Mechanical engineering graduate student Sadie Stutzman.
Where are you from?
I am from Fruitland, Idaho (yes, lots of farming, tractors and dairies).
What schools have you attended?
I spent five years in Las Vegas at UNLV getting my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and playing volleyball as a Rebel.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time I enjoy trail running, road biking, baking, playing pretty much any sport and traveling as much as Dr. Labbe will let me!
Please share about your research.
I am doing research in The Labbe Lab with Dr. Labbe and study the fundamental chemistry of how fuels decompose during pyrolysis and combustion. I use experiments and theory to understand fuel behavior which I will then use to create a model and predict the impact a fuel has on things such as engine performance and emissions. Right now, I am primarily focused on fuel design for multi-mode (a mode switching engine strategy) engines.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
A lot can change, but I could see myself living in Colorado and working as a researcher in a national lab, so I can continue playing in the mountains and doing cool research! I think once I get my PhD I will start a bakery...extra bonus if it is thriving in 10 years! In the meantime, I will keep recipe testing!
Anything else you'd like to share?
I could watch nothing but reruns of The Great British Baking Show and The Office for the rest of my life and be completely satisfied with my TV choices.