Director
Richard Wirz
Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering
| Hometown: | Fairfax, VA |
| Research: | Electric and micro propulsion, low temperature plasma and plasma discharges, spacecraft and space mission design, alternative energy generation and storage. |
| Degrees: | Ph.D., Aeronautics and applied sciences, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) M.S., Aeronautics and applied sciences, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) B.S., Aerospace engineering, Virginia Tech B.S., Ocean engineering, Virginia Tech |
Postdoctoral Researchers
Reza Baghaei Lakeh
Postdoctoral Researcher, Mechanical Engineering
| Hometown: | Tehran, Iran |
| Research: | Thermal property analysis of supercritical fluids Heat transfer modeling for supercritical thermal energy storage |
| Degrees: | Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Southern Illinois University (2012) M.S., Mechanical Engineering, IUST (2007) B.S., Mechanical Engineering, IUST (2004) |
Taylor Matlock
Postdoctoral Researcher, Aerospace Engineering
| Hometown: | Lancaster, CA |
| Degrees: | Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, MIT (2012) |
Graduate Researchers
Hann-Shin Mao
Ph.D. Student, Aerospace Engineering
| Hometown: | Los Angeles, CA |
| Research: | Miniature Xenon Ion (MiXI) thruster, analysis of miniature discharge stability and performance Miniature Cusp-Confined Plasma Discharges |
| Degrees: | M.S., Aerospace Engineering, UCLA (2009) B.S., Aerospace Engineering, UCLA (2007) |
Samuel Jun Araki
Ph.D. Student, Aerospace Engineering
| Hometown: | Ishikawa, Japan |
| Research: | Cross-field diffusion behavior of intermediately ionized plasma in magnetic fields Simplified plasma experiment to investigate plasma diffusion and transport mechanisms A Particle-in-Cell Modeling for Near-Surface Cusp Confinement of Micro-Scale Plasma |
| Degrees: | M.S., Aerospace Engineering, UCLA (2009) B.S., Aerospace Engineering, UCLA (2007) |
Phillip Chiu
Ph.D. Student, Mechanical Engineering
| Hometown: | Fremont, CA |
| Research: | Aerodynamic Performance of Biplane Airfoils for Wind Turbines |
| Degrees: | M.S., Mechanical Engineering, UCLA (2011) B.S., Mechanical Engineering, UC Davis (2008) |
Lauren Chu
Ph.D. Student, Aerospace Engineering
| Hometown: | Saratoga, CA |
| Research: | Simplified plasma experiment to investigate plasma diffusion and transport mechanisms |
| Degrees: | B.S., Mechanical Engineering, California Institute of Technology (2009) |
Ben Dankongkakul
M.S. Student, Aerospace Engineering
| Hometown: | Los Angeles, CA |
| Research: | ILG ion gun characterization analysis Near-Surface Cusp Confinement of Micro Scale Plasma |
| Degrees: | B.S., Aerospace Engineering, UCLA (2009) |
Perry Roth-Johnson
Ph.D. Student, Aerospace Engineering
| Hometown: | Anaheim, CA |
| Research: | Aero-Structural Modeling Methods for Multi-Element Wind Turbine Blades Aerodynamic Performance of Biplane Airfoils for Wind Turbines |
| Degrees: | M.S., Aerospace Engineering, UCLA (2011) B.S., Mechanical Engineering, UC Berkeley (2009) |
Marlene Patino
Ph.D. Student, Aerospace Engineering
| Hometown: | Sun Valley, CA |
| Research: | Simplified plasma experiment to investigate plasma diffusion and transport mechanisms |
| Degrees: | B.S., Aerospace Engineering, UCLA (2010) |
Ryan Conversano
Ph.D. Student, Aerospace Engineering
| Hometown: | Lafayette, CA |
| Research: | Mission Capability Assessment of CubeSats Using a Miniature Ion Thruster |
| Degrees: | M.S., Aerospace Engineering, UCLA (2011) B.S., Aerospace Engineering, UCLA (2010) |
Collaborators
Alumni
Emily Chu (M.S., 2012)
Monica Cowan (M.S., 2011)
Sebastian Aspe (M.S., 2011)
Alex Baker (B.S., 2012)
Norris Tie
Phuoc Hai Tran
Sungsu Lee
Joseph Pan
Sennan Sulaiman (B.S., 2012)
Tom Wiltse
Pooria Sharif-Kashani