KEON L.

VEREEN
Seattle, WA 98105
Email: kvereen@uw.edu

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS
Interests in experimental plasma physics, plasma diagnostics (probe and optical), plasma for
environmental remediation, advanced in-space propulsion, and plasma thruster development. Experience
using machine shops (manual & CNC machines), 3D printing, and vacuum systems.

EDUCATION
University of Washington (UW), Seattle, WA
Ph.D., Aeronautics and Astronautics 2019
• PH.D. THESIS: Investigation of a Cluster of High-Power Helicon Thrusters for Advanced In-Space
Electric Propulsion Applications.
• Advisor: Dr. Robert Winglee, Professor, Dept. of Earth & Space Sciences

University of Central Florida (UCF), Orlando, FL

M.S., Thermofluid Aerodynamics Systems Design and Engineering 2011
• M.S. THESIS: An Experimental Investigation on the Dynamics of Bubbles Utilizing Refrigerant
R134a under Pressurized Flow Boiling Conditions.
• Advisor: Dr. Ranganathan Kumar, Professor, Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
B.S., Aerospace Engineering 2010

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
UW Advanced Propulsion Laboratory Seattle, WA
Graduate Student Researcher 2015 - 2019
• Involved in dissertation research: pulsed plasma thrusters and helicon thrusters
• Assembly of vacuum systems and power supply units
• Advisor: Dr. Robert Winglee, Professor, Dept. of Earth & Space Sciences

UW Setthivoine You Research Laboratory Seattle, WA

Graduate Student Researcher 2011 - 2015
• Involved in dissertation research: astrophysical jets and plasma propulsion
• Assembly of vacuum systems and power supply units
• Set up and performed preliminary work on ion Doppler spectroscopy
• Set up an analytical plasma plume code for environmental remediation

UCF Ranganathan Kumar Research Laboratory Orlando, FL

Graduate Student Researcher 2010 – 2011
• Involved in master’s thesis research: two-phase flow & heat transfer studies
• Set up and performed flow boiling heat transfer experiments toward naval reactor applications
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• Partnership between UCF and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL)

Summer Mentoring Graduate Program, UCF 2010

• Directed research on heat flux and pressure dependent experiments in flow boiling of refrigerant R-
134a. Advisor: Dr. Ranganathan Kumar

Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, UCF 2008 - 2010

• Participated in a summer course and workshop series on research, fellowships, and professional
socialization.

Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP), UCF 2008 - 2010

• Developed and conducted research on nucleate boiling in a high pressure refrigerant flow with a fluid
mechanics heat transfer professor. Advisor: Dr. Ranganathan Kumar

NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), UCF 2008

• Investigated the principles of bubble dynamics in a flow boiling system using thermochromic liquid
crystals. Advisor: Dr. Ranganathan Kumar

NSF EXCEL Program, UCF

Undergraduate Research Student 2008
• Examined and assembled different lab instrumentations with the guidance of a lab technician funded
through Undergraduate Research Experiences (URE).

Editor 2007
• Edited Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research presentations for
applications of calculus courses intended to help EXCEL students.

PUBLICATIONS
Technical Publications:
• K. Vereen, et al. "Characterization of the Dielectric Barrier Discharge Thruster for Microsatellite
Applications." AIAA Propulsion and Energy 2019 Forum. 2019
• K. Vereen, et al. "Recent Advances in the Clustering of High Power Helicon Thrusters." AIAA
Propulsion and Energy 2019 Forum. 2019
• K. Vereen, et al. "An Active Debris Removal Mission using a Plasma Phased Array
Architecture." 2018 AIAA SPACE and Astronautics Forum and Exposition. 2018
• K. Vereen, et al. "Characterization of a Cluster of High Power Helicon Thrusters." 53rd
AIAA/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference. 2017.
• S.M.S. Murshed, K. Vereen and R. Kumar, “An experimental investigation of bubble nucleation of a
refrigerant in pressurized boiling flows,” ENERGY, September 2010.
• S.M.S. Murshed, K. Vereen and R. Kumar, “Flow Boiling Experiments Of R-134A Refrigerant In a
Pressurized System,” ASME 2009 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition
IMECE 2009, Lake Buena Vista, FL, November 13-19, 2009.

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• S.M.S. Murshed, K. Vereen and R. Kumar, “Bubble Nucleation of R134A Refrigerant in a
Pressurized Flow Boiling System,” 7th ECI International Conference on Boiling Heat Transfer,
Florianopolis-SC, Brazil, May 3-7, 2009.

Engineering Education Publications:

• B. Fabien, and K. Vereen. "Implementing a freshman engineering design experience at the
University of Washington." Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Higher Education
Advances. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, 2017.

SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS
• “A Plasma Tweezers Concept to De-spin an Asteroid,” APS DPP, New Orleans, LA
http://meeting.aps.org/Meeting/DPP14/Session/NP8.80, October 29, 2014
• “Vector Tomographic Reconstruction of 3D Plasma Flows with Ion Doppler Spectroscopy,” APS
DPP, Denver, CO http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2013.DPP.BP8.5, November 11, 2013
• “Heat Flux and Pressure Dependent Experiments in Flow Boiling of R-134a,” SACNAS National
Conference (Science, Technology & Diversity for a Sustainable Future), Anaheim, CA, October 1,
2010
• “Wind Turbine: Train Tunnel Application,” 2nd Annual Progress Energy Senior Design Symposium
in Renewable & Sustainable Energy, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, April 14, 2010
• “Experiments for Heat Flux and Pressure Dependent Flow Boiling of R-134a,” Showcase of
Undergraduate Research Excellence, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, April 1, 2010
• “Optical Measurements in Nucleate Boiling for High Pressure Refrigerant Flow Part 2,” McNair
Conference, Penn State University, State College, PA, July 18, 2009
• “Optical Measurements in Nucleate Boiling for High Pressure Refrigerant Flow Part 1,” Showcase of
Undergraduate Research Excellence, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, April 2, 2009
• “Thermochromic Liquid Crystals for Bubble Nucleation in Flow Boiling Under Pressurized Suva,”
S2INT3 NSF REU Symposium, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, August 7, 2008

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
UW College of Engineering Seattle, WA
STARS Program Senior Teaching Assistant 2017 - 2019
• Managed workshop logistics and canvas development for 20 students per course per quarter

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• Developed workshop materials, i.e. practice modules, test-taking drills, and mock exams in the areas
of physics: mechanics and physics: electromagnetism to assist pre-engineering STARS students in
their coursework
• Aligned workshop materials with course syllabus; PHYS 121 Mechanics and PHYS 122
Electromagnetism
• Assisted with introductory mathematics: calculus and introductory chemistry principles throughout
academic quarters, i.e., test-taking drills & fundamentals mastery sessions

ENGR 197 Workshop Instructor 2017

• Managed course logistics and website development for 25 students
• Developed workshop materials, i.e. practice modules, test-taking drills, and mock exams in the areas
of statics and dynamics to assist pre-engineering students in their coursework
• Aligned workshop materials with course syllabus; AA 210 Statics and ME 230 Dynamics

ENGR 197 Workshop Instructor 2016

• Managed course logistics and website development for 25 students
• Developed workshop materials, i.e. practice modules, test-taking drills, and mock exams in the areas
of physics and statics to assist pre-engineering students in their coursework
• Aligned workshop materials with course syllabus; PHYS 121 Mechanics and AA 210 Statics

AA 462 Rocket Propulsion Teaching Assistant 2016

• Managed course logistics and website development for 45 students
• Responsible for providing additional support and assistance to student regarding lectures, homework,
and exams
• Graded all course homework and exams
• Facilitated student discussions and practice review sessions in preparation for exams
• Supervisor: Dr. Mitsuru Kurosaka

ENGR 202 Instructor 2016

• Re-designed and implemented an “ENGR 202 - Introduction to Engineering Design” course for the
College of Engineering for a 100 student population.
• Taught pre-engineering students how to work effectively in teams to design, build, and test projects to
solve challenges centered on energy, environment, health, infrastructure, and exploration.
• Developed lab workshops and managed an instruction team, i.e. three teaching assistants.
• Coordinated with lab technician overseeing small machine shop.
• Core components of course were technical content & communication, teamwork, and
professionalism.
• Collaborated with Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Brian Fabien

ENGR 202 Instructor 2015

• Designed and implemented an “ENGR 202 - Introduction to Engineering Design” course for the
College of Engineering during a Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) summer bridge
program.
• Taught lectures & labs to accommodate 20 incoming pre-engineering students how to work
effectively in teams to design, build, and test projects.
• Computer-aided design, programming using Python, and additive manufacturing were introduced for
students to construct prototypes & perform analyses.

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HONORS & AWARDS
• George Dragseth Endowed Fellowship, UW Dept. Aeronautics & Astronautics 2015
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship 2011 - 2015
• University of Washington GO-MAP McNair Fellowship 2012 - 2013
• UW Engineering Learning Communities Scholarship 2013
• Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship, Honorable Mention 2011
• UCF Graduate RAMP Master’s Fellowship 2010 - 2011
• UCF Summer Mentoring Fellowship 2010
• 2010 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Honorable Mention 2010
• 2010 Sigma Gamma Tau Undergraduate Award, Honorable Mention 2010
• 2010 Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence (SURE), Honorable Mention 2010
• Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program 2008 - 2010
• NSF REU Program Certification of Completion, UCF 2008
• Florida Academic Scholars Award 2006 - 2010

LEADERSHIP & SERVICE

Since being at the University of Washington, I’ve served with a variety of leadership boards to assist with
outreach, recruitment, and retention of underrepresented students in undergraduate and graduate
programs. I’m also a mentor and discussion facilitator for the programs listed below.

Leadership
• UW GO-MAP Graduate Student Advisory Board 2011 - 2017
• UW CAMP Advisory Board 2015 - 2016
• UW SACNAS Chapter, Vice President 2013 - 2014
• UW SACNAS Chapter, Social Media Coordinator 2012 - 2013

Service
• Washington Space Grant Consortium 2012 - 2019
• GO-MAP, Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program 2012 - 2017
• UW CAMP, College Assistance Migrant Program 2012 - 2016
• Washington MESA, Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement 2012 - 2014
• UW College of Engineering, Engineering Academic Center 2012 - 2014
• LSAMP, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation 2012 - 2014

TECHNICAL TRAINING
• Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, Autodesk Inventor,
Solidworks, Fluent, and Satellite Tool Kit (STK)

AFFILIATIONS
• APS, American Physical Society
• AIAA, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
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• Sigma Gamma Tau, Aerospace Honor Society
• Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society
• SACNAS, Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
• ERPS, Electric Rocket Propulsion Society

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