Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

06/06 Doctor of Philosophy, Nuclear Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Thesis Title: “Electrical Pulse Induced Biological Effects Using Dielectric Spectroscopy and Mathematical Models.”

Thesis Advisor: Professor Y. Y. Lau

12/03 Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia.

Thesis Title: “Time Dielectric Spectroscopy Analysis of HL-60 Cell Suspensions after Microsecond and Submicrosecond Pulsed Electric Fields.”

Thesis Advisor: Professor Karl H. Schoenbach.

12/97 Master of Science in Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Thesis Title: “Destabilization of Cycloidal Electron Flows in Crossed-Field Diodes by Resistance and Magnetic Field Misalignment.”

Thesis Advisor: Professor Y. Y. Lau

05/96 Bachelor of Science (with High Honors), Nuclear Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Research Experience

07/23-Present: Professor, School of Nuclear Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (by Courtesy), and Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (by Courtesy), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; 

07/19-06/23: Associate Professor, School of Nuclear Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (by Courtesy), and Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (by Courtesy), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; 

08/12-06/19: Assistant Professor, School of Nuclear Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

04/15-06/19:  Assistant Professor (by Courtesy), School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

07/17-06/19:  Assistant Professor (by Courtesy), Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

· Modeling biological effects of pulsed electric fields on biological cells (Collaboration with GE Global Research Center), including

    o Cell membrane temperature gradients

    o Capacitive coupling for delivery

    o Membrane pore dynamics

    o Platelet activation by pulsed electric fields

· Modeling biological effects of plasmas on biological cells

    o Molecular dynamics simulations of reactive species interactions with lipid bilayers

· Experimental analysis of pulsed electric fields on biological cells

    o Platelet activation with pulsed electric fields (Collaboration with GE Global Research Center)

    o Pulsed electric field induced changes in cell population dynamics

    o Pulsed electric field induced changes in stem cell dynamics (Collaborations with Prof. Shihuan Kuang of Animal Sciences)

    o Flexible pulsed power device for biological applications (Collaboration with GE Global Research Center)

· Experimental analysis of plasmas on biological cells

    o Experimental measurement of plasmas generated for food treatment (Collaboration with Prof. Kevin Keener of Food Sciences)

· Experimental and modeling analysis of plasmas and pulsed power for combustion (Collaboration with Prof. Sally Bane of Aero)

    o Design and plan construction of flexible pulsed power device for combustion.

    o Couple plasma and combustion codes for analysis.

· Modeling assessment of neutron generation for security and medical applications

    o Model neutron generation due to deuteron/material interaction (Collaboration with Prof. Robert Bean of Nuclear Engineering)

    o Model neutron lens effects for enhancing neutrons on target (Collaboration with Prof. Robert Bean of Nuclear Engineering).

· Railgun Multiphysics Modeling (Collaboration with Naval Research Laboratory and Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren)

05/16-07/16:  Summer Faculty Fellow, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, RQHF

Assess finite element and analytical models for elucidating the mechanism of interaction of nanosecond repetitively pulsed plasmas for combustion.  Advise a graduate student using optical emission spectroscopy to assess the species generated by these plasmas.

07/06- 08/12: Electromagnetic Physicist, GE Global Research Center, RF Instrumentation and Systems Laboratory, Niskayuna, NY

(1) Plasma Sterilization (2009-2011): GE Primary Investigator for internal and external work on using atmospheric plasmas for medical applications. Project Leader for GE portion of a DARPA funded program in collaboration with Drexel University and the University of Miami.

(2) Pulsed Electric Fields for Medical Applications (2007-2009): Project leader for $20K project to conduct proof of concept experiments using ultrashort pulsed electric fields for intracellular manipulation.

(3) Nonlinear Transmission Lines (2008): GE project leader for an AFRL funded SBIR (in collaboration with NumerEx, LLC, Albuquerque, NM) investigating nonlinear materials for extending frequency capabilities of nonlinear transmission lines. Examined circuit models of these devices.

(4) Medical and Water Applications of Electromagnetic Fields (2009-2012): Conduct modeling and experimental analysis of applications of microwaves for medical applications and for water treatment.

(5) Ion Plasma Deposition (2007): Developed mathematical models to explain and predict plasma motion in ion plasma deposition for a project for GE Aviation.

(6) Electromagnetic Interference (2007-2012): Utilized finite difference time domain and finite element method electromagnetic codes to analyze EMI for different materials. Developed semi-empirical models for rapid parameter scanning of composite construction.

(7) Adipose Stem Cell Project (2009-2010): Provided biomedical systems engineering insight into system design. Led research in alternate methods for cell concentration.

(8) Electronic Packaging Thermal Modeling (2007-2012): Developed Finite Element models of flips chips of various designs and analyzed the effects of temperature changes and thermal effects to assess relative reliability of the designs using COMSOL Multiphysics.

Completed the following GE training courses:

(1) Radiation safety course (07/06)

(2) Laser safety course (10/06)

(3) Six Sigma Green Belt DMAIC and DFSS (11/06)

(4) Electrical safety course (03/07)

(5) Bloodborne Pathogens course (07/07)

(6) Biological Laboratory Safety course (07/07)

(7) Lockout/Tagout course (08/07)

(8) Animal handling qualification (03/09)

(9) Basic TRIZ Workshop – Innovative Problem Solving (03/09)

(10) Foundations of Leadership, Crotonville (07/09)

(11) Project Management (09/09)

(12) Intellectual Property for Technologists (10/09)

(13) Advanced TRIZ Workshop (12/09)

(14) CITI Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative – Human Research Curriculum (01/10)

(15) Patent Strategies Using TRIZ by GEN3 Partners (03/10)

09/04 – 06/06: Fellow, NDSEG, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Conducted research on the effects of ultrawideband radiation on biological cells using theory and experiment under the supervision of Professors Y. Y. Lau and Ronald M. Gilgenbach. Specifically, I studied the following areas:

(1) Cell Population Dynamics

To complement experimental studies examining pulse-induced changes in cell cycle and population dynamics, we analyzed a simple cell population model for proliferating (dividing) and quiescent (non-dividing) cell dynamics [A. L. Garner, et al. Cell Proliferation. 39, 15 (2006)].

(2) Mathematical modeling of avascular tumor growth

Motivated by experiments using ultrashort electrical pulses to treat melanoma tumors in mice through a combination of anti-vascularization and changes in the nuclei of endothelial cells, we incorporated spatial variation into a universal growth law for tumor growth [A. L. Garner, et al. Journal of Applied Physics. 98, 124701 (2005)].

(3) Ohmic Heating of Biological Cells Exposed to Pulsed Electric Fields

One of the key concerns in many applications where electrical pulses are applied is the significance of thermal effects. We adapted a model developed by our group to study particulate Ohmic heating to estimate the heating of biological cells exposed to an electrical pulse.

05/04 – 08/04 Visiting Research Assistant, Center for Bioelectrics, Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA (data analysis continued at the University of Michigan in collaboration with the ODU group).

Extended time domain dielectric spectroscopy measurements of two leukemia cell lines (HL-60 and Jurkat) to use a two-shell model of the cells [A. L. Garner, et al. Biophys. Biochem. Res. Comm. 362, 139 (2007).]. In both cases, nanosecond pulsed electric fields decreased cytoplasm conductivity and increased cell suspension conductivity, indicating that these pulsed caused ions to leave the cell.

01/04 – 04/04: College of Engineering Regents Fellow, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Conducted research on the effects of ultrashort electrical pulses on biological cells, focusing primarily on theoretical approaches to cell population dynamics, (described in more detail above).

03/02 – 12/03: Graduate Research Assistant Center for Bioelectrics, Department of Electrical Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

Used the experimental technique of time domain dielectric spectroscopy to consider the effects of intense electrical pulses on the conductivity of the suspension [A. L. Garner, et al. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. 32, 2073 (2004)]. A rise in the suspension conductivity indicated an increase in the number of ions, meaning that ions left the cell and traveled to the surrounding medium.

05/96 – 12/97: Graduate Student Research Assistant, Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Conducted research on instabilities in Crossed-Field Diodes using theory and simulation under the supervision of Professor Y. Y. Lau. This required developing theories for single electron trajectories and using the particle-in-cell code, PDP1.

05/24-Present:  Navy Reserve – Officer-in-Charge, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, NR NAVSEA Shipyard Engineering, Navy Reserve Center Kitsap, Washington.

Officer-in-charge for 15 Engineering Duty Officers who provide technical and watchstanding support to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, WA; Bangor, WA; Everett, WA; North Island, CA; and Yokosuka, Japan.

10/22-04/24:  Navy Reserve – Commanding Officer, SurgeMain Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Kitsap, Navy Operational Support Center Kitsap, Washington.

Regional Commanding Officer in direct supervision of eight reserve units [Houston, Fort Worth, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Denver, Salt Lake City, Kitsap, and Everett], consisting of approximately 400 enlisted Sailors who provide journeyman level support to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and approximately twenty officers who provide technical expertise to Naval Sea Systems Command, including the Shipyards, Supervisors of Shipbuilding, and Warfare Centers.

02/22 – 09/22:  Navy Reserve – Commanding Officer, SurgeMain Central South, Navy Operational Support Center Houston, Texas.

Regional Commanding Officer in direct supervision of four reserve units [Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and Tulsa], consisting of approximately 230 enlisted Sailors who provide journeyman level support to the four public shipyard and approximately ten officers who provide technical expertise to Naval Sea Systems Command, including the Shipyards, Supervisors of Shipbuilding, and Warfare Centers.

12/19 – 01/22:  Navy Reserve – Commanding Officer, Office of Naval Research S&T 102, Naval Operational Support Center, Naval Operational Support Center, Washington, DC

Lead and manage a unit of junior and senior officers who support the Officer of Naval Research, Naval Research Laboratory, and PMR-51.

07/19: Promoted to Captain, United States Navy. 

12/17 – Present:  Navy Reserve – Naval Sea Systems Acquisition, Project Officer.

12/15 – 11/17:  Navy Reserve – Commanding Officer, SurgeMain Gulf, Navy Operational Support Center Orlando, Florida.

Regional Commanding Officer in direct supervision of eight reserve units [Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Puerto Rico, Atlanta, Augusta (GA) and New Orleans] consisting of approximately 240 enlisted sailors and officers who provide journeyman level support to the four public shipyard and approximately fifteen officer who provide technical expertise to Naval Sea Systems Command, including the Shipyards, Supervisors of Shipbuilding, and Warfare Centers.  Report directly to the National Director of SurgeMain.  Additionally provide technical support to Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren.

12/13 – 11/15:  Navy Reserve – Commanding Officer, SurgeMain Central South, Navy Operational Support Center Houston, Texas.

Regional Commanding Officer in direct supervision of nine reserve units (Houston, San Antonio, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Springfield (MO), and Kansas City (MO), consisting of approximately 200 enlisted sailors who provide journeyman level support to the four public shipyard and approximately fifteen officer who provide technical expertise to Naval Sea Systems Command, including the Shipyards, Supervisors of Shipbuilding, and Warfare Centers.  Report directly to the National Director of SurgeMain.  Additionally provide technical support to Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren.

07/13:  Promoted to Commander, U. S. Navy

12/11 – 11/13: Navy Reserve – Electrical Engineer, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren, Dahlgren VA; NR NAVSEA Region MIDLANT, NAF Washington, Andrews AFB, MD

Provide modeling support to multidisciplinary research projects jointly between NSWC Dahlgren and Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), particularly involving nondimensionalization of relevant equations for simulations using commercial multiphysics software.

04/09 – 11/11: Navy Reserve – Commanding Officer, PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD SURGEMAIN HEADQUARTERS UNIT, Navy Operational Support Center Manchester, New Hampshire (Drill Site: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME).

Supervisor of unit consisting of approximately twenty officer and enlisted personnel. Provided over three weeks of technical support to the Directed Energy Directorate at NSWC Dahlgren (2009-2010) and two weeks to the NRL railgun modeling effort (2011).

02/08 – 03/09: Navy Reserve – PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD SURGEMAIN HEADQUARTERS UNIT, Navy Operational Support Center Manchester, New Hampshire (Drill Site: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME).

Served as Executive Officer. This unit provides technical and administrative support to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and to the Navy’s Surge Maintenance program, formed to provide highly qualified reservists to supplement critical trade skills for the Naval Shipyard workforce. Completed First Industrial Tour course (2008) and Reserve Engineering Duty Officer course (2008). Provided technical support to the Nuclear Engineering Planning and Training Department (2009). Served as Acting Commanding Officer (10/08-12/08).

12/07: Promoted to Lieutenant Commander, U. S. Navy

10/06 – 01/08: Navy Reserve – NR SURGEMAIN ALBANY, Navy Operational Support Center, Albany, New York

Served as Executive Officer for this Reserve unit, which was created to provide highly qualified individuals to supplement critical trade skills for the Naval Shipyard workforce.

01/04 – 10/06: Navy Reserve -- NR COMSUBGRU 8, DET B, Navy Operational Support Center, Detroit, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Harrison Township, MI.

Served as Submarine Operations Officer (10/05 – 10/06), Administration Officer (10/05 – 10/06), Strike Officer (10/04 – 10/05), and Assistant Strike Officer (01/04 – 09/04). In these roles, I have supervised two departments of five enlisted personnel each. I have also developed and provided submarine operational training to enlisted and officer personnel and provided exercise support to Navy Europe Submarine Operations and Plans during a multinational exercise.

03/02 – 12/03: Engineering Instructor and Division Officer, Submarine Training Facility, Norfolk, VA

01/02: Promoted to Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

12/99: Promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade), U.S. Navy

06/99 – 02/02: Division Officer, USS Pasadena (SSN 752), Pearl Harbor, HI

Served as Communications Officer (08/01 – 02/02), Quality Assurance Officer (08/01 – 12/01), Assistant Engineer (05/01 – 08/01), Chemistry and Radiological Controls Assistant (06/00 – 02/01), and Reactor Controls Assistant (07/99 – 06/00).

01/98 – 05/99: Naval Officer Student

Naval Nuclear Power School (01/98 - 07/98), Naval Nuclear Propulsion Training Command (08/98-02/99), Submarine Officer Basic Course (03/99 – 05/99).

12/97: Commissioned Ensign, U.S. Navy

08/92 – 05/96: Midshipman, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL

AWARDS

2024: Purdue School of Nuclear Engineering Outstanding Research Award.

2024: Purdue School of Nuclear Engineering Best Undergraduate Teacher Award (selected by the students)

2021: Oak Ridge Affiliated University Fellow: DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Sabbatical Fellowship on “Electromagnetic biological effects."

2021: Purdue School of Nuclear Engineering Outstanding Research Award.

2020: Purdue Excellence in Research Award – Seed for Success for being a member of a research project over $1M (US Department of the Army – Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement (SCALE) for Microelectronics Workforce Development: $20,207,830).

2019: Outstanding Faculty Mentor of Engineering Graduate Students (Purdue University Engineering Graduate Programs). 

2017: Meritorious Service Medal (Department of Defense), Gold Start in Lieu of Second Award

2016: IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society (NPSS) Early Achievement Award

2016: Air Force Research Laboratory Summer Faculty Fellow

2016: Meritorious Service Medal (Department of Defense)

2014: GE Global Research Twenty-Five Article Publication Award

2014: 2013 Best Teacher Award, School of Nuclear Engineering

2013: IEEE Senior Member

2010: General Electric Level 2 Management Award

2009: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

2009: GE Global Research Ten Article Publication Award

2009: Mascoutah (IL) Community High School Achievement Award (awarded to a prior attendee of Mascoutah District schools for outstanding professional achievement)

2008: General Electric Level 4 Management Award

2008: Distinguished Graduate, Navy Reserve Engineering Duty Officer Course, Port Hueneme, CA.

2007: Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star in Lieu of Fifth Award)

2006: Distinguished Achievement Award in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences (awarded to an exceptional student in each undergraduate and graduate program).

2005: Rackham Graduate Travel Fellowship for American Physical Society, Division of Plasma Physics Annual Conference (APS-DPP) 2005.

2005: Rackham Graduate Travel Fellowship for Electromed 2005.

2004: National Defense Science Education Graduate Fellowship (3 year, renewable)

2004: Rackham Graduate Travel Fellowship for Bioelectromagnetics Society Annual Conference

2004: Bioelectromagnetics Society Student Travel Scholarship to Annual Conference

2004: American Nuclear Society Graduate Scholarship

2004: University of Michigan College of Engineering Regents’ Fellowship

2003: Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star in lieu of fourth award).

2002: Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star in lieu of third award).

2001: Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star in lieu of second award).

2001: CAPT Ed Beach Nuclear Junior Officer of the Year for Submarine Squadron 7 (Pearl Harbor, HI).

2000: Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

1996: EIT (Engineer in Training), State of Illinois

1994, 1995, 1996: Society of American Military Engineers Awards for excellence in engineering studies for ROTC students in the Midwestern Region.

SERVICE

Professional Service

2024: IEEE International Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana – General Conference Chair.

2024: IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Beijing, China – Co-Technical Area Chair, Basic Processes in Fully and Partially Ionized Plasmas,

2023: IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Santa FE, NM – Session Organizer and Session Chair for the Medical and Biological Applications Session.

2022: IEEE Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, Knoxville, TN – Technical Program Chair for anticipated 300 attendee conference.

2021-Present: Naval Surface Technology & Innovation Consortium Executive Committee -- The NSTIC advances naval surface technology innovation through a consortium that researches, develops, tests and integrates complex naval warfare systems across a broad range of technology fields and disciplines. 

2019-Present: IEEE Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation Administrative Committee, Member.

2020: IEEE Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, Knoxville, TN – Technical Program Chair for anticipated 350 attendee conference. (cancelled due to COVID)

2020: IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Singapore -- Session Organizer for Environmental, Industrial, and Display Applications I

2019: IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Sciences Conference, Orlando, FL – Technical Area Chair, Industrial/Commercial/Medical Applications.

2018: IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Denver, CO – Session Organizer and Session Chair for Environmental, Industrial, and Display Applications I (Sessions 1B and 2B).

2018: IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Denver, CO – Session Chair for Environmental and Industrial Applications.

2018:  IEEE Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, Jackson Hole, WY – Treasurer for 350 attendee conference.

2016-Present:  Member IEEE Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference (IPMHVC) Executive Committee (ExCom).  Provide insight and guidance into planning and future IPMHVCs.

2016: IEEE Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, San Francisco, CA – Technical Chair.

2016: Electrostatics Joint Conference, West Lafayette, IN – Session Chair for Oral Session I: Biological and Medical Applications   

2015: Naval Reserve Engineering Duty Officer Workshop, Washington, DC – Member of technical committee and technical session organizer.

2015: Conference on Nuclear Training and Education (CONTE), Jacksonville, FL – Member of technical committee and Chair for the Leadership Development II session.

2014: Bioelectrics Symposium, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO – Technical Program Chair

2014: Human Effects Assessment Panel (HEAP) Meeting, Arlington, VA, 21-22AUG14 – Panelist on this panel concerning the application of electromagnetic fields for the Joint Nonlethal Weapons Directorate.

2014: IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science, Washington, DC – Session Organizer for Plasma Medicine and Biological Effects as part of the Industrial, Commercial, and Medical Applications Section. Session Chair of Oral Session 6D: Plasma Medicine & Biological Effects I.

2014: IEEE Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, Santa Fe, NM – Member of technical committee, Publications Chair, Session Organizer for the Biological, Medical, and Environmental Applications of Power Modulators Session.

2013: IEEE Pulsed Power and Plasma Science Conference, San Francisco, CA – Session Chair of Oral Session 10B: Medical, Biological, & Environmental Applications; Session Chair of Poster Session P3 of Industrial, Commercial, and Medical Applications.

2012: IEEE Power Modulator and High Voltage Conference, San Diego, CA – Member of technical committee and session chair for Biological, Medical, and Environmental session.