Nick Schwartz

While the specific research project is very important, it's the people that you spend every day with that help you achieve more than you would be capable of alone.

Nick Schwartz is a doctoral student in Materials Science and Engineering, who is currently advised by Assistant Professor Tim Koeth. He obtained a bachelor’s of science in mechanical engineering from MIT in 2018, a master’s of science in advanced mechanical engineering from Imperial College in 2019, and a master’s of science by research in engineering from the University of Oxford in 2020. We asked him some questions about his experience at UMD. These were his responses. 

Tell us about yourself

“I am originally from Memphis, TN, and the thing that I miss the most is the good BBQ! My family has always loved to travel, and I'm incredibly grateful for developing an appreciation for the natural world at a young age. My parents have also really supported my scientific ambitions (sorry for not getting a "real" job yet, Mom).

Outside of work, the natural world continues to fuel my interests, whether that’s backpacking in the Appalachian mountains, snowboarding, caving, or even once being an official videographer for a dog surfing competition. Woodworking is another pursuit that connects me to nature by giving trees a second life. Through this hobby, I’ve made many things like a dining room table for my parents, pens for my groomsmen, an electric guitar, or a ringbox for my now-wife.

I've continued to travel on my own and with my wife and friends and have always made a lot of effort to document it. Through this process, I've really enjoyed picking up photography and videography.”

As a graduate student of the department, how would you describe your academic experience studying Materials Science and Engineering?

“My background is in mechanical engineering, so I had a bit of a shock when I first started taking classes in Materials Science. The professors were really great at explaining concepts that were commonplace for others but new for me, which really helped me overcome this challenge. It was a fantastic experience to learn about material behavior on the microscopic scale and how that translates to meaningful applications on the macroscopic scale.”

As a graduate student, what research project are you most excited to work on?

“I'm currently working on the Centrifugal Mirror Fusion Experiment (CMFX): 

Fusion has been called the 'holy grail' of energy sources because it's clean, independent of weather/geography, and the fuel is practically limitless. Over the last few decades, people have tried many concepts to create fusion reactors, but none have been successful enough to be commercially viable. My team and I are working on one concept that's often overlooked -- the centrifugal mirror. This concept is promising for its engineering simplicity and steady-state operation. The Centrifugal Mirror Fusion Experiment (CMFX) has been built and is operating at UMD to investigate this concept.

CMFX has a unique requirement among fusion devices. While there are many materials challenges in a fusion reactor, CMFX requires an electrically insulating material for its high voltage operation. My research therefore has two aims: (1) to validate the centrifugal mirror as a potentially viable commercial fusion concept, and (2) to investigate various insulating materials that could help advance fusion energy development.”

How did you define your research area?

“My research is focused on fusion energy, a field of clean-energy research that is based off the large amounts of energy released when two atoms fuse together. I have researched this field for the past 7 years, since the summer after my Junior year in college, and I've been hooked!”

During your time as a Ph.D. student, have you attended any conferences or meetings that helped in your professional development?

“My project is funded by ARPA-E, a DOE agency that funds advanced, high-risk/high-reward energy projects. Attending the ARPA-E conferences has always been a formative part of my professional development because of the emphasis they place on the commercialization and application of technology. I've grown skills both in science and business because of these conferences.”

Are there any research papers that you would like to reference? 

“MCTrans++: a 0-D model for centrifugal mirrors,” published online by Cambridge University Press.

You were amongst the winners of the 3MT. What was the experience like and how did you prepare for the competition? 

“I have always valued effective communication, and so I was very excited to partake in the 3MT competition. The biggest challenge was condensing my research into something so short that was still digestible for a public audience. I found that the best talks balanced describing some scientific detail, but doing so in a way that everyone could relate to. For me, that meant describing fusion and my research through a food and cooking analogy. I took advantage of many of the creative writing services offered by UMD and sought feedback from my team as well. In the end, I was lucky enough that the judges enjoyed my fusion-food metaphor!”

Watch his 3MT below: