August 5, 2024
Guten Tag!
Today marks my final week at DLR. I plan to analyze my data and finish writing my report by this Friday. I cannot even fathom that I have been staying in Germany for 11 weeks (about two and a half months)! I have also been exploring a bit of the city whenever I have the time. I also need to start packing for my flight back home on August 12th. I am going to miss Germany once I leave and cherish all the memories I made while conducting research here. I will never forget all my colleagues I met during my stay at DLR and learned about the Ph.D. students' everyday work life. I want to also mention how grateful I am for this opportunity because without this trip I cannot even imagine how different my summer would be right now! This weekend, I plan to make a trip to Dusseldorf to enjoy my last weekend in Germany.
I would like to personally say thanks to my advisor at DLR (Leonardo). Without his support throughout this summer, I could never have gotten this far in my research.
I also took a photo of the sunset from the 10th floor of my housing building.
I hope everyone continues to have a great summer, and I'll see everyone soon!
Justin
July 30, 2024
Hey, everyone!
The past month has been jam-packed with lots of productive work and tons of traveling. A few weeks ago, I took a quick weekend trip to Amsterdam to visit my significant other and her family. The Netherlands (just like many countries in Europe) is breathtaking and super accessible from Germany! It was a wonderful time. The following weekend, we had our long-awaited trip to Berlin for the Siemens Energy plant tour. The facilities were massive, the tour was exciting and informative, and our guide (Jan Muenzer) was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his work. A few days later, Grayson, Justin and I headed to Stuttgart to visit Nikolas and tour the DLR-Stuttgart location. Berlin was beautiful, and the scenery and history are unmatched, but it was very refreshing to spend time in a smaller city like Stuttgart. After our visit, Nikolas returned with us to tour the DLR-Cologne facilities.
We’re in the home stretch now! Just a few more weeks before we head back to the States. In the meantime, there’s still plenty of work to be done. I’ve been running simulations, post-processing results, analyzing data and writing up the final report. It’s a lot of work but all very rewarding.
Until next time,
Nick
July 22, 2024
Hallo!
Currently checking in from Köln, Germany. This week, I will be spending some time with the other students in the program as well as touring the DLR facility here in Köln. Last week, we were all in Stuttgart to tour the DLR facility there, and now we will do something similar at the DLR Köln facility. I am excited to see the differences between the two DLR facilities. We will also have the opportunity to present the work we have done so far here in Germany to each other and our advisors.
Since my last post, Dr. Naumann and I have continued to run experiments and have made significant progress in terms of data collection. We have been able to collect measurements from several different mixtures, with a few more planned out for my remaining time here in Germany. I cannot believe we are already in week 8. Time is moving by too fast. I also cannot thank Dr. Naumann enough for his advice and guidance during my time here. It has been a true pleasure to work with him, and I appreciate everything he has taught me!
Niko
July 15, 2024
Welcome everyone,
These past few weeks have been quite eventful. The guys and I had our trip to Berlin together last week, and we got to tour the Siemens turbine facility while we were there. This was very interesting to me since my work at DLR this summer has applications with turbine engines. Beyond the tour, we explored the city, ate some amazing food (shoutout Terrazza Portofino) and went to the England-Netherlands public viewing at the Tor.
This week, the three of us in Cologne go to Stuttgart to visit Nikolas and hang out with him for the weekend before he comes back to Cologne with us on Sunday. Then, next weekend, I take a trip to Leiden, Netherlands, to visit my cousin and his husband at their home. I am very excited for this trip mainly because I have not seen this cousin in a long time, but I also get to add a third country to the list of countries I have visited.
Overall, we have a very exciting next few weeks, but we will also be very busy balancing travel, wrapping up the last few weeks of work, and making plans with each other.
See ya,
Grayson
July 9, 2024
Guten Tag,
I cannot believe it has already been a month in Germany! I have enjoyed every day spent here. I successfully created my first batch a couple of weeks ago and started to create a second batch of samples. I have been working with my DLR advisor on every step of the manufacturing process. My DLR advisor has been supportive and extremely helpful during every step of the process. My colleagues have also been very nice and extremely helpful when helping me better understand daily work life at DLR.
In my free time, I have also managed to watch some of the Euro Cup football matches. The environment while watching the football matches was incredible. I met so many nice people from all over Europe while watching the game. I am also excited for the upcoming trip in a few days! The plan in Berlin is to take a tour of the Siemens Energy facility and then explore the city.
I have also been exploring the city as well and took some photos!
Bis später!
Justin
July 2, 2024
Hey everyone!
The past few weeks have been incredible. I’m really starting to settle in at DLR. The work is getting very interesting, and my coworkers are all fantastic; we take lunch together every day and have frequent afternoon chats about life outside the office. Whenever they can, they also take the time to show me around our various test facilities and teach me about their own research. Through them, I’ve been exposed to so much more at DLR than I ever could’ve anticipated. My advisor, Ralf, has been essential in guiding my research and setting me up for success. He is always delighted to answer questions, check on my progress and provide helpful insights on a regular basis.
My Ph.D. advisor from Embry-Riddle, Dr. Boetcher, and her husband visited me this past weekend in Cologne on their way to Hungary for a summer study abroad program. We explored the city together and even watched a few European Championship football matches (Go Team Deutschland!). The weekend before, I took a quick trip to the Netherlands to visit some old childhood friends who were touring Europe. It’s so easy traveling from one country to another over here!
Justin, Grayson, Nikolas and I are taking a trip to Berlin in a few weeks; we’re all super excited! We’re getting a personal tour of the Siemens Energy facility while we’re there. And of course, we’ll be engaging in the culture and checking out all of the beautiful sites the capital has to offer.
Talk to you all soon!
Nick
June 24, 2024
Guten Tag,
What an amazing three weeks it has been so far! I have already learned so much from Dr. Naumann (my advisor at DLR) in only just a couple of weeks. Not only is he able to give me insight on the technical knowledge of what we are studying but also the history behind the information. Over these past few weeks, Dr. Naumann and I have been conducting ammonia combustion experiments with a focus on O2 absorption cross-section measurements. I am beginning to become more familiar with the facility equipment and the specific procedures taken at this lab. It is interesting to compare both experimental procedures as well as post-processing techniques between the lab here in Germany and the lab I study at in Florida.
Not only has work been going well, but I have also been enjoying watching the 2024 European Championship. Here in Stuttgart, there is a massive area within the city for fans to come and watch the matches on jumbotrons. It is such an amazing experience to be able to watch the games with fans from all over Europe! I have had the pleasure of meeting people from Italy, Greece, France, Scotland and many other countries even outside of Europe. Truly an amazing time to be here in Germany!
Ciao,
Nikolas
June 17, 2024
Yo, everybody,
Me and the guys have been working for around two weeks now, and we are starting our third week today. Personally, I have been conducting setup for simulations and troubleshooting when they ultimately break. Thankfully, though, I will be taking part in some experimental work soon with oxidation of coatings, which will be an exciting break from simulations and a good way to familiarize myself with a field I am not all that familiar with.
Outside of work, I have mostly just been relaxing and enjoying the city. Justin, Nick and I have been joining up at least once a week to do some exploring around the city. There is this great set of basketball courts right next to the Rhine where we go and hoop a little bit. The city is wonderful and easy to navigate. This past weekend, Justin, Nick and I met up with Erik, a Ph.D. student at DLR, to watch the first game of the Euro Cup. Unfortunately, Scotland lost (badly), but the experience was still great.
Ciao,
Grayson
June 10, 2024
Guten Tag,
I have just completed my first week at DLR. I have been working on preparing the parameters for the manufacturing and mechanical testing of lunar regolith samples. I have also visited the Cologne Cathedral a couple of times and have walked around the city. My goal for this upcoming week is to work on manufacturing samples and getting more organized with my notes.
See you all soon!
Justin
June 3, 2024
Hallo aus Köln!
Our first week in Cologne was incredible. Justin, Grayson and I ventured around the city, went sightseeing, visited some historic places, rode bikes, ate lots of tasty food, and hung out with some locals! The city is rich in history and filled with gorgeous architecture. Despite practicing my German on Duolingo for the past three months, I’ve learned infinitely more about the language and culture from being here in person.
We’ve spent the first few nights in a hotel — shoutout to Michael, the hotel manager, for being an amazing host — but today, we’re finally moving into our permanent university housing. There’s a lot we need to do in a short amount of time, like grocery shopping, and buying odds and ends for our rooms. We also start work tomorrow, so we’re trying to mentally prepare for that. We’re starting to feel those first-day jitters, but we’re all immensely excited for this opportunity, nonetheless.
I’ll catch up with you all in a few weeks. Tschüss!
Nick
May 31, 2024
Guten Tag!
Wir haben es geschafft! We have made it to Germany. We had a little bit of a delay with one of our flights, but other than that, there were no issues. The flight to Germany was long, but it was smooth sailing across the ocean. It was also nice to finally meet my fellow researchers. We’ve been having weekly meetings together to plan everything out this summer, but we never had the chance to meet each other in person till we met at the airport. I am excited to begin working! Only a few more days till we all start. I am looking forward to a great summer!
Ciao,
Nikolas Hulliger
May 15, 2024
Hey guys,
My spring semester has been over for a little over two weeks now, and all my time has been focused on completing necessary research before my trip over to Germany with the others. I have what should be my final meeting with my DLR advisor this week so that we can finalize my ten-week plan.
See ya,
Grayson
May 6, 2024
Guten Tag!
I finished my spring semester last week, and I am ready to plan for our trip. I have been working on finalizing the budget packet and preparing for a meeting with my DLR advisor. I have started to work on finalizing a research topic and begin to work on a few things before heading out to Germany. I also plan to visit my family before I head out to Germany.
I cannot wait to be in Germany in just three weeks!! I am also excited to learn as much as I can from this opportunity!
See you all soon!
Justin
May 1, 2024
Hey everyone,
My spring semester just ended, so now I can really start preparing for our trip! We leave in just under four weeks. In the meantime, I’ll be practicing my German on Duolingo (73 day streak and counting!), updating my work wardrobe, planning some fun weekend activities while in Germany, and taking a quick trip home to New Jersey before we depart.
I’ve been meeting with my DLR advisor to finalize our research plans and goals for the summer. I’m really excited to learn as much as possible over there and make the most of this opportunity.
Talk to you all soon!
Nick
April 22, 2024
Hallo alles,
The excitement and anticipation is really starting to build up! With our flights booked, it's almost time for us to depart for Germany. I have been practicing my German by listening to podcasts on my way to work and school.
Over the past few weeks, I have been meeting with my advisor from DLR Stuttgart, Dr. Naumann. We have begun our discussion on an experimental plan for the summer. We are planning to use some new equipment I do not have experience with, so I am excited for this new learning opportunity.
Till next time,
Nikolas
April 15, 2024
Hello everyone,
It is a little over a month before we have to head to Germany for the summer. Recently, we have been making preparations for the trip. Just today, we booked our flights over to Germany.
I have been working on individual preparations for myself. This has involved setting up meetings between my advisors, trying to narrow my topic down and filling out lots of forms. I, like the others, have been working on my weekly plan for the trip, but most of my time has been spent trying to find topics I would like to explore. I am hoping to do something that combines the experimental background of my ERAU advisor and my computational interests.
See ya!
Grayson H.
April 11, 2024
Guten Tag!
I am beyond excited for next month to be heading to DLR. I have worked on the budget packet for the trip to prepare for the expenses that will occur during my stay. I have worked with the other students to plan out the dates to travel to Stuttgart and Berlin during our time there. I have also been looking at research papers and starting to plan my week-to-week experimental schedule at DLR. I have a couple of exams that are coming up, so I must start studying for them. Cannot wait to share more with everyone!
Justin
April 1, 2024
Hallo!
My name is Nikolas Hulliger, and I am a first-year aerospace engineering graduate student at the University of Central Florida. I received my undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering also at the University of Central Florida in 2023. I am currently conducting research under the advisory of Dr. Subith Vasu. My current research project involves utilizing a Raman spectroscopy system to measure species concentrations at various pressures and temperatures.
I am extremely excited to be a part of this NSF IRES program. It will be an incredible honor to participate in an international research collaboration program with researcher at DLR in Stuttgart, Germany! I have been meeting weekly with Dr. Raghavan, who has coordinated and organized the whole program, along with my fellow researchers in the program from Embry-Riddle University: Grayson, Justin and Nicholas. There are still a few things we need to iron out before we are ready to ship off to Germany, but we are so close! Along with conducting research at the DLR facility in Stuttgart, I will have the opportunity to visit the other students at the Cologne DLR facility as well as the Siemens headquarters in Berlin.
Till next time,
Nikolas
March 6, 2024
Hey everyone!
My name is Nicholas Lopes. I’m a first-year Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I earned my B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Embry-Riddle in 2020 and 2023, respectively. This summer, I’ll be participating in the NSF IRES program at DLR in Cologne, Germany. This is an amazing opportunity for me to work with a new and diverse group of minds!
Right now, my cohort is in the trip planning phase — budgeting, booking flights, finalizing housing and arranging visits to various research facilities while in Germany. Shoutout to Dr. Raghavan, Zachary Stein and Perla Latorre Suarez for helping us tremendously with our summer preparation! Later this week, I’m meeting with my DLR advisor, Ralf Becker, to discuss a detailed research plan for the summer. I’m very excited for this amazing opportunity, and I look forward to updating everyone along the way!
Until next time,
Nick
March 18, 2024
Guten Morgen!
My name is Justin Astacio, and I am currently a senior aerospace engineering undergraduate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I am expected to graduate in the fall semester. I am excited for the chance to conduct research at DLR this summer. This will be my first time traveling outside the country, so I cannot wait to see what Germany is like.
I have been starting weekly meetings with Prof. Raghavan, Nicholas, Nikolas and Grayson to discuss travel dates and budgeting for the trip. I have also started to meet with advisor Dr. Facchini and Prof. Raghavan to discuss the research that I will be working on at DLR. I am beyond excited about what the future holds for me and cannot wait for summer to arrive!
Countdown till Germany — 10 weeks left!
March 25, 2024
Hello everyone,
My name is Grayson Hayes. I am a second-year Aerospace Engineering student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This summer, I will be in Cologne, Germany, participating in research on CMAS particles by performing Particle Image Velocimetry (or PIV) to determine velocity of the particles. I am very excited about this work since it will allow me to refine my abilities in experimental aerodynamics.
Recently, the cohort has been preparing to purchase flight tickets to and from Germany for the summer. I have already had a meeting with my advisors, Dr. Surabhi Singh (ERAU) and Dr. Ravisankar Naraparaju (DLR), and I have been learning how to conduct PIV at ERAU to prepare for the summer.
Until next time,
Grayson H.
Previous Blogs
July 21, 2023
Hallo!
This week, we had the opportunity to visit Siemens Energy Gas turbine facility in Berlin. We learned about the manufacturing process of the turbines and how they are transported around the world. I also learned the importance of my research and one of its applications to protect the turbine blades and improve their life cycle. We also took some time in Berlin to learn about its history and modern development. It's amazing how the city in general is filled with history and life lessons. Now it's time to wrap up my time in Germany and complete my experiments to be able to analyze the data and make some publications.
Tschüss!
Perla
July 14, 2023
Guten Morgen!
This week in the lab has been filled with a lot of experimental troubleshooting. In the field of combustion, it can sometimes be hard to find the root cause of non-idealities, especially in ammonia combustion. They can be due to the measurement diagnostics, the shock tube, or even the fuel itself. But if you’re always succeeding, you’re never learning! Outside of lab work, I went on two hikes to Biergartens: one with the entire Institute of Combustion (13 miles) and one a few people from the Kinetics group (3 miles). Everyone here has been extremely welcoming and inviting! Next week, I will be traveling to Köln to visit Perla at DLR as well as the Siemens-Energy factory in Berlin with Prof. Raghavan! See you then!
Ciao!
Mike
July 7, 2023
Hallo,
A lot has happened in the last two weeks. On the scientific side, I have been able to begin preparing my samples to perform experiments and analyze my data. With the help of some of the scientists at the institute, I have learned the initial steps of analyzing tomographic data and how to manage the program. In my social life, I have met amazing people at the institute that are working towards their bachelor's thesis and their Ph.D. dissertation. I have learned a lot about their projects and experiments (they have helped me with m training too). I took some time to live the history of Cologne and went to the top of the Cologne Cathedral. It was amazing to be on the top of the third tallest cathedral in the world.
Tschüss!
Perla
June 30th, 2023
Hallo again!
This week I traveled back to the U.S. to present my work on hydrogen/ammonia/natural gas combustion in Boston at the 2023 Turbo Expo. A BUNCH of colleagues from DLR in the Institute for Combustion were also at the conference and I even had Dr. Braun (from DLR) be my session chair! I have introduced all of my lab mates from UCF to everyone I’ve met at DLR and we’ve become one giant group during the conference, even hanging out around the city once the day ends. Lastly, we met people from MIT who gave us an amazing tour of their engineering faculties. I’ve been making lots of valuable connections while in Germany that I know will continue once my time there is done. Now back to Germany to continue with experiments!
Ciao!
Mike
June 23, 2023
Hallo!
It's been almost an entire month since we arrived in Germany. I have spent a lot of time learning about material science and how to study the mechanical properties of ceramic coatings. I just completed my training in optical microscopes, scanning electron microscopes, and metallography. These days have been busy, but the amount of information is amazing! Today I came to visit Michael in Stuttgart, and he and Dr. Naumann gave me a very interesting tour around the facility. Next week will be as busy (if not busier) as this one since I will start my indentation experiments. I will continue sharing more in two weeks!
Tschüss!
Perla
June 16, 2023
Hallo!
Checking in once again, it’s been 3 weeks now since my arrival in Stuttgart and it’s been hot! Temperatures are approaching 90° F and there is not many places with air condition; including my apartment. If I could go back in time, I would definitely bring more summer clothes! Nevertheless, the city has been amazing. I’ve visited the Mercedes-Benz museum as well as the Schlossplatz in the city center. I’ve gotten very comfortable at DLR and assisting with the current hydrogen/ammonia experiments. I’ll be looking forward to more exploring and completing more experiments in the next few weeks!
Ciao!
Mike
June 9, 2023
Hallo!
It's been a week since our arrival in Germany. I can't deny that it's been a great challenge considering the language barrier and the different cultures and lifestyles. It took me a while to figure out the transportation and how to accommodate my apartment. I received a lot of help from my DLR mentors during my moving day, and it made everything easier. These days, I have been discussing my experiment plan with Dr. Bartsch and how to proceed with my experiments and training. I am excited to see my samples under the electron microscope and start studying the crack propagations of the indented samples.
I will share more in two weeks!
Tschüss!
Perla
June 2, 2023
Hallo!
I have finally made it to DLR in Stuttgart, Germany! The flight here was extremely long, but I have managed to find my way around using the S-bahn and ICE trains. There are a few things that are different in Germany that I have to adjust to, for example, most places only except cash. But as Prof. Raghavan has told us, the first week is the hardest! It has been a fantastic week meeting my advisor as well as the other PhD students from the University of Stuttgart. I was given a complete tour of the Institute of Combustion at DLR and attended a very cool hydrogen meeting where I was able to ask questions to the researchers here about the ongoing hydrogen experiments. I also met a group of researchers who will be attending the ASME Turbo Expo in the same session as me in 2 weeks!
Ciao!
Mike
May 26, 2023
Guten tag!
The day is finally here! Michael and I will be going to Germany today. We arrive in Frankfurt and then each of us goes to our respective destination. I am excited to begin working at the DLR next week. This week Dr. Raghavan and I worked together on writing an abstract to present some of my work at the Scitech conference. I will continue sharing more about my journey in the upcoming weeks!
Talk to you soon! Tschüss!
Perla
May 19, 2023
Guten Abend!
Only one more week until we leave for Germany! Mixed emotions of both excitement and nervousness have been hitting since this is my first time traveling abroad. There have been a lot of housekeeping items to take care of before I leave, so I will be spending less time in the lab next week to fully prepare. I’ve learned a lot about travel preparation in the past month and I am super thankful for everyone that has helped me. I have offloaded some experiments at the HiPER-STAR lab for my peers to complete while I am away, so I am also very thankful for them. My next blog will be done from Germany!
Until then, tschüss!
Mike
May 12, 2023
Hallo!
Two more weeks until Michael and I arrive in Germany! We are beyond excited to see what our summer will look like once we are there. We finally booked our flights and completed our weekly plan. These past few days, I have been working on finalizing the experiment plan for the studies that I will be performing at the DRL. Next week I will have my final meeting with Dr. Bartsch and Dr. Raghavan before I arrive in Cologne. We will spend some time discussing the experiments that I will be performing and the focus of my research, and the outcomes. I am excited to share more about my journey in Germany.
Talk to you soon! Tschüss!
Perla
May 5, 2023
Hallo again!
Final exams are (finally) done and there is now only 21 more days until we leave for Germany! This past week, I finalized the dates that I will be traveling to see the Cologne DLR facility and Siemens in Berlin. Not only will these be great ways to explore Germany, but I will also get to see the project that Perla is researching as well as the Siemens facility! I am also starting to plan personal trips that I will take once on the weekends while I’m there. Next week, we should have our flights booked and we will be all set to head over!
T-minus 3 weeks!
Mike
April 28, 2023
Hallo!
We have less than a month until we arrive to Germany! These past weeks have been stressful and overwhelming with research, classes, and the Germany preps, but we are almost there! This week I was conducting some experiments at the NASA Langley Research Center on air plasma sprayed alumina. These experiments will help me to determine which steps I should take while I am at the DLR. Next week I will be meeting with my DLR mentor to discuss my plan for the summer. Next week will be busier since I will be planning and booking the places that I will stay at the first few days in Cologne. Can't wait to share more with everyone.
Talk to you soon! Tschüss!
Perla
April 21, 2023
Hallo!
Checking in again, I have finally signed the housing lease for my time in Stuttgart! Both Perla and Prof. Raghavan have very thankfully helped me out a lot. I have been planning the S-bahn routes that I will need to take for my trips to and from DLR. At the same time, I have finished writing my thesis and been continuing with hydrogen/ammonia experiments in the lab. This is also my last semester of coursework, so as finals week and our departure date for Germany approaches, the days will continue to get busier! I still have not lost my Duolingo streak, I am onto 83 days and have been practicing some conversational skills with other students in my lab.
T-minus 5 weeks until we leave!
Mike
April 14, 2023
Hallo!
Every day I feel more nervous and excited about the journey that I will experience this summer. This week I was able to complete a draft of my weekly research plan for this summer at the DLR. Although my focus will be studying ceramic materials and air plasma sprayed alumina coatings, there is a chance that I will also study and do more characterization on cubes 3D printed with lunar soil. This week I did my very first solo trip to San Francisco, California, where I presented my research about the adhesion forces between the lunar regolith particles and the surface of the air plasma sprayed alumina coatings. These experiences allow me to leave my comfort zone and learn more about the science performed around the world! I will continue sharing about my journey as I prepare for my trip.
Talk to you soon! Tschüss!
Perla
April 7, 2023
Guten Tag!
It has been an extremely busy week full of preparation for the trip to Germany as well as research presentations and exams. I am also making the last revisions to my first accepted journal paper for the Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power-Transactions! Yesterday, Perla and I gave a STEM outreach presentation to high school students, which was really cool to see their interest in engineering in particular. We talked a lot about how STEM research can lead to international collaboration, such as IRES, which I believe is extremely important for solving global issues. After discussing more with Dr. Naumann, I will also be performing single-pulse shock tube (SPST) measurements to gather N2O emission measurements at DLR, something I have never done before. I am still keeping my Duolingo streak of 69 days!
Tschuss!
Mike
March 31, 2023
Hallo!
I am beyond excited to share the news that I have defended my thesis! These past weeks have been busy since I was working on my thesis, classes, TA, and other research responsibilities. Now I can spend more time preparing for my summer in Germany and complete my weekly research summer plan. I have been in contact with the manager of my housing, so I have a secure place now! Next week Michael and I will be doing an outreach event to share our experiences in the STEM field with the next generation. We are very excited to spend some time with the students and share all the amazing things that we have learned during our college journey as engineering students.
I am hoping to book our flights soon! Talk to you soon! Tschüss!
Perla
March 24th, 2023
Guten Morgen!
Travel plans for the IRES trip are in full swing now. I have a completed draft and budget that includes trips to both Cologne and Berlin to see the DLR facility where Perla will be and to visit Siemens. I have had tremendous help from previous IRES students and surprisingly feel quite prepared! I have also begun planning my week-to-week experimental schedule while I will be at DLR in Stuttgart. Dr. Naumann has said that they will be studying nitrogen oxide (NO) kinetics in the shock tube for mixtures of hydrogen and ammonia (H2/NH3). These experiments will make a chemical kinetic model that will help design the combustion chamber in zero-carbon emission turbine engines. I have done similar experiments here at UCF with natural gas (NG)/H2/NH3 and am super excited that international scientists are doing similar work! I have expectations that I can bring back a lot of useful information when I do experiments for my dissertation. Lastly, I am on a 55-day streak in Duolingo and attempting to learn German for the first time.
T minus 9 weeks until I arrive in Germany! Tschüss!
Mike
March 17, 2023
Hallo!
My name is Perla Latorre. I am a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering. I will be completing my master’s degree this spring and continuing with my education by pursuing a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering. This year I had the amazing opportunity to be one of the students participating in the IRES program. This summer, I will be working with Dr. Marion Bartsch on studying multiple material properties of ceramics. During this time, I have been working with Dr. Raghavan and Michael to prepare for our travels and plan our weeks in Germany. We have decided that we will visit each other to learn more about our projects and studies. I am looking forward to this summer and learning beyond my expectations. I will share more in two weeks!
Perla
March 10, 2023
Guten Morgen!
My name is Michael Pierro, and I am currently a 3rd-year Aerospace Engineering Ph.D. student at UCF. I received my Bachelor’s degrees in both Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in 2020 from UCF and will be finishing my Aerospace Engineering Master’s Thesis this semester before I head off to Stuttgart, Germany to participate in the incredible IRES program! I am extremely excited to be under the guidance of international scientists and researchers who share the same passions as me! On top of that, I have never traveled outside of the U.S., so this is going to be an… interesting experience for me to say the least!
I have been meeting biweekly with Prof. Raghavan, Perla, and separately with my advisor, Prof. Vasu, to start planning travel dates and budgeting my trip. On top of that, I’ve been connecting with past IRES students for tips because I will definitely need them! I have also met with my DLR advisors, Dr. Naumann and Dr. Braun, to discuss housing and the current projects ongoing at DLR in Stuttgart. Lastly, there are plans for to me visit the other research labs in Cologne and Berlin to participate in research projects out of my current experience. All of this is a little overwhelming but nevertheless, I am beyond excited to participate in this program!
T minus 11 weeks until I arrive in Germany!
Mike
