PERSONAL STATEMENT

I am an experienced postdoctoral researcher in experimental astrophysics with a background in mechanical engineering and nanotechnology, which has prepared me to be a creative problem solver, and makes me comfortable in multidisciplinary environments.
Proficient in developing projects, managing research teams, and ensuring efficient project completion, and skilled in designing and testing mechanical, electrical, and cryogenic elements, I like to consider myself an “Über Engineer” or engineer of everything. I am seeking to apply my knowledge and experience to an industry position with dynamic, growing organization.
If you are looking for a passionate individual, a doer, somebody with a broad spectrum of knowledge and leadership skills, I am the right person for you.

EDUCATION

• PhD in Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA | GPA 3.96 | July 2013
• MS in Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA | GPA 3.93 | May 2010
• BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy | GPA 3.78 | July 2006

EXPERIENCE

Postdoctoral Researcher | 06/2014-Present
University of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Philadelphia, PA 
• Design, build, and test mechanical, electrical, and cryogenic elements for the BLAST-TNG experiment, a $6M+ stratospheric telescope successor and enhanced version of BLASTPol.
• Act as technical liaison between NASA-CSBF ballooning engineers, and the BLAST experiment.
• Maintain and monitor operations, and logistics for the ACT-Pol experiment, a $2M+ telescope at 17000ft in the Atacama Desert of Chile. Each night of observing is valued ~$30,000.
• Manage project logistics nationally and internationally.
• Maintain relationships with vendors, and responsible of direct purchasing operations for ~$100K- $200K/year.
• As the senior postdoc in the Devlin lab, I supervise a team of 3-4 doctoral students, undergraduates, and oversee newly appointed postdocs and staff.
http://sites.northwestern.edu/blast/

Postdoctoral Researcher | 09/2013 - 06/2014
University of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Philadelphia, PA
• Designed and developed a microfluidic technique to synthesize mono disperse microbubbles with tunable shell properties for biomedical applications. A patent was filed.
• Collaborated with Johnson & Johnson, Rutgers University, and the MIT for water permeability studies of a model stratum corneum lipid membrane.
http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~leegroup/index.html

Research Assistant | 09/2008-07/2013
University of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Philadelphia, PA
• Worked on BLASTPol, a $5M+ fully-automated flying robotic telescope observatory, for a project in collaboration with NASA, and international institutions and universities.
• Upgraded the design of a cryogenic gear train to operate and spin a half wave plate at 4K.
• Improved the warm optics structural and mechanical design, and successfully implemented and assembled the new design.
• Managed cryogenic receiver, detectors, and relative readout electronics.
• Deployed to Antarctica for a total of about 8 months. Supervised integration, flight, observation, and coordinated the recovery of BLASTPol in both 2010-2011, and 2012-2013 campaigns.
• Contributed on target selection, data analysis, and instrument characterization. http://devlinlab.info/projects/blast/index.php

Visiting Scholar | 06/2007 - 09/2008
Harvard University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, MA
• Exploited droplet-based microfluidic techniques to develop a high-throughput assay for monoclonal antibody screening. A patent was filed.
• Studied and optimized flow dynamics applied to microfluidic devices to encapsulate single beads in water in oil droplets.
• Generated double emulsions with carbon nanofibers’ outer shell.
http://weitzlab.seas.harvard.edu/

Research Assistant  | 07/2006 - 03/2008
National Research Council - Nanoscience Institute, Philadelphia, PA
• Developed an innovative technique to realize multilayer microstructures using optical lithographic techniques. These were used as templates for the manufacture of microfluidic devices.
• Performed basic studies on fluid dynamics in micro channels.
http://www.nano.cnr.it/

TEACHING

University of Pennsylvania | 2008 - 2010
Laboratory instructor and grader for first year and advanced physics & astronomy courses. Held office hours and provided individual instruction and attention to students.

SKILLS

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
• Design, analysis and validation of mechanical components
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
• FARO laser tracker
• 3D reverse engineering
• Common machine shop equipment (mill, lathe, etc.)

THERMAL ENGINEERING
• Study and design of thermal components for Near-Space and sub-Kelvin instrumentation

CRYOGENICS
• High Vacuum applications and cryogenic liquids handling including liquid Nitrogen and liquid Helium

ANALOG & DIGITAL ELECTRONICS
• Design, validation and assembly of electronic printed circuit boards (PCB)
• Electronic laboratory equipment (Oscilloscope, Spectrum Analyzer)

OPTICAL ENGINEERING
• Sub-mm and millimeter optical measurement and instrumentation

NANO FABRICATION & CHARACTERIZATION
• Clean room experience
• Mask Aligner MJB3, MA4, EVG 620
• QCM-D

CAD
• Solid Works
• AutoCAD
• Siemens NX
• Eagle PCB
• LTSpice

APPLICATIONS
• LaTeX
• MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Mathematica
• MATLAB
• Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, and Illustrator

PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
• Python
• IDL

FURTHER SKILLS
• Research & Development
• Systems engineering process
• Project and system reviews
• Documents and proposal writing, management, and presentation
• Team management and Leadership

TRAINING

NASA crane operator, cleanroom facility safety, management of laboratory waste, laboratory safety, machine-shop safety, university purchasing card training.

PUBLICATIONS AND PATENTS

Two patents in the field of microfluidics, and multiple scientific publications in peer reviewed journals. For a full list and details please visit https://goo.gl/suCrdI .

RECOGNITIONS

2010 - Antarctica Service Medal of the United States of America.