Phillip Irace, PhD

Experience

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  Douglas County Highway Department

  May 2013 - Aug 2015

  Engineering Intern

  ● Used GPS surveying equipment to analyze project sites.● Performed material testing to verify project safety standards were met.

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  Illinois College

  Jan 2015 - May 2015

  Student Research Assistant

  Built a 3-D printer in order to create parts to be used for spectroscopy research.

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  Global Surgical Corporation

  Jan 2016 - May 2016

  Engineering Co-op
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  Murphy Company Mechanical Contractors & Engineers

  Jun 2016 - Jun 2018

  Mechanical Design Engineer

  ● Designed HVAC systems for commercial buildings, hospitals, and universities.● Computed heating/cooling loads, pressure losses, and other calculations for HVAC system design.● Worked with a team to complete projects from the design phase to a finished build.● Prepared and presented proposals and formal design presentations to owners and developers.

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  Washington University McKelvey School of Engineering

  Jun 2018 - Aug 2022

  Spherical Diffusion Flames in Microgravity (Flame Design) ● Investigated the effects of altering flame structure on soot particle formation and flame extinction using ethylene burner-supported spherical diffusion flames in microgravity aboard the International Space Station under the NASA project, Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments.● Diagnostics included color video, thin filament pyrometry, radiometers, thermocouples, and photomultiplier tubes. Experimental results were compared to a transient numerical model.● Flame Design resulted in improved spacecraft fire safety and the optimization of oxygen enriched combustion for applications in carbon capture and storage.Flame-Assisted Additive Manufacturing (FLAMe) ● Project lead for the development of a new additive manufacturing technique that used combustion synthesis and enabled the fabrication of improved ultra-high temperature materials, functionally graded materials, and entirely new MPEAs.● Built a prototype FLAMe system, including a control system, and synthesized and deposited Ti.● Effectively presented the FLAMe process to a group of non-scientific entrepreneurs and won funding through the Skandalaris Center’s Fall 2020 LEAP program.● Wrote and won an STTR with Mainstream and Washington University for the FLAMe process. I was the PI at Mainstream Engineering for the project.Thermal Radiation from Laminar Tri-Coflow Diffusion Flames● Investigated the effects of oxygen-enrichment, fuel additives, and altering flame structure on thermal radiation from laminar tri-coflow diffusion flames.● Constructed a triple port burner and a flow system to conduct experiments.● Built and calibrated a radiometer for radiation measurements using a thin-film thermopile and a blackbody calibration source.● Developed an optical system for two-color ratio pyrometry measurements of soot particle temperature and concentration using a commercial digital camera. Show less

  • Postdoctoral Researcher

    May 2022 - Aug 2022

  • PHD Candidate

    Aug 2018 - May 2022

  • Graduate Student Teaching Fellow

    Aug 2017 - May 2019

  • Research Assistant

    Jun 2018 - Aug 2018
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  NSIN - National Security Innovation Network

  Jun 2021 - Aug 2021

  X-Force Fellow
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  Mainstream Engineering Corporation

  Aug 2022 - Apr 2023

  Mechanical Engineer

  ● Wrote and reviewed technical proposals and manuscripts and conducted literature reviews.● Managed projects from the kickoff meeting to the final review, including all reports and deliverables.● Designed, developed, and operated prototypes and test stands according to proposed work.● Interfaced with customers, vendors, and team members on a regular basis to ensure project success.● Prepared formal design presentations and presented to customers.Grants Awarded:● FLame-assisted Additive Manufacturing of Refractory Metals (FLAMe), Missile Defense Agency, STTR Phase I, $150,000● Extreme Environment Mass Flow Meter, Air Force, SBIR Phase I, $180,000 Show less

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  International Space Station National Laboratory

  Apr 2023 - now

  Program Director

  ● Manage the ISS physical science and technology development research portfolios (>$20M).● Communicate with NASA and other U.S. government agencies to facilitate research collaborations.● Review research proposals for scientific merit and feasibility on the ISS and recommend selections.● Provide technical oversight throughout the payload development process.● Present and network at several academic and industry conferences per year.