Erik Andrew Pfeif

Erik Andrew Pfeif

303-304-6921 335 B Canyon Blvd. Boulder, CO 80302 [e-mail]

EDUCATION

Colorado School of Mines

BSci Metals & Materials Engineering (2007) GPA: 3.514 Study Abroad: Hong Kong University Spring 2005

MSci Materials Science (2010) GPA: 3.80

Thesis Topic: Submerged Nondestructive Determination of Hydrogen in Zirconium Alloys

PhD Materials Science (in Progress) Estimated Graduation Date 12/2013 Thesis Topic: Liquid Nitrogen Submerged Laser Welding of High Nitrogen Steel

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Colorado School of Mines

2011-Present PhD Candidate—Investigating methods to mitigate alloying element loss during laser welding of High Nitrogen Steels

Advisor: Dr. Stephen Liu ([e-mail]) and Dr. David Olson ([e-mail])
2008-2010 Graduate Research Assistant—Developing and testing submerged nondestructive methods to assess the waterside corrosion (hydrogen damage) in Zirconium alloys used in fuel assemblies.

Advisor: Dr. David Olson ([e-mail]) and Dr. Brajendra Mishra ([e-mail])

Fall 2007 Undergraduate Research Assistant—Researching methods to increase the oxygen vacancy concentration in steam permeation membranes (Gadolinium-doped Barium Cerates.)

Supervisor: Dr. Ryan O’Hayre ([e-mail])

Summer 2007 Hazen Research

Intern—aided with froth flotation, elutriation, and processing of Mb, Au, Ag, W, and Fe0₃

Supervisor: Mr. Chris Schultz ([e-mail])

Summer 2005/6 Los Alamos National Labs

Intern- studied effects of stored defects, temperature, strain rate and geometric effects on the shear behavior of 1018 steel. Also studied shear effects of high explosive damage within tantalum Supervisor: Mentor: Dr. Ellen Cerreta ([e-mail])
ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE

2010-2011 Rocky Mountain Instruments

Thin Films Lab Technician—Operated a high temperature thin film coating chamber. Produced multilayered coatings and tested ISO9001 optical components. Assembled DLC thin film deposition chamber and vacuum tested.

2010. 
      Colorado School of Mines
      

Student Researcher and Teaching Aid—Developed a system to measure quantify amount of hydrogen in fuel cladding in a submerged environment nondestructively. Performed hydrogen cycling of Zircaloy material using a Sieverts apparatus. Characterized hydrogen damage with Inert Gas Fusion methods, Optical Microscopy and X-Ray Diffraction. Produced a model to explain the interaction of EM waves with the electronic structure of the material –Developed a system for laser welding under a consistent amount of liquid nitrogen. Developed a working knowledge of solidification behavior in steels as well as methods to refine welded microstructure and increase overall weld toughness through consumable design. –Produced raw powder and created porous potential bone replacement material using Self Propagating High Temperature Synthesis technique. Quantified micro porosity using scanning electron microscopes. Characterized chemical components of bone replacement material using XRD and FTIR.

Computing/Data Analysis Experience— Kaliedograph, Grapher , AutoCAD, Mechanical Desktop, Solidworks, Autodesk Inventor, C++, MSOffice, Signal Express, Labview.

VOLUNTEERING

CSM101: Freshman Success Seminar: Peer Mentoring Program (2007) 2 hours /week

Student Development and Academic Services: Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO

Supervisor: Ms. Sneha Parikh ([e-mail])

HKU English Mentor Program: Middle School English Teacher (2005) 3 hours/week

St. Johns College, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.
PRESENTATIONS

1. Trends in Welding Research Conference: “Use of Segregation as a Weld Design Opportunity,” 2012.

2. QNDE 2010: “Submerged Eddy Current Method of Hydrogen Content Evaluation of Zircaloy-4 Fuel Cladding,” 2010

3. QNDE 2009 “Assessment of the State of Precipitation in Aluminum Casting A356.2 Alloy Using Non-Destructive Microstructure Electronic Property Measurements,” 2009.

4. QNDE 2009 “Characterization of Hydrogen Content in ZIrcaloy 4 Nuclear Fuel Cladding”, 2009.



PUBLICATIONS

1. 
   C. Howard, E.A. Pfeif, J. Porter, B. Mishra, D.L. Olson, “Quantitative Assessment of Thermal Diffusion Using Nondestructive Evaluation” AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. xxxx, Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, Vol. 31A, (2012) pp.1-9.
   

2. 
   E.A. Pfeif, C. Howard, S. Tate, S. Liu, B. Mishra, D.L. Olson, “Use of Segregation as a Weld Design Opportunity,” Trends in Welding Research, (2012)
   

3. 
   E.A. Pfeif, Z. Jones, A.N. Lasseigne, K.Koenig, K. Krzywosz, E.V. Mader, S. Yagnik, B. Mishra, and D.L. Olson, “Submerged Eddy Current Method of Hydrogen Content Evaluation of Zircaloy-4 Fuel Cladding,” AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1355, Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, Vol. 30A, (2011) pp.168-175.
   

4. 
   P. Kiattisaksri, P.J. Gibbs, K. Koenig, E.A. Pfeif, A.N. Lasseigne, P.F. Mendez, B. Mishra, D.L. Olson “Assessment of the State of Precipitation in Aluminum Casting A356.2 Alloy Using Non-Destructive Microstructure Electronic Property Measurements,” AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1211, Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation, Vol. 29, (2010) pp. 1285-1292.
   

5. 
   E.A. Pfeif, A.N. Lasseigne, K. Krzywosz, E.V. Mader, B. Mishra, D.L. Olson, “Characterization of Hydrogen Content in ZIrcaloy 4 Nuclear Fuel Cladding,” ,” AIP Conference Proceedings Vol 1211, Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation Conference Proceedings, Rhode Island, Vol. 29, (2010), pp. 1317-1324.
   
6. 
   L.M. Dougherty, E.K. Cerretta, E.A. Pfeif, C.P. Trujillo and G.T. Gray III, “The Impact of Peak Shock Stress on the Microstructure and
   
7. 
   Shear Behavior of 1018 Steel”, Acta Materialia, Vol. 55, No. 18, (2007), pp. 6356-6364.
   
8. 
   K.A. Walsh, Beryllium Chemistry and Processing (One of Many Contributing Editors: E.A. Pfeif), ASM International, Materials Park, OH 2009.