Danté Herrera

Experience

• 

  The University of Texas at Dallas

  May 2017 - Sept 2017

  Research Assistant

  As a part of UTD's Nano explorer's program and under the advisement of Dr. Bing Lv, I researched the synthesis and characterization of the high temperature superconductor YBCO (yttrium barium copper oxide). I synthesized a superconducting puck, and iteratively refined the superconductor, using an x-ray diffractometer and PPMS to characterize it along the way. I presented my research to over 100 people at the NanoTech exposition at the end of summer.

• 

  Texas A&M University

  Jan 2019 - May 2021

  I graded homework, quizzes, and exams for students enrolled in Aerothermodynamics. I first worked through every assignment to validate the provided key and gain insight into what was expected of the students and what mistakes might be common. After grading assignments, I complied a list of common mistakes and misconceptions and wrote detailed walkthroughs of problems I thought were particularly challenging or abstract. Unlike my previous tutoring position, my writeups were the only opportunity per assignment I had to help students, so I took care to make sure they were detailed, relevant, and could be easily understood. Show less Under the advisement of Dr. Adonios Karpetis, I researched hybrid rocket propulsion systems and their characterization. A presentation of my research received first place at Texas A&M's Student Research Week for the undergraduate general engineering poster section.Hybrid propulsion systems utilize a complex combustion mechanism which can be represented as a set of coupled processes. Understanding the mechanism by which combustion occurs allowed for the design and building of a small scale hybrid engine which was used to model how changing different parameters affected engine performance. Further experiments were designed with the goal of directly measuring combustion temperature through the dilution of the oxidizer freestream with an inert gas. Show less

  • Grader - Aerothermodynamics

    Jan 2020 - May 2021

  • Undergraduate Researcher

    Aug 2018 - May 2021

  • Engineering Mathematics III Help Session Leader

    Jan 2019 - Jul 2019
• 

  Texas A&M University Sounding Rocketry Team (SRT)

  Jul 2019 - Sept 2021

  Propulsion Team Member

  I researched the effects of additives on hybrid rocket propulsion. I also helped build a hybrid rocket engine which used an HTPB solid grain and liquid Nitrous Oxide oxidizer. This engine successfully propelled our rocket to ~8000 feet.

• 

  SpaceX

  Sept 2021 - Dec 2021

  Starship Launch Intern

  As a Starship Launch Intern at SpaceX, I worked on the launch fluids team to design and build propellant and pneumatic systems on the orbital launch pad. To assist with this goal, I wrote a script in python capable of solving for fluid state in a pipe by utilizing the Fanno flow model in both the forward (inlet state defined) and backwards (outlet state defined and friction factor solved recursively based on known pipe roughness) directions. This was extremely helpful for properly sizing pipes to limit flow rate restrictions and back pressure on relief valves to within ASME guidelines to ensure safe and reliable systems. I then leveraged CAD to model and draft engineering drawings for piping systems. I also worked with welders, technicians, crane operators, inventory, and more to organize and assist with build operations on the night shift. Show less

• 

  Los Alamos National Laboratory

  Jul 2022 - now

  Research And Development Engineer

  As an engineer in the gas transfer systems group, I design and build control and instrumentation systems for real time diagnostics of gas systems. I am currently the lead developer for our in house multi purpose "Gas Transfer Operations System" (GaTOS), which implements both hardware and software solutions for control and data acquisition. The GaTOS software leverages both queued message handler and state machine LabVIEW frameworks to offer engineers an easy to use platform for running tests and experiments. This system is spread across a windows LV, LV Realtime, and LV FPGA system to maximize ease of use (windows based GUI), as well as speed + reliability (Rack mounted RT + FPGA systems with independent timing and collection infrastructure). I also support the group with python based software solutions for post processing experimental data. Show less