Member Bios
Derek Bailey: Co-Team Leader
Derek Bailey has worked on previous projects and had previous classes where he learned information that can be applied to this project. He is a student in ME 450 (Modeling Dynamic Systems) where many of the dynamic systems that are encountered in class have block diagrams associated with them. This is applicable to the controls team because for modeling in Simulink and Stateflow the use of block diagrams and the dynamic system with the use of block diagrams is heavily needed. Micontroller Interfacing is another class that he is taking this semester that deals with systems like the ones that will be used in EcoCAR. The class must produce code that is then flashed to a microcontroller that needs to do different tasks depending on the lab. He also has experience with fluid flow, heat transfer, vibrations, and the graphical modeling program Pro ENGINEER.
Dave Fecek: Co-Team Leader
David is a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering currently doing research with Penn State’s Applied Research Lab on condition-based maintenance of heavy military vehicles. He has worked with the Advanced Vehicle Team for the past year as a volunteer and controls team member until last summer where he took on the position of Co-Team Leader alongside Derek Bailey. He has previously worked with Penn State’s Solar Decathlon team as well as held an internship at Sensus Metering Technologies performing short and long term tests on current and cutting-edge water meter designs. In the future, he hopes to use the strong interest in hybrid vehicle engineering the EcoCAR competition has given him to advance and promote the technology for future generations of engineers to come.
Dana Bubonovich: Outreach and Public Relations Coordinator
Dana Bubonovich is a senior majoring in public relations with a minor in business and liberal arts at Penn State University. She is currently the president of the Lawrence G. Foster Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. She is also an account executive for Happy Valley Communications, a student-run public relations firm she helped develop. Currently, she is a public relations intern for Penn State Career Services, where she writes develops marketing and publication materials. Previously, she has interned with Penn State Undergraduate Admissions and Pittsburgh CLO. Related courses include Public Relations Methods, Accounting, Finance, News Writing, Communication Research, Marketing and Advertising.
Todd Ace: Controls Member
Todd Ace is a senior studying Mechanical Engineering. As an active member of the Robotics Club, his team designed, built and tested an autonomous fire-fighting robot. He has also worked the Formula SAE team, where he machined exotic metals and fabricated the driver’s seat out of carbon fiber. His current projects include a maze-following robot, a pharmaceutical packaging robot and a sentry gun robot. Todd has taken relevant courses in computer logic, robotics, mechanical design, vibrations and modeling of dynamic systems. Course work and personal projects have given him extensive experience with Java, C++, Matlab, ProEngineer, and Finite Element Analysis in SolidWorks. In his spare time he also enjoys building custom bicycles.
Christopher Baum: Emissions Member
I am a senior in mechanical engineering. I plan to graduate this spring. I have experience in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and Ansys. This past summer I interned with BAE Systems, where I worked with the modeling and simulation team to evaluate data collected from strain gauges.
Bryan Chambers: Drivetrain Member
Bryan Chambers is a mechanical engineering senior. Bryan has interned for the Penn State Applied Research Lab and KCF Technologies, a local engineering company. Through both experiences, he has developed an increased aptitude with SolidWorks and NI LabVIEW, as well as automated measurement and product testing. Through the engineering curriculum, Bryan has acquired extensive hands-on experience with machining tools that will be vital for the EcoCAR project. This, however, is merely the continuation of a long history of mechanical aptitude. Before his college career began, Bryan spent many hours in the garage and under the hood strengthening his problem solving ability, increasing his technical knowledge, and sharpening his aptitude with a variety of tools.
Vivek Dason: Drivetrain Member
Vivek Dason is a senior in Mechanical Engineering, expected to graduate in Spring 2010. He has gained valuable skills in engineering gained from prior class work as well as internships. Working at Westinghouse Electric Company for the summer of 2009 has given him extensive knowledge with the SolidWorks CAD package. He has also had experience using CosmosWorks Finite Element Analysis package, and will gain more knowledge on this subject in the upcoming semester. In addition to computer modeling skills, he has also gained experience at the machine shop. He has machined parts on the lathe and vertical mill for the Formula SAE team as well as for projects for ME 340.
Alex Dzwill: APU Member
Alex Dzwill is a senior in Energy Engineering and will receive his bachelors’ degree in December 2010. He has experience in the restoration of a 1967 MGB. Alex has extremely proficient computer skills and can adapt quickly to new challenges and technologies. Throughout his academic career Alex has taken several related courses in Fluid Dynamics, Thermodynamics, Power Generation, Electrochemical Conversion, and Fuel Cells. Alex looks forward to contributing to the EcoCar and hopes to pursue hybrid vehicles as a career.
Asser Elsahamy
Asser Elsamahy is an undergraduate sophomore student majoring in electrical engineering at Penn State. His skills in circuits and converters came from Circuit and design class. This is his first year at Advanced Vehicle Team. He is proficient at Solidworks, C++.
Shawn Getty: ESS Mentor and Member
Shawn Getty is a senior in Mechanical Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. He is currently doing research with the Engineering Mechanics and Science department. His research involves biodiesel and new efficient ways to manufacture it. He also was an intern for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as a dam inspection intern where he gained experience in field surveys and technical reports. Shawn also had an internship with a biofuels company in the summer of his freshman year where he developed skills in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Photoshop, and Microsoft Office.
Donny Hoover: ESS Member
Donald is in his senior year in Mechanical Engineering and will be graduating in spring of 2010. His useful experience for the energy storage system team comes mainly from heat transfer, fluid flow, vibrations and finite element analysis classes at Penn State. Donald has also done a lot of bicycle model work with Simulink, in Penn State’s vehicle dynamics class. He has experience with nickel-metal hydride and lithium polymer battery packs through the remote controlled vehicle hobby.
Ben Koch: Drivetrain Mentor and Webmaster
Benjamin Koch is a graduage in engineering science. This past summer he interned with Penn State’s Materials Research Laboratory where he worked on breakdown testing of thin film polymers. Ben also worked on computer simulation, which employed the Monte Carlo method to simulate breakdown in capacitors. The summer after his sophomore year he interned at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. where he worked with systems employing Avalanche Photodiodes for high bit rate communication links. Through professional experience and course work he has gained experience using MathCAD, MatLab, and SolidWorks.
Martin Lechner: APU Member
Martin is a senior at Penn State majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently working on the fluid design of the APU team. With taking Me 370, a dynamic fluid course, and work done designing a submersible micro pump he will be able to take that experience into optimizing the fluid systems in the vehicle. Martin also brings experience from Cambria Cogen, a 99 MW coal fired power plant, in which he was able to individually lead projects from beginning to end, optimize plant operation systems and lend engineering advise on machine rebuilds. During the 2008/2009 school year he lent a hand machining various mounts for Penn State’s Formula SAE team. His hobbies also bring relevant knowledge of vehicle systems while racing stock cars in his free time.
Guntas Malhotra: Emission Group Leader
Guntas Malhotra is a Graduate Research Assistant working with PTI and member of Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) program by DOE. Working on the Dynamics- Traction and Yaw Control of a series hybrid vehicle with individual motors on both front wheels as Master’s thesis project. Also, working on ‘Vehicle to Grid’ (V2G) demonstration as part of another project with PTI. Experience working with Matlab, Simulink while studying ‘Vehicle Dynamics’ (ME-452) and working on all the HW Assignments using Matlab & Simulink. Have worked on Ansys, Abaqus, Patran-Nastran through the ‘Finite Element Analysis’ (ME-461) course. Knowledge of Matlab-Stateflow through experience on controlling APU as part of one of labs in ‘HEV-Hardware-in-Loop’ course. Currently, he is learning Microcomputer Interfacing though ME-445 course, with labs that are oriented to make us program microcomputer and interface then with various devices to perform tasks to accomplish the lab objective. He is also pursuing another course ‘HEV-High Power Energy Storage’ for knowledge on various power storage systems- capacitors, batteries, fuel cells being used for the hybrid vehicles.
Gary Marosy: APU Member
Gary Marosy is a senior in Mechanical Engineering and a member of the Penn State Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. This is his first year working with the Advanced Vehicle Team. He is proficient at Solidworks, Cosmosworks, and has advanced machining experience.
Mark Miccio: APU Group Leader
Mark Miccio is a senior in the Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering program. His internship experience includes the design and drafting of HVAC and mechanical piping systems for commercial structures. He is proficient in both AutoCAD and Solidworks and has had course and project experience with finite element analysis. Significant project experience includes designing a backyard playground set as well as a micro lobe pump. Relevant course work includes fluid dynamics, heat transfer, machine design, solidworks fundamentals, engineering material science, and vibration analysis. He has had experience working with a lathe, mill, band saw, rapid prototyping machine, and water jet cutter. He will apply his knowledge, experience, and leadership skills to contribute to the success of this project.
Ryan Noss: APU Group Mentor
Ryan Noss is a Research and Development Engineer in the Undersea Weapons Division at the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University. Ryan previously worked for Jacobs Vehicle Systems as a Design Engineering Manager. In this role, he was responsible for design standards and managing both the design engineering group and global product development group at Jacobs. As a Senior Engineer at Jacobs, Ryan developed engine braking systems and variable valve timing for diesel engines. Ryan also worked for Timken and The Torrington Company as a Product and Application Engineer for steering systems. Ryan graduated from Penn State University with his M.S. and B.S. in mechanical engineering. As a student, Ryan served as the APU group leader and a team leader during the FutureTruck competitions.
Shannon Scott: APU Member
Shannon is a senior in Mechanical Engineering. The summers after her first and second years at Penn State she interned at General Motors working in Manufacturing and Pre-Production Operations in Pontiac, Michigan. The Spring and Summer semesters during her third year she worked at BorgWarner Turbochargers and Emissions Systems in Asheville, North Carolina with the Variable Turbine Geometry group. Shop experience in MIG and TIG welding as well as lathe, mill, and other power tool operation obtained from school and personal projects will carry over to this project. She grew up helping her dad in the garage as he pursued his hobby of restoring antique cars, sparking an interest in mechanics early on. Relevant courses taken include Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Instrumentation and Controls, Mechanical Design Methodology, Mechanical Design, Heat Transfer and Heat Transfer Lab in particular. Through elective classes and work experience, her technical specialty is in thermo and fluid dynamics.
Kevin Shadle: Controls Member
Kevin Shadle is a senior in Mechanical Engineering and will receive his bachelors’ degree in May 2010. Related courses include Robotics, Modeling of Dynamic Systems, Mechanical Design, and Vibration of Mechanical Systems. He is proficient in programming languages including C, C++, Arduino v17, Processing 1.0, and software including SolidWorks, Matlab, Simulink, and Microsoft Office. He has also built and programmed automated systems with motors, servos, integrated circuits, and various electrical components.
Emily Simmons: Business Coordinator
Emily Simmons is majoring in advertising and public relations with a double minor in business and psychology. This is Emily’s second year with the EcoCAR challenge. In addition to acting as business coordinator for the AVT team, she is the public relations chair for Volé, Penn State Ballet, and public relations director for PRSSA. Currently, she is the public relations intern at The State Theatre in State College, Pa. Previously, Emily was the youth programs intern at Volunteer Alexandria in Alexandria, Va. and the communications and marketing intern at Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. Related courses include Finance, Marketing, Accounting, News Writing, Public Relations Methods, Public Relations Campaigns, Communications Research and Advertising.
Jay Stillmun: Drivetrain Member
Jay Stillmun is a senior Mechanical Engineering student. He has been interested in automotive technology since he was a young child, helping his uncle compete in Sports Car Club of America racing as a pit crew member. Jay has been involved with SCCA racing and autocrossing ever since. He also has a strong interest in alternative power sources; he is currently taking a class on polymer electrolyte fuel cells. The Penn State curriculum has provided him with extensive experience using SolidWorks. Jay interned for two summers for FMC Corporation where he was involved with product R&D and technical support. When Jay was in 7th grade he designed and built a pedal powered, steering wheel controlled cart, and when his parents found out he was building a “mule” vehicle, they both remembered the cart that sat in their garage for five years and told him he was born to do this work.
Tushar Swamy: ESS Group Leader
Tushar Swamy is a graduate student majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Computational Science at Penn State. Through professional experience and coursework, he has gained expertise in advanced energy technologies such as batteries and fuel cell systems. With his sturdy background in modeling/simulations, and significant hands-on experience in hybrid propulsion, Tushar has been a valuable addition to the EcoCAR AVT at Penn State.
Matt Tetkoskie: Controls Member
Matt Tetkoskie is currently a senior in Mechanical Engineering. He is a member of the controls team and is tasked with writing the control algorithm for the Saturn Vue. Matt has worked in service for Volkswagen and Honda during high school and college and has experience with many of the components to be used in competition. Through course work over the past two years he has gained experience with Matlab, MathCAD, and Solidworks that will aid in the development of the control algorithm.
Dan Uniatowski: Drivetrain Group Leader
Dan Uniatowski joined the EcoCAR team in his senior year this fall, and is acting as the Drivetrain Team Leader for the fall semester. Before attending Penn State to study Mechanical Engineering, he grew up in a garage, spending over half of his life helping his dad wrench on the family vehicles. His design experience includes several school projects dealing with fatigue analysis in Machine Dynamics and Junior Design, and also has two years of intern experience at Westinghouse Electric Company. He has experience with several 3D modeling programs, which will be useful when designing the rear brake rotors and mounting locations for several Drivetrain components.
