On October 7, 2005 I filed my dissertation with the UCSB Graduate Division, thus completing my doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering (with a specialization in Electronic and Photonic Materials) in the Department of Materials at the University of California, Santa Barbara. If you are interested in my research please check out my dissertation; if you haven't already, I highly recommend reading the acknowledgements. With my degree in hand, I continued my southward trek down the California coast and took a position as a Research Scientist with Aerius Photonics, LLC, Ventura's foremost photonics firm.
Under the joint supervision of Profs. MacDonald and Bowers, my research centered on the design, fabrication and characterization of wavelength agile optoelectronic devices utilizing micromechanical tuning. Specifically, my dissertation research focused on the design, fabrication and characterization of tunable narrow-bandwidth optical amplifiers and was aptly titled "MEMS-tunable vertical-cavity SOAs".
In June 2001 I received my BS from the department of Materials Engineering at the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. At Cal Poly my undergraduate thesis focused on the development of thick film piezoelectric strain sensors based on PZT-polymer composites.
During the summer of 2000 I worked as a mechanical engineering intern at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, CA. My main task involved designing solid models of components for the various flight simulators in the Flight and Guidance Simulation Laboratory. Over the course of the summer I flew a commercial airliner (Boeing 747-400), and landed the space shuttle in the VMS.
While a student at Cal Poly, I participated in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Collegiate Formula Racing Competition for the 1999-2000, and 2000-2001 seasons. At the 2000 competition the Cal Poly Formula car placed 10th out of 150 competitors, while in 2001 we placed 12th. Our vehicle was powered by a highly modified Yamaha YZF-R6 4 cylinder, running on methanol (M85), with a custom Electromotive TEC-II fuel injection system. The lightweight tube-frame chassis allowed for 0-60 mph times of around 3 seconds. Other amenities included 4 wheel carbon-carbon disk brakes, a kevlar/carbon fiber composite body, and a custom fabricated tri-y exhaust header.
Finally, you may recognize me from my November 16, 1999 appearance on the Price is Right, starring everyone's favorite game show host, Bob Barker. On the show I won a set of bowling balls, a gun safe, a cappuccino machine, and a washer/dryer, after successfully playing "Easy as 1-2-3".
