About the Author
Brian McDermott is currently a junior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Nuclear Engineering. He is also a graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in Sudbury, Massachusetts.
Current Undergraduate Positions and accomplishments:
Research Assistant-Pyroelectric Fusion Neutron Source
RPI office of the First Year Experience-Student Orientation Advisor
Delta Tau Delta Fraternity-Rush Chair
Interfraternity Council-Vice President of Social
Publications:
Don Gillich, Yaron Danon, Jeffrey A. Geuther, Becky Marus, Brian McDermott, “Deuterium Ionization For Pyroelectric Crystal Accelerators”, Transactions of the American Nuclear Society and the European Nuclear Society 2007 International Conference on Making The Renaissance Real, Volume 97, November 11-15, Washington, DC, 2007. LINK
High School accomplishments:
Gold medalist- Massachusetts State Science Olympiad in 2001-2002
National Champion-National Ocean Science Bowl (2006)
Recognized as the 14th amateur worldwide to construct a fully operational variant of a Farnsworth Fusion Reactor (2004)
Winner of the McDowell Award for Excellence in Academic Collaboration (2005)
3rd place at the New England Blue Lobster Bowl for ocean sciences (2005)
3rd place at Dept. of Energy Science bowl (2005)
Past research topics and areas of interest have included:
Astronomy/Cosmology/Astrophysics
Condensed Matter Physics
High energy/nuclear physics
Geology
Molecular biology
Human physiology
Calculus
Algebra
Geometry
Trigonometry
Organic/Inorganic Chemistry
Mechanical Engineering
Robotics/Artificial Intelligence
Oceanography
Aerospace Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Rocket Propulsion
Zoology
Economics
Fusion and Fission Technologies
Scientific History
Thermodynamics
Laser design, optics and holography
Forensic Investigation Methods
Material analysis
Radiochemistry
Computer Programming (C, C++, VB, and others)
Pyrotechnics and fireworks
Electrostatics
Electrical engineering
High and low power electronics
Ham Radio
Filmmaking