PeopleFaculty:
Aerospace Engineering Sciences, CU Boulder Ph.D: 2009, Stanford University, Electrical Engineering |
Research Associates:
Alexander Shane, Ph.D.
Alex graduated from the University of Michigan with a PhD in Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering and Scientific Computing in 2022. For his dissertation, Alex studied the transport of electrons on the crustal magnetic fields of Mars and the effect of whistler waves on the photoelectron velocity space distribution. He is currently working on the impact of lightning-generated whistler waves on radiation belt electrons and on atmospheric radiation produced by precipitating radiation belt electrons. Outside the office, Alex enjoys hiking and playing disc golf, soccer, and chess. |
Sebastian Wankmueller, M.Sc.
Sebastian joined the LAIR group in July 2020 as a professional research assistant. He earned his B.Sc. in Microsystems Engineering in Freiburg, Germany, and his M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology in Karlsruhe, Germany. Before coming to Boulder, he worked as a development engineer for one of the leading companies in optical measurement technology in Germany. His professional interests are the development of all kinds of embedded systems for both hardware and firmware development and he is familiar with all kinds of data buses like I2C or SPI and firmware for microprocessors such as ARM or PIC. His main task within the LAIR group is assisting with and performing the development of electronics for the CubeSats and other instruments. Outside of work, Sebastian loves the mountains of Colorado and the desert of southern Utah, where he enjoys activities like mountaineering, climbing, mountain biking, (backcountry) skiing, and backpacking. |
Joseph Buescher, M.S.
Joe started working with LAIR in 2020 as an undergraduate pursuing a B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences with the BAM program at CU Boulder. Initially working as a DLA research assistant at The LAIR, he continues to works on developing the AXIS instrument that will measure the effects of energetic particle precipitation on Earth’s atmosphere on board the AEPEX CubeSat mission. His research interests include autonomous systems in aerospace vehicles, control systems, and rapid prototyping. In Joe’s free time, he enjoys snowboarding, camping, and 3-D printing at home |
Conor Cunningham, B.S.
Conor joined the LAIR group in June 2022 as a professional research assistant. He graduated from the University of Dayton in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace. Conor works as a mechanical engineer supporting the group by creating engineering drawings, designing via CAD and producing parts by various techniques including 3D printing, all for a variety of the LAIR group's missions. His professional interests include propulsion systems, spacecraft structure, and thermal modeling of spacecraft. Outside of work, Conor likes to play video games, read, hike, golf, play volleyball, and hang out with his cat. |
Siwani Regmi, B.S.
Siwani joined the LAIR group in January 2023 as a professional research assistant. She earned her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Before coming to CU Boulder, she worked as a Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin for several large satellite programs and proposals through a leadership development rotational program. Her professional interests are now project management and being the cross-section between cost, schedule, and technical aspects of missions. Within the LAIR team, Siwani is a project manager for several of the projects run by LAIR (currently the CubeSats CANVAS, COSMO, and AEPEX, as well as the ionosphere ground campaign AVID). Outside of work, Siwani spends most of her time outdoors. She enjoys running, biking, snowboarding, and getting out of her comfort zone to train for her next adventure. |
Graduate Students:
Wyatt Spies (Ph.D.), matriculated Fall 2023
Details coming soon!
Details coming soon!
Julia Clayton (Ph.D.), matriculated Fall 2023
Details coming soon!
Details coming soon!
Paraksh Vankawala (Ph.D.), matriculated Fall 2020
Paraksh graduated from Rice University (Go Murt!) with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. In his undergraduate studies, he researched young T Tauri stars and investigated the accuracy of exoplanet detection from Kepler stellar transit data. His current research interests are in developing space instrumentation and in general, the interplanetary/deep space regions. He is currently working with all-sky optical cameras to detect meteors and to investigate the possibility of very low frequency (VLF) emissions. He has previously worked alongside lab mates on the CubeSat project CANVAS. He loves to watch and play sports (Dallas teams have his heart!), loves Tex-Mex food with a passion, is an astrophotographer, and has his pilot’s license! |
James Cannon (Ph.D.), matriculated Fall 2020
James graduated from Macalester College with a B.A. in Physics and Theatre in May 2020. As an undergrad, he studied how to electrically characterize and predict SRAM upsets when irradiated. At CU Boulder, he is working on VLF projects including the VIPER mission to better understand wave propagation through the lower ionosphere. In addition to VIPER James is currently developing better instrumentation for ground sensors to enhance understanding of the spatial scale of energetic particle precipitation in the lower ionosphere with the AVID mission. As with many members of our lab, James has also worked on the CubeSat project CANVAS. When not a researcher, James is an amateur juggler, rock climber, and pie baker. |
Riley Reid (Ph.D.), matriculated Fall 2019
Riley graduated from NC State University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a B.A. in Physics. Her research focuses on remote sensing of energetic particles in the near-Earth space environment. She is developing an instrument concept using coded aperture techniques and CERN’s Timepix detector line for high-angular resolution measurements. Riley also works part-time for a stratospheric balloon remote sensing startup called Urban Sky. Riley loves yogurt & yoga. She also like plants & pastries. |
Carolina Peña (Ph.D.), matriculated Fall 2017
Carolina graduated from Harvard university with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in May 2017. Her main interest is in instrumentation design. Right now, Carolina is working on the COSMO instrument She hopes to one day work on an instrument that helps explore other planets. When Carolina is not studying, she likes to paint, recently getting into painting by numbers, which allows her to paint really cool, complex things (without actually needing to be talented). |
Alexandra Wold (Ph.D.), matriculated Fall 2017
Alex graduated from American University with a B.S. in Physics and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Pursuing her interest in space weather, she spent over two years as a real-time space weather forecaster at NASA Goddard. She has published research on space weather phenomena including coronal mass ejections and solar energetic particles. Her research with the LAIR focuses on studying energetic particle precipitation from the radiation belts caused by lightning generated whistler waves. Alex likes making bagels and sourdough bread, even though she has to keep her cat from stepping in the dough. |
Undergraduate Students:
Ryan Dick (ASTR), SPUR, AY 2022-present
Ryan Dick is a junior studying Astrophysics and Engineering Physics. His work with the LAIR group is on the ionosphere project AVID, assisting in circuit board redesigns and manufacturing. He hopes to one day work with NASA on the upcoming Artemis missions and others that will put humans on other worlds. In his free time he enjoys rock climbing, skiing, hanging out with friends, and being outside. |
Bennett Fragomeni (CSCI), SPUR, AY 2022-present
Bennett Fragomeni is a senior studying Software Engineering. His work with the LAIR group is working on the ionosphere project AVID. For AVID, Bennett has been creating and refining data acquisition and processing software. When not working on the AVID project he likes to work on his car, ski and go off-roading. He hopes to someday work as a software developer for a space company. |
Hayden Gebhardt (ASEN), SPUR, AY 2023-present
Hayden Gebhardt is a senior studying Aerospace Engineering. His work with the LAIR group pertains to the ionosphere project, AVID, assisting in the programming and design of photonic integrated circuits. In his free time he likes to rock climb, hike, and design robots. Hayden wishes to work for NASA some day, pursuing the final frontier. |
Matayay Karuna (CSCI), AY 2023-present
Matayay Karuna is a sophomore studying Computer Science. His work with the LAIR group is on the ionosphere project AVID assisting with web development and remote instrument data retrieval. He hopes to one day work as a software engineer. Some of his hobbies include skiing, video games, and nature. |
Ashton Tribble (ASEN), AY 2023-present
Details coming soon! |
Previous Research Associates:
- Edwin Bernardini, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2022-2023
- Aldo Aguilar-Nadalini, M.S., Professional Research Assistant, 2022-2023
- Deven Mhadgut, M.S., Professional Research Assistant, 2020-2021
- Austin Sousa, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2017-2020
- Wei Xu, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2016-2021
- Grant Berland, Ph.D., 2023
- Liane Tarnecki, Ph.D., 2023
- Erin McMurchie, M.S., 2022
- Forrest Gasdia, Ph.D., 2021
- Andre Lucas Antunes de Sa, Ph.D., 2021
- Elliott Davis, M.S., 2020
- Connor Myers, M.S., 2020
- Stephen Jackson, M.S., 2017
- Madison (Ace) Stratton (ASEN), 2022-2023
- Kevin Pipich (ASEN), 2022-2023
- Sophia Orlendella (ASEN), 2022
- Max Feinland (ASEN), 2022
- Catherine Xiao (CSCI), 2022
- Om Desai (MCEN), 2022
- Shawn Stone (ASEN), 2021-2022
- Maria Callas (ASEN), 2021-2022
- Jash Bhalavat (ASEN), 2021-2022
- Jett Moore (ASEN), 2020-2022
- Connor Martin (ASEN), 2020-2022
- Keith Poletti (ASEN), 2020-2021
- Logan Vangyia (ASEN), 2020-2021
- Jaykob Velasquez (ASEN), 2019-2020
- Bruce Barnstable (ASEN), DLA 2019-2020
- Mark Zakhem (ECEN), DLA 2017-2018
- Catherine Witt (ECEN), DLA 2017-2018
- Alec Viets (ASEN), 2017-2018
- Matthew Funk (ASEN), DLA 2017-2018
- Noah Holland-Moritz (PHYS), DLA 2016-2017
- Leina Hutchinson (ASEN), 2017
Facilities
Courses
Dr. Marshall teaches or has taught the following classes at CU Boulder:
- ASEN 3300 - Aerospace Electronics and Communications
- ASEN 4018/4028 - Senior Projects
- ASEN 4519 - Space Environment and Effects
- ASEN 5018/6028 - Graduate Projects
- ASEN 5440 - Mission Design & Development for Space Sciences
- ASEN 5335 - Aerospace Environment
Prospective Students
I am always looking for intelligent and motivated students to join my group. If you are currently at CU Boulder, e-mail me ([email protected]) your CV and tell me a bit about yourself and why you want to work in my group. If you are not yet at CU Boulder, please apply!