YSU Engineering Student Earns NASA Fellowship

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown State University mechanical engineering student Marcus Harden has earned a fellowship through the NASA Ohio Space Grant Consortium.

As part of the fellowship, Harden will work with YSU mechanical engineering professor Stefan Moldovan on a research project using computational analysis of fluid dynamics of a micro turbine engine.

“With the completion of my project, we will have a working and validated analysis model of the TJT-3000 Miniature Gas Turbine,” Harden said in a statement. “In combination with streamlined user operation of the TJT-3000, I see a large potential for an extremely informative lab relating to both combustion and aeronautics.”

The fellowship provides stipend support for eligible Ohio residents enrolled at Ohio universities seeking advanced STEM degrees relevant to sustaining an aerospace workforce in the state.

“Students enhance their learning and career development by undertaking these research projects that expose them to real problems in the aerospace industry, to which Ohio is well-positioned to contribute as a hub for flight technology development and manufacturing,” said Kevin Disotell, mechanical, industrial and manufacturing engineering professor and YSU’s Ohio Space Grant Consortium campus representative.

In addition to Harden’s fellowship, the consortium also awarded four $7,000 scholarships during the spring semester earlier this year:

• Alexis Cresanto, “Biochemical Research.”
• Patrick McWhorter, “Examining chitosan polymer’s adhesive strength to titanium in a liquid environment.”
• Timothy Chamberlain, “Design of Ranque-Hilsch vortex tube for temperature-sensitive paint testing.”
• Nathan Lin, “A numerical study of a cyclone separator at reduced operating pressures.”

The Ohio Space Grant Consortium is part of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. Established in 1989, it is administered by the Office of STEM Engagement at NASA Headquarters. Space Grant is a national network of colleges and universities working to expand opportunities for Americans to understand and participate in NASA’s aeronautics and space projects by supporting and enhancing STEM through scholarships, fellowships, higher education, research infrastructure, precollege and informal education public outreach efforts.

Source: YSU News

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.