Meet The Team
Principal Investigator
Lane B. Carasik, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Director of the FAST Research Group
Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
Joint Appointee with Idaho National Laboratory
He/Him/His
Education:
Doctorate of Philosophy, Texas A&M University
Bachelors of Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Associates of Mathematics, Middle Georgia State University
Curriculum Vitae (C. V.)
Google Scholar Profile
Researchgate Profile
Dr. Lane Carasik (He/Him/His) is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Carasik is also the Director of the Fluids in Advanced Systems and Technology (FAST) research group that focuses on thermal hydraulics research in advanced energy systems including nuclear fusion/fission and concentrated solar power. Between January 2021 to June 2021, he was the Director of the VCU High Performance Research Computing core facility as a part-time administrative role providing strategic leadership for growing high performance computing needs. Prior to joining VCU, Dr. Carasik was a Nuclear Thermal Fluids Engineer at Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation and before that, Kairos Power as a CFD & Thermal Fluids Engineer. Dr. Carasik is an Associate Editor of the American Nuclear Society Fusion Science and Technology Journal as well as the current chair of the Diversity and Inclusion in ANS committee, an External Affairs Committee member, and a Thermal Hydraulics Division Executive Committee member. Dr. Carasik has a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Lastly, he was a co-recipient of the 2020 ASME FED Moody and 2018 ASME CFD Best Paper Awards for work completed while employed at Kairos Power on a DOE GAIN Voucher.
Assistant Professor and Director of the FAST Research Group
Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
Virginia Commonwealth University
Joint Appointee with Idaho National Laboratory
He/Him/His
Education:
Doctorate of Philosophy, Texas A&M University
Bachelors of Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Associates of Mathematics, Middle Georgia State University
Curriculum Vitae (C. V.)
Google Scholar Profile
Researchgate Profile
Dr. Lane Carasik (He/Him/His) is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Carasik is also the Director of the Fluids in Advanced Systems and Technology (FAST) research group that focuses on thermal hydraulics research in advanced energy systems including nuclear fusion/fission and concentrated solar power. Between January 2021 to June 2021, he was the Director of the VCU High Performance Research Computing core facility as a part-time administrative role providing strategic leadership for growing high performance computing needs. Prior to joining VCU, Dr. Carasik was a Nuclear Thermal Fluids Engineer at Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation and before that, Kairos Power as a CFD & Thermal Fluids Engineer. Dr. Carasik is an Associate Editor of the American Nuclear Society Fusion Science and Technology Journal as well as the current chair of the Diversity and Inclusion in ANS committee, an External Affairs Committee member, and a Thermal Hydraulics Division Executive Committee member. Dr. Carasik has a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Lastly, he was a co-recipient of the 2020 ASME FED Moody and 2018 ASME CFD Best Paper Awards for work completed while employed at Kairos Power on a DOE GAIN Voucher.
Graduate Students
Arturo Cabral
Ph.D. Candidate - NRC Fellow He/Him/His Project(s):
Internships while at VCU:
Education:
Arturo earned his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering form Texas A&M University in 2017. Where he worked on a thermal-hydraulics lab working on flow mapping techniques and two-phase flow heat transfer. After graduation, Arturo spent a year working for the IAEA for Research Reactor Safety Section, focusing on publishing a technical document benchmarking nuclear and thermal-hydraulic data of research reactors across the world with in-house validation codes. He also spent a summer working at Argonne National Laboratory working on flow measurement techniques for opaque fluids. Arturo is currently studying at Virginia Commonwealth University, doing on a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering working for the FAST Research Group. His focus consists of studying heat transfer components for next generation nuclear reactors. In his free time, Arturo likes to play tennis and soccer, and to read and cook, specially Mexican food. |
James Vulcanoff
Ph.D. Student He/Him/His Project(s):
Internships while at VCU:
Education:
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Connor Donlan
Ph.D. Student He/Him/His Project(s):
Internships while at VCU:
Education:
Connor earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in applied mathematics from the Virginia Military Institute in 2020. Following his bachelor’s, Connor attended the Virginia Commonwealth University for his Ph.D and Master’s in Science. His research for his Master’s degree focused on material characterization of Accident Tolerant Fuel Claddings. He is originally from Laurel, Maryland and moved to Virginia for school. In his freetime, Connor enjoys relaxing with his fiance, working with his 3-D printer, playing video games, and working out. |
Theodore Chu
Ph.D. Student They/Them Project(s):
Internships while at VCU:
Education:
Teddy Chu is currently a Ph. D student in mechanical and nuclear engineering attending Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Prior to VCU, they attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, earning a BS in physics and mathematics in 2020. His interest in nuclear science started at a young age, and has continued to grow from his previous experiences as an undergraduate research assistant in nuclear astrophysics and interning with Argonne National Laboratory in the Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems division. With the FAST Research Group, they will be focusing on using computational fluid dynamics in thermal flow analysis towards improving advanced reactor safety analysis. Teddy is an active member of the American Nuclear Society chapter at VCU and was the President for the AY22-23. They enjoy spending their free time walking around the city, listening to new music or podcasts, trying out new coffee shops, or staying at home to knit and crochet. |
Undergraduate Students
Ryan McGuire
Undergraduate Research Assistant He/Him/His Projects(s):
Internships while at VCU:
Ryan McGuire is an undergraduate engineer from Virginia Commonwealth University majoring in mechanical engineering with a focus on nuclear engineering. Originally from Arlington, Virginia where his interest in nuclear engineering peaked due to the discrepancies in energy sources, and a drive to push for renewable energy and to fight climate change. Ryan is an active member of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) Chapter at VCU. He served as President and Vice President of the ANS Chapter at VCU for the 2020-2021 school year. Ryan is currently spending his time in Richmond, VA working as an undergraduate research assistant for the FAST Research Group. He enjoys spending free time playing tennis, video games, and watching shows on Crunchyroll and Netflix. |
Sierra Tutwiler
Undergraduate Research Assistant She/Her/Hers Projects(s):
Internships while at VCU:
Sierra Tutwiler is an undergraduate student from Virginia Commonwealth University double majoring in Physics and Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Nuclear Engineering and a minor in mathematics. She is originally from Richmond, Virginia, where her interest in the nuclear industry was piqued due to her exposure to STEM and alternative energy in high school. She has previously interned at Argonne National Laboratory in the Nuclear Science and Engineering Division. Sierra is an active member of the DaVinci Center for Innovation, American Nuclear Society (ANS) Chapter, and Judo Club at VCU. Sierra is currently spending her time in Richmond, VA working as an undergraduate research assistant in the FAST Research Group. She enjoys spending her free time perusing used book stores, attempting to paint, and helping out with her high school field hockey team. |
Jerel Houston
Undergraduate Research Assistant He/Him/His Projects(s):
Internships while at VCU:
Jerel is currently working on his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with Nuclear Concentration at Virginia commonwealth University where his estimated graduation will be in the fall of 2023. Jerel spent some time as an undergraduate lab assistant with Dr. Supathorn Phongikaroon's Molten Salt Research Program where his role was to create salt samples and study their properties such as their melting temperature and the weight loss due to vaporization. As of late May, 2021, Jerel has become a member of the FAST research group where his role will be to design flow straighteners for PEPT using the CAD software SolidWorks. Jerel's hobbies include Basketball, Video Games, and Sneaker Collecting. |
Adam Mafi
Undergraduate Research Assistant He/Him/His Projects(s):
Internships while at VCU:
Adam Mafi is a senior undergraduate student from Virginia Commonwealth University working on his B.S. in Mechanical engineering with a Nuclear Concentration and a minor in Applied Mathematics he is originally from Mclean, Virginia, where his interest in the nuclear industry was peaked due to the study of atomic sciences in his adolescents. He has previously interned at LinaSpace in Fairfax, VA in the Satellite Engineering Department, and plans on attending graduate school for Power Engineering Specialization. Adam is an active member of the American Nuclear Society chapters at VCU. Adam is currently spending his summer in Richmond, VA working as an undergraduate research assistant in the FAST Research Group. Adam enjoys spending his free time playing piano, video games and watching Breaking Bad. |
Trevor Franklin
Undergraduate Research Assistant He/Him/His Projects(s):
Internships while at VCU:
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Alumni
Cody Wiggins, Ph.D.
Research Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Former Postdoctoral Research Associate
Education:
Doctorate of Philosophy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Bachelors of Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Google Scholar Profile
Researchgate Profile
Cody earned his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) in 2014 and his Ph.D. from UTK in Physics in 2019. His research has focused on experimental fluid mechanics, with a specific interest in the development and deployment of radiotracer-based methods for flow measurements in opaque systems. He has worked with both Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory in their Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division and Extreme Fluids Team, respectively. Cody is a member of the American Nuclear Society and the American Physical Society, regularly attending and presenting research at meetings of these groups. Cody enjoys playing disc golf, reading and cooking with his wife, and attempting to keep up with his overly energetic dog.
Research Scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Former Postdoctoral Research Associate
Education:
Doctorate of Philosophy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Bachelors of Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Google Scholar Profile
Researchgate Profile
Cody earned his B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) in 2014 and his Ph.D. from UTK in Physics in 2019. His research has focused on experimental fluid mechanics, with a specific interest in the development and deployment of radiotracer-based methods for flow measurements in opaque systems. He has worked with both Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory in their Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division and Extreme Fluids Team, respectively. Cody is a member of the American Nuclear Society and the American Physical Society, regularly attending and presenting research at meetings of these groups. Cody enjoys playing disc golf, reading and cooking with his wife, and attempting to keep up with his overly energetic dog.
Meryem Murphy
Masters Student at Virginia Commonwealth University
She/Her/Hers
Internships while at VCU:
Masters Student at Virginia Commonwealth University
She/Her/Hers
Internships while at VCU:
- Atomic Alchemy (2020)
- Bachelors of Science, Virginia Commonwealth University
Aristidis (Aries) Loumis-Demetrakopoulos
Ph.D. Student at Virginia Commonwealth University
He/Him/His/They/Them
Project(s):
Ph.D. Student at Virginia Commonwealth University
He/Him/His/They/Them
Project(s):
- Computational Studies of Fusion Device Breeder Blankets for Heat and Mass Transfer Optimization (Lead)
- Bachelors of Science, University of Illinois
- Lumos Industries Inc. (2016-2019)
- Deep Isolation (2019-2020)
- Nuclear Innovation Alliance (2020-2021)
Teesha Payne
Design and Applications Engineering Intern at KATO Fastening Systems, Inc.
Former Undergraduate Researcher
Joshua Gateley
Patent Classifier at Serco
Former Undergraduate Researcher and Postbach Researcher
Lenin Ixcot-Gramajo
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Candler Langston
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jade Holweger
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Te'ahrian Tyler
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant & McNair Scholar
Design and Applications Engineering Intern at KATO Fastening Systems, Inc.
Former Undergraduate Researcher
Joshua Gateley
Patent Classifier at Serco
Former Undergraduate Researcher and Postbach Researcher
Lenin Ixcot-Gramajo
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Candler Langston
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Jade Holweger
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant
Te'ahrian Tyler
Former Undergraduate Research Assistant & McNair Scholar