Paul Voss holds degrees mechanical engineering and visual arts from Brown University and a Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Harvard. He did his graduate research in Prof. James Anderson's Group developing instruments for NASA's high-altitude ER-2 aircraft and modeling the chlorine chemistry of the Earth's stratosphere. Through the RARL project, Paul is developing low-cost platforms for exploring the atmosphere while building an interdisiplinary research program for addressing critical questions about the Earth's chemistry and climate.
Chris Condit is an Associate Professor of Geology in the Department of Geosciences. As a Certified Flight Instructor and enthusiastic chase pilot, he has tracked our balloons across the Berkshires and over Cape Cod in his vintage 1952 Cessna 170B. His knowledge and thoughtful approach have helped us to develop a good working relationship with the both the FAA and Air Traffic Control.
John Sweeney is the machinist for the departments of Geosciences and Biology. His unsettling creativity finds a solution to almost any challenge. His experience with everything mechanical from electron guns to high-performance automotive engines has greatly accelerated our research.
Emily Riddle is a graduate student in the Department of Geosciences. She holds a BA in physics from Carleton College where she received the Laurence McKinley Gould Prize for excellence in natural sciences. She worked at the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research on lightening triggering experiments and at Los Alamos National Laboratory on the calibration of the Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) satellite. Since joining RARL in the fall of 2002, Emily has been developing our meteorological payload, modeling the balloon performance in the atmosphere, and helping to design flight experiments.
Darren is a recent graduate from the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering. He has considerable experience with microcontrollers and electronics fabriaction. Darren won an "Outstanding Teaching Assistant" Award and his Senior Design Project was judged one of the best in his department. In his limited free time, Darren substitue teaches for the Amherst Regional Public School System. Together with Mike Waud, Daren has develped our 450-gram electronics payload that is capable of controlling our balloons and relaying observations from nearly any location on earth.
MIke a recent graduate from the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering and a member of the Commonwealth College (Honors Program). An Engineering Alumni Scholarship Fund Awardee and National Merit Semifinalist, Mike is currently developing the photovoltaic power system and independent termination devices for our balloons.
Rob Vice is a senior in the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering. Over the past year, he worked as part of a small team to develop an highly accurate acoustic anemometer for our balloon's meteorological payload. This summer, Rob will is continuing the anemometer project with the goal of developing a flight-ready prototype.
Dan Holcomb is a senior in the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering. A former Philosophy major, Dan is also a zoo aficando. This summer, he is building the flight electronics for our participation in the ICARTT campaign. He will be developing a wireless balloon network as part of his undergraduate research.
Keith Wahsburn is a senior in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. A wizard in the machine shop, Keith is developing the core mechanical components of our ICARTT balloons. Supported by a grant from the University Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property, Keith is currently designing a high-altitude helium pump for a new generation of weather balloons.
