What if communities around the globe had access to actionable environmental data? How would this impact critical decisions and their actions?
Current Projects
Nano-CTD
The aim is to build and characterize a small, low cost, low power salinity sensor that can be integrated into a CTD. Instead of conductivity to determine salinity, we are using a solid state potentiometric sensing principle, allowing us to make the sensor smaller, low power, and lower cost at scale.
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This work is funded by Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, a program of the Schmidt Family Foundation.
In collaboration with: Dr Michael Steele, APL Polar Science Institute, UW Mechanical Engineering Department, Prof. Jaehyun Chung, Portland State University Prof. David Burnett, University of Chicago Data Science Institute
Bioplastics
We joined forces with the amazing Roumeli Lab to answer the central question: “Can fully biobased and biodegradable materials be used to replace today’s plastic hulls?” To scale buoys at the density coastal, scientific, fisheries or environmental communities are interested in, we cannot rely on today’s plastic to litter the ocean. We are investigating a bioplastics-based approach (think algae, seaweed, chlorella or even matcha!) for buoy hulls, turning buoy hulls into fish food!
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This project is supported by the National Science Foundation under
Grant No.2415106
In collaboration with: UW Material Science Department, Prof. Eleftheria Roumeli
Project Idea: Phosphate Sensor
The overarching goal of this project is to explore if and how solid state potentiometry can be used for small, low power and low cost measurements in oceanography. We are doing so by using a carbon nanotube transducer, and ion selective membranes for phosphate detection.
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Currently looking for funding
In collaboration with: University of Washington Mechanical Engineering Department, Prof. Jaehyun Chung, University of South Carolina, Prof. Annie Bourbonnais
Project Idea: Citizen Science Fluorometer
What if we could detect waste water with a small, low-cost sensor anywhere we like? Be it on coastal waters, in wastewater facilities or in lakes, knowing if and how much wastewater is present plays an important role for science, engineering and policy decisions. We are targeting optical brighteners as a proxy for waste water, and making a prototype intended for networked, low cost applications.
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Currently looking for funding
In collaboration with: University of South Carolina, Prof. Jay Pinckney
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Want to learn more?
Check out a selection of former projects here!
Publications
Conference Publications – Main Author
Nawaz, A., Chung, J.H., Soelberg, S.D., Burnett, D.C., Kucewicz, J. and Steele, M., 2023, September. Small. Low Power Salinity Sensors Based on Solid State Potentiometry for Ocean Applications. In OCEANS 2023-MTS/IEEE US Gulf Coast (pp. 1-8). IEEE.​​​​
Nawaz, A., Ho, T., Philippidis, D., Hartman, J., McGlaughlin, M., Driver, D., Baseline characterization of the 30kW miniature arc jet facility mARC at NASA Ames, 46th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, Washington D.C., June 13-17 2016
Nawaz, A., Loehle, S., Herdrich, G., Martinez, E., Comparison of Calorimetric Sensors - NASA Ames and IRS, 44th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, AIAA 2013-3018 , June 24-27, 2013
Nawaz, A., Driver, D., Terrazas-Salinas, I., Sepka, S., Surface Catalysis and Oxidation on Stagnation Point Heat Flux Measurements in High Enthalpy Arc Jets, AIAA 2013- 3138, June 24-27, 2013
Nawaz, A., Driver, D., Terrazas Salinas, I., Influence of Catalysis and Oxidation on Slug Calorimeter Measurements in Arc Jets, Specialists' Meeting AVT-199 /RSM-029: Catalytic Gas Surface Interactions; Rhode, Saint Genese; 22-24 Oct. 2012; Belgium
Nawaz, A., Gorbunov, S., Terrazas-Salinas, I., Jones, S., Investigation of Slug Calorimeter Gap Influence for Plasma Stream Characterization, AIAA 2012-3186, 43rd AIAA Thermophysics conference, 25-28 June New Orleans, Louisianna, 2013
Nawaz, A., Lau, M., Plasma Velocity Measurements for the Pulsed Plasma Thruster SIMP-LEX, 32nd International Electric Propulsion Conference, Wiesbaden, Germany 2011
Nawaz, A., Santos, J, Assessing Calorimeter Evaluation Methods in Convective and Radiative Heat Flux Environment, 10th AIAA/ASME Joint Thermophysics and Heat Transfer Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2010
Nawaz, A., Albertoni, R., Herdrich, G., Auweter-Kurtz, M., Thrust Efficiency Optimimization of a Pulsed Plasma Thruster, 26th International Symposium on Space Technology an Science, June 1-8 2008, Hamamatsu, Japan
Nawaz, A., Herdrich, G.. Kurtz, H., Schönherr, T., Auweter-Kurtz, M.:“ SIMP-LEX: Systematic Geometry Variation Using Thrust Balance Measurements”, International Electric Propulsion Conference IEPC-2007-168, September 17-21 2007, Florenz, Italy
Nawaz, A., Auweter-Kurtz, M., Herdrich, G., Kurtz, H., Impulse Measurements and Thermal Investigation of SIMP-LEX , AIAA-2006-4855, Joint Propulsion Conference 2006, Sacramento, CA, 2006
Nawaz, A. Auweter-Kurtz, M. Herdrich, H. Kurtz, H., Investigation and Optimization of an Instationary MPD Thruster at IRS, IEPC-2005-208, International Electric Propulsion Conference 2005, Princeton, NJ, 2005
Nawaz, A., Auweter, M., Herdrich, G., Kurtz, H., Experimental Setup of a Pulsed MPD Thruster at IRS, European Conference for Aerospace Sciences, EUCASS, Moscow, 4.-7. July 2005
Nawaz, A. Auslander, D.M., Pankow, D., Evaluation of a Data Fusion Method for Various Sensor Systems onboard the SNAP Satellite, 55th International Astronomical Conference 2004, IAC-04-A.3.04, Vancouver, Canada
Nawaz, A., Auweter-Kurtz, M. Kurtz, H, Wagner, H.P., Pulsed Plasma Thrusters for Primary Propulsion and Attitude Control of a Small All Electrical Satellite, International Space Propulsion conference 2004, Sardinia, Italy
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Patents​
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Nawaz, A., Schlipf, M., Herdrich, G. Auweter-Kurtz, M. German Patent Filed, Number A 60 668 g: Solid propellant mechanism, in particular for small satellites, filed 11/14/2008, Filing number 10 2008 058 722, Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt.
Nawaz, A., Schlipf, M., Herdrich, G. Auweter-Kurtz, M. . German Patent Filed, Number A 60 676 g Propellant systems, in particular for small satellites, filed on 11/14/2008, filing number de 10 2008 058 723. Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt.
Journal Publications
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Sobron, Pablo, et al. "InVADER: Furthering the Understanding and Exploration Readiness of Terrestrial and Planetary Underwater Vent Systems (Screen 7)." The Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) 2019. 2019.
Marburg, Aaron, et al. "Resident Autonomous Underwater Vehicles: Test Platforms for Off Planet Ocean Exploration." The Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon) 2019. 2019.
Wilhelm, Mary Beth, et al. "Abzu: A Mission to Uncover the Origin of Organic Material on Mars." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. Vol. 2019. 2019.
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Sobron, Pablo, et al. "Exploring underwater vent systems: New technologies and strategies to advance life detection and scientific understanding of ocean worlds." AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. Vol. 2018. 2018.
Nations, M., Chang, L., Jeffries, J.B., Hanson, R., MacDonald, M., Nawaz, A., Taunk, J., Driver, D., Raiche, G., Characterization of a large-scale arcjet facility using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy, submitted to AIAA Journal
Nawaz, A., Albertoni, R., Auweter-Kurtz, M., Thrust efficiency optimization of the pulsed plasma thruster SIMP-LEX, Acta Astronautica, Volume 67, Issues 3–4, August–September 2010, Pages 440-448
Schoenherr, T., Nawaz, A., Herdrich, G., Auweter-Kurtz, M., Roeser, H.P., Influence of the electrode shape on the performance of the pulsed MPD thruster SIMP-LEX, Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp380-386, 2009
Nawaz, A. and Herdrich, G., Impact of plasma tube wall thickness on power coupling in ICP sources, 2009 Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 18 045018 (7pp)
Nawaz, A., Lau, M., Herdrich, G., Auweter-Kurtz, M., Investigation of the Magnetic Field in a Pulsed Plasma Thruster, AIAA Journal, Vol. 26, No. 11, pp. 2881-2889, 2008
Herdrich, G., Auweter-Kurtz, M., Fertig, M., Nawaz, A. and Petkow, D., MHD Flow Control for Plasma Technology Applications, Vacuum 80, pp. 1167-1173, 2006
Select Conference Publications – Coauthor
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​Graber, L., Guo, N., Payman, A.R. and Nawaz, A., 2024. Concept for an Air-Breathing Arcjet Engine. In AIAA AVIATION FORUM AND ASCEND 2024 (p. 3875).
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​Manalang, D., Delaney, J., Marburg, A., & Nawaz, A. (2018, November). Resident auv workshop 2018: Applications and a path forward. In 2018 IEEE/OES Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Workshop (AUV) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
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Loehle, S., Nawaz, A., Herdrich, G., Fasoulas, S., Martinez, E., Raiche, G., Comparison of HeatFlux Gages for High Enthalpy Flows - NASA Ames and IRS, 46th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, Washington D.C., June 13-17 2016
M. W. Winter, M. Stackpoole, A. Nawaz, T. Ho, Remote Recession Sensing of Ablative HeatShield Materials, 52nd Aerospace Sciences Meeting, January 2014,
Nations Martin, M., Chang, L.S., Jeffries, J.B., Hanson, R.K., Nawaz, A., Taunk, J.,Driver, D., Raiche G., Monitoring temperature in high enthalpy arc-heated plasma flowsusing tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy, AIAA 2013-2761, 44thPlasmadynamics and Laser Conference, June 24-27, 2013
Codron, D.A., Nawaz, A., Radial Profiles of Plasma Electron Characteristics in a 30 kWArc Jet, 44th Plasmadynamics and Laser Conference, June 24-27, 2013
Santos, J., Nawaz, A., Martinez, E., Terrazas-Salinas, I.,Volumetric Heat Flux Characterization Experiments in the Interaction Heating Facility at NASA Ames, 10thAIAA/ASME Joint Thermophysics and Heat Transfer Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 28June 2010 - 01 July 2010
Former Projects
SCUID
While it is possible to measure trace gasses such as N2O, NO, and DMS in the
atmosphere, the sensors to measure dissolved gasses in seawater real time and in situ are limited to CO2, CH4, and H2S. This project aimed to incorporate a carbon nanotube based gas sensor detecting N2O and NO with an already proven housing from Pro-Oceanus. The outcome of this project was mixed, though hopeful: we were able to show that the sensor responded to N2O and NO at the parts per billion level outside the housing, and found that due to the titanium material of the housing, the N2O and NO were adsorbed before reaching the sensor in the chamber. A future project could explore a different housing material, and thus pave the way to a versatile dissolved gas sensor for ocean use.
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Funded by: NOPP/NSF
In collaboration with: NASA Ames Research Center, Dr. Jing Li and Pro-Oceanus Inc.
InVADER
InVADER will study underwater hydrothermal systems at Axial Seamount, the largest and most active volcano on western boundary of the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate off the coast of Oregon. The vents at the Axial Seamount generate chemical energy which can sustain life, and are high-fidelity analogues to putative vent systems on Ocean Worlds.
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Funded by: NASA PSTAR
In collaboration with: see https://invader-mission.org
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​N2O Sensor
The goal was the development of novel N2O data-loggers for laboratory reactors and field deployment. Small and ultimately networked N2O sensors would enable easy, real-time measurements relating to microorganism activity.
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Funded by: DOE
In collaboration with Institute for Systems Biology, Jake Valenzuela