Jacob A. Rogers

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.