Highlights of Qualification

Four degrees in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Five years as a graduate student researcher at the Center for Automation Technologies and Systems
Collaboration with state and national laboratories along with private industry
Summer Internships during 2004 and 2005 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California working for NASA on advance simulations and system design
Numerous conference and journal publications on a wide range of topics

Education

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering, graduated December 2011
Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Graduated 2007, GPA 3.83/4.00
Bachelor of Science, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Double Degree, Graduated May 2006, GPA 3.72/4.00

Research and Work Experience

Center for Automation Technologies and Systems, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, March 2006 – June 2012
Telerobotics Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, Summers of 2004 and 2005
Mechatronics Research Laboratory, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, February 2003 – March 2006

Please see portfolio for descriptions of research projects

Skills

System Design: Design of complex multidisciplinary automatic and robotic systems
Programming Languages: C#, C++, VB, Java, Python, MATLAB, Perl, PHP, NVIDIA CUDA
Embedded Systems: Computer interface and dynamic control applications
CAD: SolidWorks Solid Modeling Software, Mastercam
Modeling/Control: Extensive experience in control design using MATLAB/Simulink
Electronics: Analog/Digital circuit design, VHDL, microcontroller integration
Computer maintenance: Software, Hardware, and network experience in Linux, OpenBSD, and Windows
Microfabrication: Spin coating, contact alignment, Deep RIE, wet bench
Distributed systems: Design and programming of complex systems involving numerous computers and computational modules
Computer Vision and associated optics

Activities

Private pilot certified for VFR flight, halfway through IFR training, total 80 hours flight time
SCUBA diver, certified Advanced Open Water by PADI
Rensselaer Student Judicial Board Member Spring 2008 to Fall 2009
Undergraduate Conductor and trumpet player in the Campus Serenaders Swing Band, 2005-2006
Member Eta Kappa Nu and Pi Tau Sigma

Selected Publications

J.D. Wason, J.T. Wen, J.J. Gorman, N.G. Dagalakis, “Automated Multi-Probe Microassembly using Vision Feedback,” IEEE Transactions on Robotics, vol. 28, no. 5, October 2012.

J. D. Wason, W. T. Gressick, J. T.-Y. Wen, J. J. Gorman, and N. G. Dagalakis, “Multi-probe micro-assembly,” in Third Annual IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, Scottsdale, AZ, 2007.

J. D. Wason, W. T. Gressick, J. T.-Y. Wen, J. J. Gorman, and N. G. Dagalakis, “Multiprobe microassembly experimental testbed,” in International Conference on Micromanufacturing, Pittsburg, PA, 2008.

J.D. Wason, W. Gressick, J.T.-Y. Wen, K. Morgan, J. Heald, and S. Mueller, “Model-based control of a high-temperature crystal growth process,” in Fourth Annual IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, Washington D.C., 2008.

H. Bai, K.D. Chapin, J.D. Wason, and J.T. Wen, “Experimental verification of formation control with distributed cameras,” in 48th IEEE conference on Decision and Control, Shanghai, China, 2009.

J.D. Wason, J.T.-Y. Wen, Y.M. Choi, J.J. Gorman, and N.G. Dagalakis, “Vision Guided Multi-Probe Assembly of 3D Microstructures,” in IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems, Taipei, Taiwan, 2010.

Elsabee KA; Wason JD; Boyle J; Nazarian R; Wen JT; Carl AL; Ledet EH. Adjacent Level Changes in the Entire Thoracolumbar Spine Following Surgical Intervention as Measured Using a Novel In Vivo/In Vitro Active/Passive Robotic Simulator. Proceedings of the 25th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society. October, 2010:182.

Elsabee KA, Wason JD, Boyle J, Nazarian R, Wen JT, Carl AL, Ledet EH. Adjacent Level Effects: A Novel In Vivo/In Vitro Active/Passive Protocol for Assessing Redistribution of Motion of the Entire Thoracolumbar Spine Following Surgical Intervention. The Albany Medical College Orthopaedic Journal, 2010; 2:32-9.

J.D. Wason, J.T-Y. Wen, and N.G. Dagalakis, “Dextrous Manipulation of a Micropart with Multiple Complaint Probes through Visual Force Feedback,” in IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, Shanghai, China, 2011.

J.D. Wason, J.T-Y. Wen, “Robot Raconteur: A communication architecture and library for robotic and automation systems,” in Seventh Annual IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, Trieste, Italy, 2011.

Elsabee KA; Wason JD; Boyle J; Nazarian R; Wen JT; Carl AL; Ledet EH. An In Vivo/In Vitro Active/Passive Simulator to Quantify 3D Kinematics of the Thoracolumbar Spine. Accepted to the Annual Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society. Hartford, CT. October, 2011.

Patents

John Wason, John Wen, Alexey Khodjakon, and Valentin Magidson, “Active lighting control for live cell imaging marker tracking,” provisional patent filed July 13, 2010.

John Wason, John Wen, Jason Gorman, and Nicholas Dagalakis, “Probe-based High Precision Oirentation Control and Assembly of Parts for Microassembly using Computer Vision”, provisional patent filed May 2011.