Name: Emily Ku (she/her) 

Education: B.S.A.E Georgia Institute of Technology, PhD Candidate Colorado State University 

Skillset: Machining, Vacuum Chamber Testing, Composite Layups 

Honors/Awards: Brooke Owens Fellowship 2021 

Role in JANUS: Graduate Student Researcher, PI: Dr. John Williams  

Description of Project: I’m working on an experimental project setting up a standalone hollow cathode test setup with a magnetic field that is better representative of the thruster environment. Currently, I have tested the standalone configuration with permanent magnets, and will be testing with the center coil of a thruster to compare with 1.5kW thruster data, while measuring the keeper, discharge, cathode-to-ground, and plasma potential voltages. I am also studying the plume transitions that happen with standalone cathode tests and monitoring the parameters that change from “quiescent” to “noisy” mode.  

Outside interests/hobbies: Rock climbing, digital art, baking, hiking, dance, café and bar hopping