Team
Richard Zhang
Principal Investigator
Hometown: Melbourne, FL, USA
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, MIT (2010)
M.S. and Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Tech (2015)
Staff Engineer, Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA (2015-2017)
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX (2017 - Present)
My research is focused on nanoscale energy transport and optics. I am particularly interested in nanomaterials (nanotubes, nanoparticles, and 2D materials), near-field tunneling (thermal rectification, probe microscopy, and infrared sensors), and aerospace applications (radiative coatings, photovoltaic devices, and spacecraft systems).
Ken Araki
Ph.D. Candidate
Hometown: Takasaki, Japan / San Diego, CA
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Niigata University (2019)
Research Interests: Photonic gratings, environmental cooling, and aerospace
Project: Tunable radiative emission coatings using 2D materials and phase transition oxides
Micah Vallin
Ph.D. Candidate
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno (2017)
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, UNT (2020)
Research Interests: Nanomaterials, phonon dynamics, and computational optimization
Project: Thermal conductivity of phase transition nanomaterials
Partially funded by US AFOSR
Ethan Cramer
M.S. Thesis Student (Co-Advised with Dustin Harvey)
Hometown: Prosper, TX
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of North Texas (2020)
Research Interests: Machine Learning Engineering, Aerospace
Supported by Los Alamos National Labs
Support Staff
1. Kona, K.9. (2020)
Alumni
1. Kelsa Adams, M.S. (2022): Lockheed Martin, Ft. Worth
Thesis: Gradient-Index Metamaterial Infrared Detector for Enhanced Photo-response and Image Quality
2. Morgan Blankenship, M.S. (2022)
3. Ethan Cramer, B.S. (2020): Los Alamos National Labs
4. Anton Yorzh, M.S. (2019)
