WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2020
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
The world is moving ever farther away from fossil-fuels and adapting various kinds of sustainable energy. During this event, students will learn about how engineers harness the power of the earth with Cal State LA faculty and alumni.
9:00 AM - 10:20 PM
FACULTY SPEAKERS
Chris Bachman, Ph.D.Dr. Bachman is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Cal State LA. He received his B.S. (2010) and M.S. (2012) from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and his Ph.D. (2017) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT he performed research under the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and the MIT Mechanical Engineering Department Fellowship. He has performed research in batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, wind energy, and engineering education. His work has been featured in Nature Materials, Nature Communications, and Chemical Reviews, and has been cited over 700 times in the previous five years. He has taught experimental methods, control systems, and mechanical design at UC Davis; physics and calculus at MIT; fluid mechanics and mechanical vibrations the Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT); and Introduction to Engineering and Technology, Introduction to Mechanical Design, Thermodynamics, and Senior Design at Cal State LA. He also currently advises both the Baja SAE and Formula SAE competition teams, directs the ECST Makerspace, and runs the Sustainable Technology Lab researching inexpensive and safe energy storage. |
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David Blekhman, Ph.D.Dr. Blekhman is a Professor at the Department of Technology at Cal State LA. His research specializations are Alternative and Renewable Energy, Fuel Cells, Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, Automotive Applications, Fuel Reforming, Combustion, Thermal and Fluid Systems, CFD, Data Acquisition and Instrumentation, Rotating Machinery. |
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Alexis KamAlexis Kam is a recently graduated Mechanical Engineer from Cal State LA. She is pursuing a career in the construction industry, where she strives to promote greener practices and reduce energy/water waste in buildings. Alexis will join ACCO in Pasadena as an HVAC Design Engineer for commercial systems this August. She is also applying to graduate programs to specialize and further her education in urban sustainability design and construction. |
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
INDUSTRY SPEAKERS
Roxanne KellerMy name is Roxanne Keller (Acosta). I grew up in Downey, CA, and graduated from Warren High School in 2007. I attended Cal State from 2007 to 2015. I graduated with a degree in civil engineering. During my time at Cal State LA, I was a part of several student organizations throughout the years. I was involved in SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers), ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), and SWE (Society of Women Engineers). As a student, I also got the opportunity to be an intern for Southern California Edison, and I got to participate in research for the Office of Naval Research. My parents emigrated from Mexico in the early 80's right after they got married. Neither of my parents graduated from high school nor received very much formal education, but they came here so their children could have better opportunities. Being a first-generation college student came with its fair share of additional challenges, but I am grateful for all of them. They helped build a lot of character! I have been a Wire Installation Engineer at Boeing for the past 5 years. During my time at Boeing, I have gotten the opportunity to work on a variety of projects. As a Wire Installation Engineer, I am responsible for coordinating with different aircraft area owners to ensure seamless routing through all areas of the aircraft. For the past year, I have been working with the COSP (Continued Operational Safety Program) group. In this group, we investigate safety issues that occur on the aircraft. This position entails gathering all details of the incident, conducting research, seeking advice and guidance from subject matter experts, and presenting all findings to a committee. |
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Jacquelyn BirdsallJacquelyn Birdsall is a Senior Engineer in the Fuel Cell Development Department of Toyota Motor North America Research and Development specializing in hydrogen infrastructure, high pressure hydrogen systems, and associated standards and regulations. She also serves as a technical spokesperson for the Toyota Mirai and has been in numerous publications including Car and Driver and the Wall Street Journal. |
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Judy KrugerJudy Kruger is the Sr Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit focused on building opportunities for good paying jobs in California. |