Curriculum Vitae - Dan Fries¶
Research Associate at the University of Texas at Austin. My research is multi-disciplinary and focuses on experimental and modeling work combining fluid dynamics, plasma physics, plasma chemistry, combustion, and magnetohydrodynamics. I develop and use advanced optical and laser diagnostics to elucidate the physics of reacting flows, plasma generators, and to understand the coupling between fluid mechanics, chemistry, and electromagnetic fields. My larger goal is to enable advanced propulsion concepts, re-entry technologies, hypersonic flight, and the mitigation of harmful emissions.
Citizenship: German
Current visa status: academic H1B, i-140 approved
Education¶
Georgia Institute of Technology (United States)
University of Stuttgart (Germany)
Georgia Institute of Technology (United States)
Research¶
For most of these items I can provide certificates of employment and evaluations or references upon request.
Experimental work in the labs of Noel Clemens and Philip Varghese. Part of the Department of Energy PSAAP 3 Center at UT Austin:
Experimental studies of an inductively coupled plasma torch and a capacitively coupled glow discharge.
Integrated work with exascale simulation efforts and associated uncertainty quantification.
Application: predictive model development, plasma physics, and material science for hypersonics.
Experimental work with Prof. Suresh Menon and Prof. Devesh Ranjan on combustion in turbulent and compressible environments:
Investigate entrainment of different gaseous jets in a supersonic crossflow. Description of ingition kernel propagation and growth as a function of jet conditions and ignition location.
Application: development of reliable supersonic propulsion systems and optimization of compressible mixing processes.
Initiation and organization of the lab’s gradudate-student on-boarding, integration, and knowledge transfer efforts.
Computational work with Prof. Johan Steelant in the aerothermodynamics section to develop tools for the DLR TAU code predicting supersonic boundary layer transition:
Modification of existing code modules and implementation of new laminar-turbulent transition criteria.
Testing and further development using the ERCOFTAC flat plate test cases.
Application: computational design and optimization of vehicles moving at supersonic/hypersonic velocities.
Research into computational fluid dynamics using the institute’s Discontinuous-Galerkin code:
Implementation of numerical capabilities for fluid-structure interaction.
Simulation of the flowfield and kinematics of a pitching airfoil in a uniform subsonic freestream.
Experimental work with Dr. Georg Herdrich on inertial electrostatic confinement for space applications:
Literature review, CAD design, and manufacturing of experimental test articles.
Numerical optimization of test articles for power output and degree of ionization.
Application: development of a fusion derived in-space propulsion system with very high specific impulse.
Experience¶
For most of these items I can provide certificates of employment and evaluations upon request.
Work on CFD and CAD as an engineering service provider for the automotive industry. Design of parts for customers product lines using CATIA V5 and demonstration of flow simulation capabilities with OpenFOAM. Preparation of resulting data for customers.
Experimental and analytical studies in the Orbital Propulsion Systems and Design group. Cold-flow tests of a liquid fuel rocket injector and programming of a MatLab code to optimize geometry and operation parameters.
Work as a teacher for physics and physical education with local children in grades five to ten using English medium. Preperation of all classes, overall curriculum, tests, projects and example experiments. Regular reports to the schools principal regarding class process and grades.
Skills¶
I currently deal with the italicized items on a regular basis. The others, I have experience with, but at the moment I am not using them regularly.
Computer applications: Matlab, Labview, Tecplot, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Latex, Inkscape, Gimp
Diagnostics: Hot-wire anemometry, PLIF, PIV, Schlieren
Code development: Fortran, C, Sphinx, Python
CAD: Solid Works, Catia V5/6
CFD: ANSYS, TAU, OpenFOAM, COMSOL Multiphysics
Scholarships/Awards¶
Languages¶
German: Native speaker
English: Fluent (TOEFL ibt 114/120, multiple years spent in english speaking countries)
Mandarin: Elementary proficiency (1 year language classes)
Sinhala: Elementary proficiency (1 year in Sri Lanka)
International¶
Leadership¶
Development and management of financial and technological campaigns for interstellar exploration efforts:
Successful organization and execution of a Kickstarter campaign: Dragonfly Kickstarter Campaign.
Preparation of proposals for NASA and Breakthrough Starshot programs.
Preperation of a technical report for an interstellar mission using a femtosat architecture: Andromeda Report.
Mentoring of a student at the International Space University to develop an asteroid mining architecture using small spacecraft.
Modelling, simulation and ground testing:
Development of a one-dimensional model to simulate the time-resolved separation process of our two-stage rocket. Results were used to make design decisions on the actually implemented separation mechanism.
Design and construction of video recorded experiments to test parachute deployment and stage separation. Evaluation of test data to compare to the developed model and presentation of results at the competition.
Experimental and numerical work to support development of our own solid rocket motors
Head of a student team with 30 members designing a deep space manned mission:
Acquisition of funds and professional support for the team.
Head of mission architecture, systems engineering, and structural engineering.
Presentation of results for sponsors and during competition.
Member and director of a student business consulting group with about 50 student members. Goal of the group is to acquire and execute consulting projects, as well as to provide members with a professional network and training opportunities.
Certified Junior Consultant by the JCNetwork in 2012.
2009-2010 Member of the executive board and director of the Networking section.
Leader of a promotional consulting project for a large financial consulting company in 2009.
Leader of a youth group within the youth ministry. Organization of the group as part of a team as well as independent planning and leading of weekly group meetings and occasional field trips.
2006-2007: Elected leader of the protestant youth. Responsible for the entire youth work section as well as planning of larger events (e.g. city festival participation, Christmas tree collection)
Organization, conduction and leadership of a ten day holiday camp for children age eight to twelve in 2006 and 2007 in a team lead by professionals.
Representation of senior student needs and plans to the school’s administration.
Organization of fundraising events and graduation festivities.