Scott Kasen Awarded Ph.D.

Congratulations to Scott Kasen who was awarded his Ph.D. in Materials Science. Scott's thesis titled, Thermal Management at Hypersonic Leading Edges, explored the integration of liquid metal heat pipes into the leading edges of hypersonic vehicles.

Scott is employed at Cellular Materials International, Inc. as a Research Scientist.

Bradley Richards Receives Award

Congratulations to Bradley Richards for winning the 2013 Fred D. Rosi Outstanding Citizen Award recognizing his "overall contributions to the academic, educational and outreach goals of the MSE department and for exemplary teamwork."  Brad has also recently received a fellowship from the Virginia Space Grant Consortium for the coming year.

Emma Mitchell nets NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship

Congratulations to Engineering Physics student Emma Mitchell who was recently notified she has been selected to receive a NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship.  The NESSF awards are awarded competitively and provide support for three years.  Emma, advised by Raul Baragiola, has concentrated her research on surface science and is currently investigating the formation and physical properties of ices on outer solar system surfaces by performing experiments on laboratory-scale analogs of extraterrestrial environments.

Need a 7 Kelvin, ultra low vacuum planetary environment? 
Emma Mitchell, pictured above in front of her lab equipment can
help create those conditions in LASP.  

 According to NASA:

The purpose of NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA’s scientific goals:

Study planet Earth from space to advance scientific understanding and meet societal needs;
Understand the Sun and its effects on Earth and the solar system;
Advance scientific knowledge of the origin and evolution of the solar system, the potential for life elsewhere, and the hazards and resources present as humans explore space; and Discover the origin, structure, evolution, and destiny of the universe and search for Earth-like planets.

LASP lab-mate and fellow EP student Micah Schaible also won an Earth and Space Science Fellowship in 2010.   Having two winners of the competitive award in the same group reflects well on the high quality of work within the Laboratory for Atomic and Surface Physics.