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Session 2: Student Lightning Talks

Moderator

Tyler Hatch
Project Scientist
NASA Glenn Research Center

Tyler Hatch is a project scientist in the Low Gravity Exploration Technology Branch at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. His scientific work focuses on fluid physics phenomena in the microgravity environment. This includes a mixture of fundamental science, such as research into soft matter, liquid crystals, and microscopy techniques; and more applied technologies, such as space station lift support and microgravity plant growth systems.

Hatch received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from North Carolina State University, graduating in 2018, and is currently working part time toward a Ph.D. Hatch enjoys mentorship and has selected several student interns sponsored by NC Space Grant to work at NASA. In total, Hatch mentors or co-mentors about 10 students, who work on various microgravity related projects, per year. Additionally, Hatch frequently gives guest lectures at local schools and conducts outreach demonstrations using a mobile “drop tower” that showcases at-home demonstrations of real zero-g science experiments.


Speakers

Letice Bussiere is a doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte who received a NASA Internship Award at Marshall Space Flight Center through a 2021-22 NC Space Grant funding opportunity. Her research focused on creating a technical handbook for NASA’s disruptive modal coupling concepts and technologies.


Ramses Gonzalez is a doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who was awarded an NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellowship for the 2021-22 year. He conducted research aiming to identify ultra-cool dwarf superflares in the Evryscope database.


Richard Hollenbach is a doctoral student at Duke University who was awarded an NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellowship for the 2021-22 year. He conducted research investigating unsteady aerodynamics in turbofan aircraft and turbopump rocket engines exhibiting nonsynchronous vibrations. This is his second NC Space Grant award and expands on his previous research topic.


Jessica Richter is a masters student at East Carolina University who was awarded a joint North Carolina Sea Grant – NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellowship for the 2021-22 year. She conducted research mapping shoreline changes in the Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, using object-based ensemble analysis, aerial imagery and LiDAR.


Mariam Shah is an undergraduate student at North Carolina State University who received a NASA Internship Award at Glenn Research Center, with support through 2021-22 NC Space Grant internship funding. She conducted research gauging capillary action and its application in NASA experiments and initiatives.


Kelyah Spurgeon is a masters student at North Carolina A&T State University who was awarded an NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellowship for the 2021-22 year. She conducted research assessing how microgravity affects the evolution and behavior of Streptococcus mutans biofilms.