IMS graduate student KP Arnold awarded NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity Fellowship

Kellen P. Arnold, a 4th year Ph.D. candidate in the Interdisciplinary Materials Science program, was awarded a fellowship by the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunity (NSTGRO) in June 2023. Kellen is a member of the Sharon Weiss Group and received the award for his work studying nanoscale design in advanced integrated photonics and identifying mechanisms for changes in photonic devices and circuits (PICs) due to the harsh environment in space. As data demands increase globally, the need for energy efficient, high-performance PICs has swiftly grown. In space, the design constraints to meet requirements are compounded by cosmic rays, solar particle events, and charged particles trapped in the earth’s magnetic field; each of these can cause degradation or total failure to equipment and systems in space if not appropriately addressed. Kellen’s research seeks to attack this problem not only by identifying the dominant radiation effects mechanisms that affect integrated photonics, but also by developing design strategies at the nanoscale that improve performance, SWaP (size, weight, and power consumption), and radiation sensitivity. Kellen is collaborating alongside Vanderbilt’s Institute for Space and Defense Electronics (ISDE) and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) during his term as a NSTGRO fellow.