Faculty Directory

Nguyen, Tam

Nguyen, Tam

Assistant Professor
Aerospace Engineering
3170 Martin Hall

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018 (Space Systems)
  • S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2015 (Aero/Astro)
  • S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2013 (Aero/Astro, Physics)

BACKGROUND

  • Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Aerospace Engineering (2024 - present)
  • Technical Staff, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Space Systems and Technology Division (2018 - 2024)

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Silver Achievement Medal, NASA, 2019
  • Amelia Earhart Fellowship, Zonta International, 2017
  • Graduate Research Fellowship, NSF, 2014 - 2017
  • Paper Award, Small Satellite Conference, 2014, 2015

Remote sensing methodology and architecture for a wide range of space applications, including:

  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Planetary Defense
  • Planetary Science and Exploration

SELECT REFEREED PUBLICATIONS

  • Nguyen, T., Woods, D., Rupretch, J., Birge, J. (2024). Efficient search and detection of faint moving objects in optical image data. The Astronomical Journal.
  • Nguyen, T., Morgan, E., Vanderspek, R., Levine, A., Kephart, M., Francis, J., ... Ricker Jr, G. (2018). Fine-pointing performance and corresponding photometric precision of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, 4(4), 047001.
  • Nguyen, T., Cahoy, K., Marinan, A. (2018). Attitude determination for small satellites with infrared Earth horizon sensors. Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, 55(6), 1466-1475.
  • Nguyen, T., Pankratius, V., Eckman, L., Seager, S. (2018). Computer-aided discovery of debris disk candidates: A case study using the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) catalog. Astronomy and Computing, 23, 72-82.
  • Nguyen, T. , Cahoy, K. (2015). Laser beacon tracking for high-accuracy attitude determination. 29th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites.
  • Nguyen, T. , Riesing, K., Kingsbury, R., Cahoy, K. (2015). Development of a pointing, acquisition, and tracking system for a CubeSat optical communication module. In Free-Space Laser Communication and Atmospheric Propagation XXVII (Vol. 9354, p. 93540O). International Society for Optics and Photonics.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES

  • Kingsbury, R. W., Riesing, K. M., Cahoy, K. L., Nguyen, T., Caplan, D. O. (2020). Free-space optical communication module for small satellites U.S. Patent No. 10,530,478. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  • Nguyen, T. , Cahoy, K. L., Quadrino, M. K. (2017). Attitude determination using infrared earth horizon sensors U.S. Patent No. 9,809,328. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Celebrating Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American Engineers

The impact made by APIDA engineers—at the Clark School, and on our country and world—improves our community and field in numerous and significant ways.

Fall 2022 Design Day Winners Announced

The winners of mechanical engineering's Fall 2022 Design Day have been announced.

Special Forum and Seminar: Impact of Social Networking on Engineering Pedagogy

This half-day event focused on the ineffective study strategies that students are now using to pass engineering courses.

UMD’s 4th Annual Bitcamp Hackathon Becomes Largest to Date with over 1,300 Participants

A total of 200 hacks were submitted by students this year-the most in Bitcamp history. 

Undergrads Host AIChE Conference; Chem-E Car Shelldon Heads to National Competition

AIChE welcomes more than 300 chemical engineering students from more than two dozen schools.

Clark School Freshmen Compete in Hovercraft Competition

ENES100 students build autonomous hovercrafts for final exam.

Fair Showcases Summer Undergraduate Research

Twenty-two top students from across the country demonstrate faculty-advised research projects.