Students Profile
Dylan Purcell
PhD in Mechanical Engineering
Advisors
Dr. Chelsey Hargather
&
Dr. Michael Hargather
|
|
|
Dylan Purcell is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering, with interests in aerospace and additive manufacture. He completed his BS in Mechanical Engineering at NMT and went on to a 2-year internship at Los Alamos National Labs, where he worked in the Applied Modern Physics group. There, he worked on a wide variety of projects across a broad set of fields, including algal bioreactors, low-field NMR systems, and lab-on-a-chip technology. One of the projects, Smart Platforms Leveraging Automated Sample Handling (SPLASH), was nominated for and won a R&D 100 award in 2019.
From there, Dylan returned to NMT for his MS degree in 2019. He started on a project between NMT and XBOW Systems on developing an additive-manufacture platform for solid rocket propellant. The project was a springboard for Dylan’s thesis work, which focused on characterizing different formulas of propellant in regards to the properties important for extrusion and deposition in an AM system. The work from the thesis was partially adapted and expanded for a publication in the peer-reviewed Pyrotechnics, Explosives, Propellants journal.
Dylan then continued his work at NMT by pursuing a PhD. His current work focuses on characterizing how the additive manufacturing process induces structural changes in the final product of a propellant-like material, and how the process can be made to reduce the impact of introduced defects on the final product to ensure functionality and safety. During this time, Dylan also served as the president of the Graduate Student Association, where he has worked to update and improve policies and operations of the GSA for the post-COVID period. Dylan also served on the Presidential Search Committee in 2023, where NMT selected its new president.
|
|
|
Graduate Student TA/RA/GA Stipends Increased by 7% Starting Summer 2024
Stipends for teaching, research and graduate assistantships have been raised by 7%. Graduate students are an integral part of New Mexico Tech and a major contributor to it's success. Over the past few years NMT has taken several steps to improve support for graduate students. These changes include reconstruction of stipend model, adding tuition remission, as well as raises. We will continue to make solid steps to further improve our graduate students quality of life while they are pursuing their degrees at NMT.
|
6th Annual Rocky Mountain Geobiology Symposium
Graduate students organized the 6th Annual Rocky Mountain Geobiology Symposium that was held on April 20th.
Keynote speakers came from Northwestern University, University of California Santa Barbara, and Princeton. Students and postdoc presenters came from University of New Mexico, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Students, faculty, and other attendees also came from NCKRI, Diné College, and the Fort Stanton Cave Study Project (FSCSP).
Student travel support for students from other universities was possible due to an NSF grant that Dr. Dan Jones and Ms. Machenzie Best wrote to the low temperature geochemistry and geobiology group at NSF. External funding support came from Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Agouron Institute. Internal support came from NMT came from Office of Graduate Studies, the Student Government Association, and the Bureau of Geology. Overall, the organizing committee secured around $20K for this event.
The organizing committee was a mix of graduates and undergraduate students from Earth & Environmental Science, and Biology Departments.
Committee members were Mackenzie Best (Lead Organizer), Zoë Havlena, Joseph Hoberg, Abigail Brown, Katelyn Green, Calyssa Huff, Nathaniel Jobe, Anika Baloun, Cassandra Skaar and Jimmy Swift. Thank you for all your efforts in organizing the event.
|
Spring 2024 GSA BBQ
On March 28, the Graduate Student Association organized a successful spring event for graduate students, faculty, and staff. Graduate students from Ghana, Iran, and Vietnam had authentic food stations and shared their traditional BBQ style food that they kindly and enthusiastically prepared themselves. Their food stations were a huge success. We received many positive comments and requests for continuing this style of social events. Many thanks to the graduate students that supported the event, we know that you put in a lot of time and effort into making it a success. We also like to thank all graduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators that have attended.
|
04/26
Spring 24 - Completion Paperwork
For Spring graduation to be eligible to participate in Commencement and have your degree conferred at the end of Spring semester in the month of May
The completed report of the advisory committee, iThenticate report from academic advisor, and ProQuest submission of the final thesis/dissertation must be submitted by April 26th, 2024 to the Center for Graduate Studies or one final copy of an accepted independent study paper must be submitted to the student’s advisor and advisory committee. Please refer to the Completion Guideline on the CGS website.
Must have submitted your intent to graduate form prior to the beginning of the Spring 2024 semester.
Must have submitted your Diploma and Intent to Walk to the Registrar by April 12th, 2024.
Student degrees are not complete until final materials have been approved by the Center for Graduate Studies and the student receives final acceptance via email from the ProQuest system. Students are encouraged to submit their thesis/dissertation drafts earlier to ensure that it will be accepted by the Registrar's deadline.
|
Scholarships and Other Opportunities
|
There are some Endowed scholarship opportunities open to graduate students, which are listed here on the Endowed Scholarship website. Native American graduate students should contact the Financial Aid Office for further information on additional scholarship opportunities (financial_aid@nmt.edu).
For Additional scholarship opportunities, visit the NMT Financial Aid website.
|
American Council of Engineering Companies Research Institute Scholarships
Through the ACEC Research Institute scholarship portal, qualified students have access to more than 100 scholarships totaling nearly $1Million in grants, including a $5,000 grant specifically designated for students from New Mexico, various diversity and inclusion scholarships, as well as both merit and need-based opportunities.
Apply today
|
Graduate Student Association (GSA)
|
|
|
Center for Graduate Studies
|
|
|
Admission & Student Success
|
|
|
|
|
|
