OUR PEOPLE
Academic Credentials
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2023
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2018
- B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Olin College of Engineering, 2011
Licenses & Certifications
- Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI)
Academic Appointments
- Teaching Assistant for Engineering Design Optimization, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, 2019
- Teaching Assistant for Thermodynamics, Olin College, 2010-2011
Professional Honors
- Argonne Training Program on Extreme-Scale Computing, 2020
- Stanford Engineering Graduate Fellowship, 2016-2018
- Franklin W. Olin Scholarship, 2007-2011
Dr. West is a mechanical engineer with expertise in heat transfer, single and multi-phase flows, thermodynamics, and combustion. He applies his expertise using experimental testing related to failures and product safety, as well as to the investigation of fires, explosions, and industrial process failures. He is experienced at using data analysis and developing computational models to answer engineering questions in the thermal sciences across a variety of applications, including utilities, industrial equipment, consumer products, and medical devices.
Dr. West performs risk assessments for industrial and consumer products involving ignition, burn injury, fire, and other safety issues. He has experience performing experimental testing according to standard methods (e.g., ASTM and UL standards; CFR regulations), as well as designing custom experimental tests for novel failure modes.
Prior to joining Ä¢¹½tv, Dr. West completed his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, where he used numerical simulations to study a variety of multi-phase flows, including turbulence with suspended particles, related to a novel solar energy concept. For his dissertation he developed simulation techniques for high-velocity impacts of metal projectiles resulting in severe material deformation and strain hardening, collaborating with scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to expand and validate their simulation capabilities.
Dr. West has also practiced as a design engineer at Peterbilt Motors Company, focusing on design and integration of diesel emissions systems into heavy duty trucks. He has experience analyzing warranty data, creating testing protocols to detect faults before production, and determining the root cause of field failures.