SpearrinLab
laser spectroscopy, reacting flows
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Our Team
We are a group of students and engineers committed to expanding the frontiers of science and technology
Kevin K. Schwarm Graduate Researcher
National Defense Science and Engineering Fellow
Education:
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - University of Miami
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Freeport, ME, USA
Research Interests:
-Internal combustion engines
-Sustainable energy
-Environmental and planetary sensing
Isabelle C. SandersGraduate Researcher
NSERC Canada Scholar
Education:
B.A.Sc. in Engineering Physics and Mechanical Engineering - Queen's University
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Toronto, ON, Canada
Research Interests:
-Flow-field imaging
-Sensor development
-Hybrid rocket propulsion
Nicholas M. KuenningGraduate Researcher
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Granada Hills, CA, USA
Research Interests:
-Detonation engine diagnostics
-Shock tubes
-Rocket propulsion
Alex KellerGraduate Researcher
Education:
B.S. in Physics - Randolph-Macon College
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
York, PA, USA
Research Interests:
-Liquid rocket propulsion
-Additive manufacturing
-Rotating detonation rocket engines
Barathan JeevaretanamGraduate Researcher
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC San Diego
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Research Interests:
-Solar-thermal energy
-Laser diagnostics
-Reactive flows
Ariya OlaeeGraduate Researcher
Education:
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Irvine
Hometown:
Fremont, CA, USA
Research Interests:
-Flowfield imaging
-Planetary entry
Griffin HoustonGraduate Researcher
Education:
B.S. in Applied Physics - Brigham Young University
Hometown:
Manassas, VA, USA
Research Interests:
-Environmental monitoring
-Renewable energy
Former Lab Members
Dr. Fabio A. BendanaPhD Graduate
Current Position:
Research Chemist in Combustion and Propulsion at The Aerospace Corporation
Education:
B.S. in Aero/Mechanical Engineering - UC Irvine
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
San Francisco, CA, USA
Dr. Daniel D. LeePhD Graduate
Current Position:
Experimental Physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Education:
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Gainesville, FL, USA
Dr. Chuyu Wei PhD Graduate / Postdoc
Current Position:
Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University
B.S. in Energy Engineering - Zhejiang University
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Hunan, China
Prof. Daniel I. Pineda Postdoc
Current Position:
Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
Education:
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UT Austin
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Berkeley
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Berkeley
Hometown:
San Antonio, TX, USA
Dr. Anil P. Nair PhD Graduate
Current Position:
Principal Physicist at Northrop Grumman
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Murrieta, CA, USA
Prof. Nicolas Minesi Postdoc
Current Position:
Assistant Professor at Université Paris-Saclay/ CentraleSupélec
B.S. in Physics - Université Paris-Saclay
M.S. in Plasma Physics - Université Paris-Saclay
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering - Université Paris-Saclay/ CentraleSupélec
Hometown:
Burgundy, France
Dr. Christopher Jelloian PhD Graduate
Current Position:
Principal Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman
B.S. in Physics - California Lutheran University
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Chatsworth, CA, USA
Huy Dinh MS Graduate
Current Position:
Structures Engineer at SpaceX
Education:
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Josue J. Castillo MS Graduate
Current Position:
Systems Engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Downey, CA, USA
Travis FujimotoMS Graduate
Current Position:
Lead Propulsion Engineer at Relativity Aerospace
Education:
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - Oregon State
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Mililani, HI, USA
David S. MorrowMS Graduate
Current Position:
Mechanical Engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Education:
B.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics
- Virginia Tech
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Roanoke, VA, USA
Alex LimaMS Graduate
Current Position:
Mechanical Engineer at The Aerospace Corporation
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Turlock, CA, USA
Joel OtomizeMS Graduate
Current Position:
Mechanical Engineer at Northrup Grumman
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering - University of Portland
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Kampala, Uganda
Miles RichmondMS Graduate
Current Position:
Instructor for Mountain Sports School (Wyoming)
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Sacremento, CA, USA
China G. Hagström BS Graduate
Current Position:
Graduate Student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Mill Valley, CA, USA
Anneliese Peterson BS Graduate
Current Position:
Propulsion Engineer at Northrup Grumman
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Pleasant Hill, CA, USA
Nora StacyBS Graduate
Current Position:
Turbomachinery Project & Component Engineer at Aerojet Rocketdyne
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
San Francisco, CA, USA
Dennis Lai BS Graduate
Current Position:
Graduate Student at Stanford University
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Hong Kong
Tara Mellor BS Graduate
Current Position:
Graduate Student at UC Los Angeles
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
San Francisco, CA, USA
Sarah Enayati BS Graduate
Current Position:
Graduate Student at UC Los Angeles
Education:
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Nik Struntz Undergraduate Researcher
Current Position:
Undergraduate Student at UC Los Angeles
Hometown:
Frederick, MD, USA