People

Ph.D. Candidate, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering
Graduate Research Fellow, National Science Foundation (NSF)
Graduate Ambassador, TAMU MEEN Department

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843

Hometown: Lucedale, MS
Email: jacob_rogers@tamu.edu
CV/Resume: Jacob_Rogers.pdf

Upon admission to Texas A&M University (TAMU) and under the guidance of co-advisors Dr. Thomas Lacy and Dr. Just Wilkerson, Jacob received a graduate research assistant (GAR) position and was also awarded a Mechanical Engineering Graduate Merit Fellowship. During spring of 2020, Jacob was awarded the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical 2020 Graduate Summer Research Grant for his research on novel protective structure concepts. His current research on novel, tailored polymeric materials and structures to mitigate HVI threats enabled him to receive the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowship. Using his over five years of HVI and aeroballistic range experience, Jacob led the effort to establish the state-of-the-art TAMU Hypervelocity Impact Laboratory (HVIL). At the HVIL, he currently serves as lab manager, studying HVI (2.5-8.0 km/s) phenomena and materials for extreme environments. Over the short time since HVIL’s launch, Jacob and the HVIL team have performed over 300 HVI experiments and made numerous advancements in diagnostics, experimental capabilities, and two-stage light gas gun (2SLGG) operational efficiency. His research interests also include computational mechanics, hypersonics, ultra-high strain-rate materials, and micrometeoroid/orbital debris (MMOD) impacts. Jacob is currently a Ph.D. student in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering with a background in solid mechanics, hypervelocity impact damage mechanics, and aeroballistic range testing. He completed his undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering at Mississippi State University (MSU) in May of 2019. While at MSU, he was named a Stephen D. Lee Scholar and awarded Aerospace Engineering Student of the Year (2019), multiple first-place research symposium awards, and two undergraduate research fellowships. He researched hypervelocity impacts (HVIs) and conducted full-scale 2SLGG experiments under the guidance of Dr. Thomas Lacy for much of his undergraduate career. He has supplemented his time spent on research with time dedicated to mentorship and leadership, mentoring multiple undergraduate design teams. He served as the president of MEGSO and is a member of ASME, AIAA, and International Ballistics Society (IBS), as well as the Tau Beta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Gamma Tau, and Sigma Xi academic honor societies. Jacob plans to use his experience at TAMU studying HVI phenomena to propel him into an academic career of contributions to science and society. Specifically, he intends to conduct novel research that will advance the scientific knowledge of HVI physics and improve society by developing cutting-edge protective structures that will better protect against emerging space and military threats. Jacob’s planned research efforts will be coupled with a career of teaching and mentoring students. Through implementing the latest technology and collaborating with other departments, universities, and organizations, he ultimately wants to solve some of the most complicated engineering problems.

Undergraduate researcher, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Keller, TX
Email: matthewintardonato@tamu.edu

Matthew Intardonato is a master’s student at Texas A&M. A friend of our lab from the Optical Diagnostics and Imaging Laboratory, Matthew’s research at HVIL focuses on aiding the development of innovative optical diagnostic techniques. His previous work includes developing a python code used to identify and track fast moving fragments in debris clouds produced by HVI events. Presently, Matthew is part of the team at HVIL developing digital in-line holography (DIH), an advanced optical technique which will be useful in gathering three-dimensional depth information from two-dimensional high-speed videos. This information will eventually assist in a three-dimensional reconstruction of an HVI event. He is also developing an optical quadscope, an optomechanical device that when paired with an array of mirrors can be used to image several sides of the object with a single camera.

Ph.D. Candidate, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843

Hometown: Marrakesh, Morocco
Email: db91@tamu.edu

Dounia Boushab is a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. She received her engineering diploma in Aerospace Engineering at Université Internationale de Rabat (UIR) in 2015, and her master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at Mississippi State University in 2017. Dounia was awarded two academic achievement scholarships 2012-2015 and 2015-2017. Dounia’s research focuses on assessing the lightning damage resistance and tolerance of Pultruded Rod Stitched Efficient Unitized Structure (PRSEUS) panel. Fun fact about Dounia is that she has conducted over 100 full-scale lightning strike tests (currents ranging 50-200 kA) on PRSEUS and coupon scale carbon/epoxy composites, under a variety of test conditions for damage characterization. Besides research, Dounia likes to draw and read.

Undergraduate researcher, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843

Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Email: nathandrakeviii@tamu.edu

Nathaniel is a senior mechanical engineering student at Texas A&M University. After graduation, he plans to pursue additional graduate degrees in both business and engineering. Both his current research work with the two stage light-gas gun and his previous material science research with the U.S. Army Research Laboratories support his long term goals of providing tools for modern warfighters to allow them to execute tasks safely and effectively. Nathaniel is excited to continue his hypervelocity impact research and find new ways to help extend the test capabilities at HVIL.

Ph.D. Student, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843

Hometown: Stephenville, TX
Email: siddavis424@tamu.edu

Sidney is a Ph.D. student in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. He graduated with a Dual B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from Tarleton State University (TSU). While attending TSU his research focus was on Ion Beam analysis and various types of mathematical modeling in physics and disease modeling. His current research focuses on experimentation and computational modeling of hypervelocity impacts, as well as the development of diagnostic tools.

Ph.D. Candidate, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843

Hometown: Satara, MH, India
Email: aniket.mote@tamu.edu

Aniket is a Ph.D. student in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering studying composite materials for extreme environments. Aniket’s interest in composite materials was stimulated by his work on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner Advanced Composite Floor-Beam (ACFB) program. After completing his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shivaji University, India in June 2011, Aniket got involved in Manufacturing Engineering activities with the ACFB program. Well versed with the establishing manufacturing controls around carbon-fiber/epoxy prepreg composite manufacturing, addressing quality engineering aspects and affirming multiple standardized quality management systems for the aerospace industry, Aniket was motivated to further his formal education in composite materials at Mississippi State University (MSU). Here, he graduated with a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering under the guidance of Dr. Thomas E. Lacy Jr. in December 2018. At MSU, while supporting the research related to lightning strike effects on stitched composites, Aniket worked on his master’s thesis (co-advised by Dr. James C. Newman Jr.) addressing the ASTM Standard E647 threshold fatigue crack-growth test procedures. At Texas A&M, Aniket is interested in establishing state-of-the-art and pursuing research in thermoplastic stitched composite materials.

Ph.D. Candidate, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Email: khariharrison@tamu.edu

Khari is a Ph.D. student in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. He graduated from Mississippi State University (MSU) with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. While at MSU, he researched on the characterization of damage of pitch-fiber based lightning strike protection systems and also worked on improving payload integration techniques for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) by designing and fabricating composite components. His current research interests are hypervelocity impacts and composite materials for extreme environments.

Ph.D. Candidate, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Email: lawrence.carson@tamu.edu

Carson Lawrence is a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering at Mississippi State University in May of 2019, and he dreams of developing new technologies to push human spaceflight further into the solar system. Throughout his time at Mississippi State, he was a member, project manager, and eventually chief engineer of the university’s nationally renowned rocket design team, the Space Cowboys. The team competes in both national international competitions while pushing aerospace research forward and developing new generations of rocket engineers. Carson is now pursuing research in the development of new and innovative finite element methods to assist in the design of structures for use in extreme environments, such as in outer space and at hypervelocities.

Ph.D. Student, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843
Email: lllang@tamu.edu

Bio coming soon…

Ph.D. Candidate, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

Optical Diagnostics and Imaging Laboratory

Hometown: Porter, TX
Email: gavinlukasik@tamu.edu

Gavin Lukasik is a PhD student in the Optical Diagnostics and Imaging Laboratory. His research focuses on developing novel diagnostic techniques to extract particle and flow field data from high speed, high temperature environments. These techniques can be used to characterize the size, position, velocity, temperature, and elemental composition of fragments produced during hypervelocity impacts. Additionally, these methods can play a pivotal role in laboratory-scale propellants and energetics material testing.

M.S. Student, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843

Hometown: Ashland, Ohio
Email: joey.stricklin@tamu.edu

Joey Stricklin is a Master of Science student in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. Before joining the Hypervelocity Impact Laboratory Lab, he helped design and construct the Flash X-Ray fixture utilized by the lab. The fixture was his senior design project and will be used by the lab for the intended purposes of the Flash X-Ray system as well as for optical diagnostic equipment. Joey graduated with his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2020. He is currently a NASA intern for the Langley Research Center working on optimizing the carbon-carbon densification process at Carbon-Carbon Advanced Technologies, where those composites are made. During undergrad, he completed a co-op with AMBIT Polyurethane dealing with manufacturing plant design. Joey’s research interests include hypervelocity impacts and improving the capabilities of two-stage light gas gun used in the lab.

Ph.D. Student, J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering

103A Doherty Building, 3123 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843

Hometown: The Colony, TX
Email: murtaughm@tamu.edu

Max is a re-entering graduate student in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering. He began his Ph.D. track in the Fall of 2021 with a focus on computational mechanics and intends to research hypervelocity impacts under Dr. Thomas Lacy Jr.