Versatile experimentalist interested in using materials characterization and engineering to solve challenging materials-based problems.

Research Interests:

physical metallurgy, process-structure-property-performance relationships, corrosion and material compatibility, materials for extreme conditions, microstructural analysis, advanced materials characterization incl. in situ methods

Career Path:

2021 – 2026: Materials Scientist/Scanning Electron Microscopy Lab Manager, PLS-MSD Materials Characterization Center, LLNL

2020 – 2021: Materials Engineer, Product Liability and R&D, Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.

2019 – 2020: Failure Analysis Engineer, Materials Science and Characterization/Failure Analysis Laboratory, Apple, Inc. (Ryzen Solutions)

2016 – 2018: MSE Graduate Researcher, Nanoscale Characterization and Fabrication Laboratory, Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, collaboration w/ NASA JPL Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Virginia Tech

2015 – 2018: MSE Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department MSE, Virginia Tech

2014 – 2015: Co-op/Contract Researcher, Optical Materials Technology Group, University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics

2011 – 2013, ~1yr. intermittent: Undergraduate Research Intern, Advanced Materials and Processing Branch, NASA Langley Research Center

Subject Matter Expertise: 

SEM/EBSD/EDS, metallography, P-XRD/GI-XRD, microstructural analysis, fractography, optical metrology, mechanical testing, root cause failure analysis, DSC, TGA, training/mentoring technical staff, laboratory management, implementation of industrial standards

M.S. Materials Science and Engineering, Virginia Tech

B.S. Chemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology

Kellen D. Traxel, Eric S. Elton, Amelia M. Petersen, Chinthaka M. Silva, Aurélien Perron, Jason R. Jeffries, Andrew J. Pascall. ”Processing and microstructure of a Cu-Al-Fe-Mn alloy via droplet-on-demand additive manufacturing.” Materials & Design, Volume 237, 2024.

Tony C. Slaba, Amelia M. McMullen, Sheila A. Thibeault, Chris A. Sandridge, Martha S. Clowdsley, Steve R. Blattnig, "OLTARIS: an efficient web-based tool for analyzing materials exposed to space radiation," Proc. SPIE 8164, Nanophotonics and Macrophotonics for Space Environments V, 81640G (31 August 2011).

• LLNL Director’s S&T Award, August 2025
• DOE Challenge Coin, December 2024
• LLNL WTE Team Spot Award, May 2024
• LLNL MSD Spot Award, April 2024 Outstanding commitment in maintaining MSD SEM Capabilities
• NASA Honor Award: Group Achievement Award to BNNT Research Team, August 2015 Establishing the infrastructure and programmatic development of the LaRC/NIA boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) capability