Faculty Researchers
Dr. Mary Helen McCay (Director)
Name/Title:
Dr. Mary Helen McCay
Director, National Center for Hydrogen Research
Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology
Background/Bio:
1979 Middle Management Program, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts
1973 Ph.D., Metallurgical Engineering, University of Florida.
Sponsored by NASA. Member of ASM, Metallurgy Honorary
1969 M.S., Materials Science, Florida State University.
Specialized in Xâ??ray diffraction studies
1966 B.S., Engineering Science, Florida State University, with emphasis on Materials Science
Professional Experience:
2003-present Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
1986-2003 Professor, Engineering Science and Mechanics, Adjunct Professor, Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, at the University of Tennessee Space Institute in the Center for Laser Applications.
1975-1986 Principal Investigator at Marshall Space Flight Center on materials programs. Responsible for developing and proposing materials programs and presenting their progress to NASA Center Director and Program Directors. Provide the timeline and funding plans and direct the activities of engineers, technicians and contractors for their successful completion. Testified to congressional committees on results of programs.
1968-1975 Materials Engineer at Marshall Space Flight Center. Responsible for developing viable crystal growth program and supporting the analysis of space vehicle related materials problems and failures.
Dr. Mark Archambault
Title/Name:
Mark Archambault, PhD.
Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Background/Bio:
PhD., Stanford University, 1999
M.S., Florida Tech, 1993
B.S., Florida Tech, 1992
Professional Experience:
Assistant Professor, Florida Institute of Technology, 2004-present
Research Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory, 1994-2003
Dr. Lee Caraway
Name & Ttitle:
Dr. E. Lee Caraway
Staff Scientist
Primary Area of Study:
Fuel Cell Design and Utilization
Background:
1999 Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology
1985 M.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Wisconsin
1969 B.S., Physics, University of Wisconsin Professional Experience: Present: Staff Scientist, National Center for Hydrogen Research, Florida Institute of Technology
2002 to 2006 Staff Scientist, Physics Department, Florida Institute of Technology
2002 to 2006 Consultant and Chief Scientist, TwinStar Optics
2000-2002 Faculty, Electrical Engineering Department, Florida Institute of Technology
Triggered Lightning instrument design: Florida Institute of Technology/University of Florida [1,2]
PMT Calibration instrument design, Large Hadron Collider (LHC): Florida Institute of Technology/European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN), Switzerland
Polarimeter/Ellipsometer instrument design: TwinStar Optics, New Port Richey, FloridaMercury
Cadmium Telluride focal plan arrays for FLIR: Advanced Engineering Technologies (AET) Inc.
Firearms microcontroller interface: Firearms Training Systems (FATS) Corporation Laser targeting system: Advanced Interactive Systems (AIS) Corporation Research Staff, Phadrus Tandem Mirror Fusion Facility, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Nuclear Reactor design: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Publications:
J. R. Dwyer, M. A. Uman, H. K. Rassoul, E. L. Caraway, J. Jerauld, V. A. Rakov, D.M. Jordan, K. J. Rambo, V. Corbin, and B. Wright, “Energetic Radiation Produced During Rocket-Triggered Lightning,” Science Vol. 299, No. 5607, January 31, 2003.
J. R. Dwyer, H. K. Rassoul, L. Caraway, B. Wright, A. Chrest, M. A. Uman, V. A. Rakov, K. J. Rambo, D. M. Jordan, J. Jerauld, and C. Smyth, “A Ground Level Gamma-Ray Burst Observed in Association with Rocket-Triggered Lightning,” Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, 2004.
Dr. Susan Earles
Name/Title:
Dr. Susan Earles, Assistant Professor
earles@fit.edu
Primary Area of Study:
Materials Engineering
Background/Bio:
May 2002, PhD. Electrical Engineering
Minor in Materials Science, University of Florida
Research:
Study of boron activation and defect evolution in silicon using furnace, RTA, and laser annealing along with the study of influence of loops on mobility.
Work supported and funded by the Semiconductor Research Corporation.
Simulation:
Using FLOOPS(ww.tec.ufl.edu/~flooxs) to model temperature distribution in silicon during laser anneals (LTP) and the effect of defects on the hole mobility.
Dissertation:
Nonmelt Laser Annealing of Boron Implanted Silicon
December 1998, M.S., Electrical Engineering
University of Florida
Research:
Study of the evolution of the 311 defect in silicon
May 1995, B.S., Electrical Engineering
University of Florida
Professional Experience:
1/03 – Present, Assistant Professor, Florida Tech, Melbourne. Areas of interest and research include semiconductor and materials processing and applications for new electronic materials. Responsibilities include teaching, research, and fabrication labmanagement.
Current research:
Modeling materials interactions in HgCdTe IR detectorsand using silicon related-materials and technologies to miniaturize fuel cells.
5/02 – 8/02, Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Florida
8/98 - 12/98, Intel, Santa ClaraWorked on upgrading a UHV system from 6" to 8" for magnetic film deposition Designed inductors and simulated them using MAXWELL and AMPERES (3D magnetostatic simulators) .Tested and characterized numerous types of magnetic films for possible use in inductorsand transformers.
5/98 - 8/98, Motorola, Mesa AZModeled the evolution of the {311} defect in silicon using ALAMODE and FLOOPS
5/97 - 8/97, Lucent Technologies, OrlandoUsed Prophet (Lucent's in-house process simulator) for modeling the threshold voltage for various PMOS technologies. Designed and pushed an experiment through the fabrication lab to gain implant profiles to compare with PROPHET results.
5/96 - 8/96, Texas Instruments, DallasInstalled and tested FLOOPS.Relevant
Publications:
Nonmelt laser annealing of 5KeV and 1KeV boron-implanted silicon Earles SK, Law ME, Brindos RE, Jones KS, Talwar S, Corcoran S IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. 49, p1118-1123, July 2002.
Influence of the surface Si/buried oxide interface on extended defect evolution in silicon-on-insulator scaled to 300A Saavedra AF, Frazer J, Jones KS, Avci I, Earles SK, Law ME, Jones EC Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B: Microelectronics and Nanometer Structures”, v 20, n 6, November/December, 2002, p 2243-2247.
Other Projects worked on:
HgCdTe research with AET and the MDA.
Process simulation of HgCdTe using FLOOPS (2003-2004).
Maria Pozo Fernandez
Name/Title:
Maria Pozo de Fernandez, Assistant Professor
Primary Area of Study:
Chemical Engineering
Background:
Cornell University
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering, 1986
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering, 1983
Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas,Venezuela.
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, 1977
Research and Teaching Experience:
Florida Institute of Technology, 1992 - present.
Assistant Professor. College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department.
Courses Taught: Chemical Engineering Fundamentals I and II, Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics, Equilibrium Thermodynamics, Unit Operations Laboratory I and II, Polymeric Materials and Industrial Safety.
Research Interests: Hydrogen detection devices using porous silicon. Supercritical Fluid Extraction. Hazardous Wastes. Experimental Thermodynamics at High Pressures and Temperatures. Permeability in Polymer Systems. Polymeric Materials. Materials compatibility: CFC’s and Polymeric materials.
Florida Tech GETSMART – Middle School Program, 2002 - 2004
Program Director. College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Department.
Program designed in partnership with Stone Middle School. GETSMART for students consists of a one-week summer program for 40 - 48 middle school students. Students participate in workshops, seminars, plant trips, and “hands-on” experiments aiming to attract them to the field of science and engineering. GETSMART program for teachers consists of a six-week program for 5 middle school teachers. Faculty and teachers worked together designing workshops related to science and engineering, with appropriate and interesting content for middle school students. Teachers developed lessons plans and experiments based on the workshops.
NASA Kennedy Space Center, Summer 2001 and Summer 2000
NASA-ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship. Boiler Emissions Study, Phase III: The study involved the removal of nitrogen oxides from the flue gases of the boilers at the Kennedy Space Center. Phase III of the project focused on oxidation utilizing a microwave source. The research consisted on redesigning the flue gas piping from the boiler to the unit.
Dr. John Thomas
Name/Title:
Dr. John Thomas, Research Professor
Primary Project Name:
Sodium Borohydride as a Storage Vehicle for Hydrogen in Fuel Cell Powered UAV's
Project Information:
Project Team Members:
Dr. John Thomas, Research Professor
Dr. M.H. McCay, Director NCHR, Research Professor
Dr. James Brenner, Assistant Professor
Kenneth Bukowski, Graduate Student Research Assistant
All laboratory work is performed by Kenneth Bukowski. The professors contribute expertise according to their backgrounds.
Overview of Primary Project
Sodium Borohydride (NaBH4) composes very well with liquid hydrogen and gaseous hydrogen (5000 lbu, 10000 blu) as a hydrogen storage system. However, NaBH4 is much safer to handle than the other two systems. It is expensive for many general applications but for UAV's the economics should be acceptable.
Description of Project:
Commercial NaBH4 is converted to gaseous hydrogen (H2) by first dissolving in water and treating it with a catalyst. Many catalysts have been used by industry and academia but the most prominent is Ruthenium (Ru). At this time flow rate under various conditions are being determined.
Timeline for Project:
Flow rate data and preliminary experiments in UAV's should be accomplished in a year.
Relevant Publications:
Gryzll, L., J. Thomas, and R. Barile. 1989. Photoelectrochemical Generation of Hydrogen from Hydrogen Sulfide Using Artificial Light and Solar Radiation, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy. 14, Nno.9, 647-651.
Lyle, R.E. and J. Thomas. 1965. Sodium Borohydride reduction of 1-benzylmethyl pyrazinium salts, J. Org. Chem., 30:1907-1909.
Other Projects worked on:
Ethanol R&D for transportation fuel occupies a great deal of time since the immediate prospects are so great. Some say if hydrogen ever becomes an important transportation fuel, it will be produced from ethanol.
Other Projects of Interest:
Biodiesel R&D.
Dr. Manolis Tomadakis
Name/Title:
Dr. Manolis M. Tomadakis, Associate Professor
tomadaki@fit.edu
Primary Area of Study:
Chemical Engineering
Background/Bio:
Diploma, Aristotle University, Greece, 1988
M.S., University of Rochester, NY, 1990
Ph.D., University of Rochester, NY, 1993
Dr. Tomadakis’ expertise is in the development of computer simulation algorithms for estimating transport and structural properties of porous and composite materials, and in the mathematical modeling of mass and energy transport and reaction in chemical systems. Current focus is mainly on fiber-reinforced composites and fibrous media used as performs in Chemical Vapor Infiltration (CVI), modeling transport and reaction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), and investigating experimentally the separation of biogas through pressure-swing adsorption in molecular sieves.
Professional Experience:
Assistant Professor, Florida Tech, 1993-1999
Associate Professor, Florida Tech, 1999-present
Publications:
Tomadakis, M. M, and Pentas, K., Prediction of Gas Diffusion Layer Transport Properties and Their Effect on the Performance of PEM Fuel Cells, Proceedings of the 2006 AIChE Spring National Meeting, Orlando, FL, 2006.
Tomadakis, M.M. and Rupani, D., Diffusion Controlled Reaction Rate, Survival Probability, and Molecular Trajectory Characteristics in the Bulk, Transition, and Knudsen Regime, Chem. Eng. J., in press, 2007.
Tomadakis, M.M. and Robertson, T. J., The Viscous Permeability of Random Fiber Structures: Comparison of Electrical and Diffusional Estimates with Experimental and Analytical Results, J. Composite Materials, 39, 163-187, 2005.
Tomadakis, M.M. and Robertson, T. J., Survival and Relaxation Time, Pore Size Distribution Moments, and Viscous Permeability in Random Nonoverlapping and Partially Overlapping Fiber Structures, J. Chem. Phys., 122, 579-588, 2005.
Tomadakis, M.M. and Sotirchos, S. V., Ordinary and Transition Regime Diffusion in Random Fiber Structures, AIChE J. 39:397-412, 1993.
Other Projects worked on:
Numerical investigation of the mass and energy transport characteristics of fiber-reinforced composites and porous media.
Biogas separation through pressure-swing adsorption in molecular sieves
Other Projects of Interest:
Mathematical modeling of transport and reaction in biological systems