Adam Lawrence

Microwaves and Energetics, powered by coffee

Research Scientist | NSWC Crane

Ph.D. | Iowa State University

Teacher | Thermo-Fluids, Mech. Engineering

Graduate Writing Consultant | ISU CCE

SMSgt | Sensor Operator | Air National Guard

L1 Crossfit Coach | Iridium Crossfit

alawrence045@ gmail.com

CV

Recent Publications

Welcome!

I have a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University and I am a Senior Master Sergeant in the Air National Guard. I conduct combustion research with energetic materials including propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics, in an effort to improve performance, capabilities, and safety for propulsion and munitions. I am also passionate about teaching and mentoring, helping students and peers to develop as researchers and engineers. I foster a sense of community and understanding between academia, the military, and many other aspects of my life.

Research

My research focuses on the control and enhancement of energetic material combustion using microwaves.

Current and recent projects:

  • Developing “smart energetics,” which can be ignited and controlled using microwaves
  • Using smart energetics to control explosive performance and safety
  • Microwave enhancement of boron particle and boron propellant combustion as a method for increasing vehicle speed and range
  • Clean energetics for mitigation of toxic reactants and products

Future projects:

  • Development of microwave reactive composites
  • A comprehensive synthesis of microwave properties for energetic materials
  • Fundamental research on the mechanisms behind microwave enhancement of energetic material combustion.

 I use a variety of diagnostics to characterize these materials and evaluate their performance including SEM/TEM, DSC, TGA, MS, FTIR, spectroscopy, laser diagnostics, high-speed imaging, RF diagnostics, and various modeling, simulation, coding, and video analysis tools.

Teaching

As an instructor, I have experience teaching at many levels. As a writing consultant for graduate students, I focused on helping build communication skills for academic writing. I have designed and taught my own course for Honors students, guest lectured and developed course materials for intro-level engineering courses and senior-level heat transfer, and taught lab courses including fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and instrumentation. I have served as lead TA and spearheaded the reorganization of course materials for fluid dynamics. During the transition to online learning due to COVID-19 closures, I led the transition team to transform all heat transfer labs to online learning. I am a passionate teacher, striving to improve my own teaching techniques through SOTL and engineering education methodologies. I enjoy helping students grow, learn, and become better scientists and engineers.

Service

I am a Senior Master Sergeant in the Air National Guard, formerly as a crew chief (mechanic) on F-16s and now as a sensor operator on MQ-9s. In my free time, I combined my love of fitness and teaching as a Level 1 Crossfit Coach, helping athletes improve their health and fitness as a coach for Iridium Crossfit. I have also served with a variety of committees and organizations within my university. I’ve served as the president of the department’s graduate student organization, the learning community coordinator responsible for onboarding new graduate students, a graduate student senator, and the graduate student representative for our CELT advisory board and the CELT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion board.

In my free time, I enjoy working out, reading or listening to a good book, taking my dog on an outdoor adventure, and having game nights with friends.