Thor Oase is a graduate student in the Cornell Materials Science and Engineering M.Eng. program from Apple Valley, Minnesota. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Berkeley. He is currently collaborating with NASA and Innovative Dynamics, Inc. for his M.Eng. capstone project on the development of Erosion Tolerant Passive Anti-Icing Materials for UAM Rotor Blades. Outside of academics, Thor plays on the University ice hockey and pickleball club teams and enjoys rock climbing and hiking around Ithaca.
Why did you choose Cornell Materials Science and Engineering to pursue your M.Eng. degree?
I have always had a passion for unique and advanced materials. When I played lacrosse as an undergraduate student, I was interested in the design of lacrosse sticks and experimented with different metal, metal-alloy, and carbon fiber-shafts as each had different strengths. In high school, I was involved with Science Olympiad and one of my challenges was to build the lightest, strongest tower possible out of wood. I tested various wood types to find which ones had the best strength-to-weight ratios and continued to find ways to trim weight by altering the wood geometry. As part of my undergraduate degree, I worked with 3D printing and used a variety of classical plastic filaments and novel UV photopolymer resin to construct projects. I chose Cornell’s Material Science and Engineering M.Eng. program because I feel it would better prepare me for the engineering industry with physical, hands-on projects, rather than a standard research- and academia-focused M.S. or Ph.D. program.
What is your capstone project research about and why is it important?
NASA and Innovative Dynamics Inc., initially reached out to the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) looking for students to work on this project and CCMR reached out to my advisor, Kintu Early, who thought I was the best fit for this position. Kintu connected us all through a discovery call to discuss the project, my ideas, and what it would look like moving forward and they ultimately selected me.
Our research targets developing weather-tolerant capability technologies for next-generation vertical take-off and landing vehicles with the objective of improving flight safety by reducing the influences of rain, dust, sand, and ice accretion on rotorcraft surfaces with Shape Memory Alloy Erosion Shields.
What are the larger implications of this research?
These highly elastic Shape Memory Alloy shields offer unmatched durability and erosion resistance and will provide effective heat transfer for anti-icing with reduced energy consumption, targeting not only aerospace applications but also traditional rotorcraft and windmill markets. We believe that this collaboration may revolutionize how we approach urban air mobility and aviation safety in adverse weather conditions.
What have you gained by participating in the M.Eng. program?
I am engaging in hands-on research and collaborating with NASA and Innovative Dynamics, Inc., a local engineering firm. Not only have I made professional connections and networks within industry, but I am currently working on creating a prototype that will be used in the next phase of testing for this project, which I will be working on throughout the summer as a paid internship after I graduate.
How has this program been helpful in working toward your professional goals?
My educational experience in Cornell Materials Science and Engineering complimented previous classes that had briefly covered topics relevant to materials, such as mechanical properties of materials and composites, allowing me to further explore materials science. I expect to graduate in May, and I hope to use my M.Eng. to leverage a higher-paying job working in industry, doing something I thoroughly enjoy, anything associated with automotive, defense, aerospace, or research.