Research Interests

Computer architecture, graphics hardware, computer graphics and embedded systems.

My research work is focused on improving SIMT processor thread divergence using a mixture of custom architectures and programming models that allows for individual threads to spawn new threads during runtime and are then grouped into new warps. Current research work expands thread spawning for improving memory divergence and other warp formation options. Reducing memory overhead during thread spawning through locality of existing memory systems used in SIMT architectures is also being researched.

Researched new graphics architectures for supporting global rendering algorithms. This work was focused on developing acceleration algorithms capable of fixed hardware acceleration for ray-tracing. Additional research developed new global rendering algorithms designed for hardware acceleration with the goal of utilizing current graphics hardware.

Iowa State University

• Stand alone embedded streaming processor architecture
• Ray- tracing data structures designed for custom hardware

Valparaiso University

• Virtual Reality and Teleoperation of Autonomous Vehicles

Caterpillar Inc. Machine Research

• Developed a computer model of a Caterpillar scraper machine for testing loading and unloading performance. The computer model was created from in house software and incorporated multi body dynamics, power train, operator model and ground interactions.

•  Developed code for testing the driver visibility of caterpillar machines using 3D CAD models.  This allowed machine designers to determine if a machine will pass the visibility requirements before a single machine is fabricated.  

1. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (News Article).
2. Valparaiso University Outstanding Student Leadership and Service Award & Outstanding Senior Engineer Award.
   • Awarded for my involvement in both the college of engineering and Valparaiso University.  My two most notable involvements are helping teach ECE and ME laboratories and exposing hundreds of school children and families to engineering and science fields by hosting weekly open houses in the Scientific Visualization Laboratory.
3. Developed fixed-function OpenGL pipeline for a Xilinx FPGA. Used for teaching Iowa State University CprE 480x.
4. Developed software application that used virtual reality to drive agriculture equipment remotely.
   • Drove a tractor located in Japan from the United States.
5. Designed, and had manufactured, an overhead valve engine head for a 4-cycle Briggs and Stratton 5hp engine.