EDUCATION

University of California at Davis  (Davis, CA)
Ph.D. in the Department of  Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering – Exp. Sept. 2016 (GPA: 3.95/4.0)

Brown University (Providence, RI)
Bachelor of Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering – May 2012 (GPA: 3.5/4.0)

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

University of California, Davis (Davis, CA)
Ph.D. Researcher: Sept. 2012 – present
Dissertation: Experimental Testing and Characterization of High Power Flow Field PEM Fuel Cell Design Parameters

  • Designed, performed and analyzed experiments to answer fundamental research questions. Specific focus on impact of flow field design parameters on power output, pressure, permeability & liquid water distribution
  • Methodologies used include polarization testing, steady state testing, factorial experiment design, neutron imaging and flow field modeling
  • Specialized equipment and software used include Arbin Fuel Cell Test Station and operating software, Neutron Imaging Facility (NIF) at NIST, Neutron Imaging at McClellan Nuclear Research Center, National Instruments data acquisition boards, Espec Environmental Chamber, MATLAB, Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, NI – Signal Express, COMSOL Multiphysics, Minitab

Brown University (Providence, RI)
Undergraduate Researcher: Sept 2010 – May 2012

  • Investigated sorbency potential of chars made from agricultural vegetal waste
  • Performed analyses including measurement of mineral and organic content, computation of surface area, and measurement of pore volume using both nitrogen and mercury
  • Made char in-house using the helium pyrolysis of agricultural waste (e.g., peach pits, wood chips)

University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT)
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates: Summer 2010

  • Maintained a flame research apparatus and supported flame studies, including bluff-body blow-off and particle imaging velocimetry studies
  • As a team member, contributed to the design and construction of a linear motion apparatus for a gas sampling device; and an experimental chamber for measuring resonance pressure

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

University of California, Davis (Davis, CA)
Teaching Assistant: (select quarters) Sept. 2012 – present

  • Led students in undergraduate experiments on thermodynamics, fluid flow and heat transfer
  • Provided feedback and corrected lab reports with suggestions for improvement; graded homework
  • Taught students fundamentals of engineering drawings and used of CAD (SolidWorks) One Term

University of California, Davis (Davis, CA)
Undergraduate Research Mentor: (select quarters) Sept 2012 – present

  • Advised and directed undergraduate students performing short term research projects in the lab
  • Educated undergraduate researchers about research techniques and performing background research
  • Assisted students in project goal-setting and provided feedback on progress

SCHOLARLY ARTICLES

N.J. Cooper, A.D. Santamaria, M.K. Becton, J.W. Park. In situ neutron radiography study on the effect of gas diffusion layer choice on liquid water distribution. (2016) Journal of Power Sources (In Review).

N.J. Cooper, A.D. Santamaria, M.K. Becton, J.W. Park. Cross flow distribution and performance for variable aspect ratio interdigitated flow-field PEMFCs. (2016) Manuscript.

N.J. Cooper, T. Smith, A.D. Santamaria, J.W. Park. Experimental performance characterization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells with varying channel dimensions, ECS Transactions. (2016) Submitted.

N.J. Cooper, T. Smith, A.D. Santamaria, J.W. Park. Experimental optimization of parallel and interdigitated PEMFC flow-field channel geometry, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy. (2015) 1–11. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.11.153.

A.D. Santamaria, M.K. Becton, N.J. Cooper, A.Z. Weber, J.W. Park, Effect of cross-flow on PEFC liquid-water distribution: An in-situ high-resolution neutron radiography study, J. Power Sources. 293 (2015) 162–169. doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.05.016.

A. Santamaria, N. Cooper, M. Becton, J.W. Park. Experimental investigation of channel aspect ratio on interdigitated PEMFC performance, SAE Int. J. Altern. Powertrains. 3 (2014) 78–85. doi:10.4271/2014-01-1828.

A.D. Santamaria, N.J. Cooper, M.K. Becton, J.W. Park, Effect of channel length on interdigitated flow-field PEMFC performance: A computational and experimental study, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy. 38 (2013) 16253–16263.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

N.J. Cooper, A.D. Santamaria, M.K. Becton, J.W. Park. In-plane neutron radiography study of the effect of cross flow on water distribution in the gas diffusion layer. ASME 2016 POWER & ENERGY, Charlotte, NC, June 2016. (Accepted, Conference Pending)

N.J. Cooper, T. Smith, A.D. Santamaria, J.W. Park. Experimental performance characterization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells with varying channel dimensions. ECS 229th Meeting, San Diego, CA, June 2016.

N.J. Cooper, A.D. Santamaria, M.K. Becton, J.W. Park. Experimental investigation of channel aspect ratio on interdigitated PEMFC performance. SAE 2014 World Congress & Exhibition, Detroit, MI, April 2014.

A.D. Santamaria, N.J. Cooper, M.K. Becton, J.W. Park. A study of channel dimension effect on performance of interdigitated flow field PEM fuel cells. AIChE 2013 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, November 2013.

A.D. Santamaria, N.J. Cooper, M.K. Becton, J.W. Park.  Affect of feature dimensions on PEM fuel cell performance under flow fields capable of switching between parallel and interdigitated configurations. ECS 224th Meeting, San Francisco, CA. October 2013.

N.J. Cooper, I. Külaots. Agricultural waste based bio-char sorption potential. AIChE 2011 Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, November 2011.

N.J. Cooper, I. Külaots. Biochar sorption potential. AIChE 2010 Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, November 2010.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Stanley Black & Decker / Adecco (New Britain, CT)
Design Engineer Intern: Summer 2011

  • Designed parts for a machine used to test hammers to failure through repeated strikes on an anvil, without human intervention.
  • Researched methods of reducing waste due to grinding in chisel production.

CGH Energy [Geothermal energy start-up] (Tolland, CT)
Engineering Intern: Summer 2009

  • Researched geothermal installation designs and requirements for residential homes.
  • Performed calculations, prepared reports and web content, and made engineering recommendations for new geothermal systems.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

1st Place Detection of Nuclear Proliferation: Network Science Idea Challenge, DOE – 2014
3rd Place Student Poster (Environmental Division), AICHE Annual Meeting – 2011
2nd Place Student Poster (Environmental Division), AICHE Annual Meeting – 2010

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Student Member (ASME)
The Electrochemical Society, Student Member (ECS)
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society