concepts. Elicited questions and provided explanations. Attempted to instill enthusiasm for material presented and encourage students.
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY – IDAHO NEWSPAPER
(2009-2010)
Editor of Campus section
Trained and led staff of 10 students in weekly publication of largest section of university newspaper. Never missed a deadline.
Statistician
Analyzed and interpreted data for four sections of newspaper. Scholarship staff reporter.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE –
TARGHEE NATIONAL FOREST (2005)
Heavy Trails Maintenance Crew
Cleared mountain trails of deadfall, rockslides, erosion and overgrowth. Built concrete pads for ATV bridges. Received training and/or certification in tree-felling (class A Apprentice Sawyer), horsemanship, backcountry ATV use, and defensive driving.
