Name: Daniel Troyetsky 

Education: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester; M.S. Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University; PhD Candidate, Aeronautics and Astronautics Stanford University 

Skillset: Computer Programming, Theoretical Analysis, CFD 

Honors/Awards: NSTGRO Fellow, NSF GRFP Awardee 

Role in JANUS: Graduate Student Researcher, PI: Ken Hara 

Description of Project: I’m developing computational models to study the electrical interactions between Hall effect thrusters and vacuum test facilities. These models range in scale and complexity from 0D data-driven models to multi-fluid finite volume simulations of the thruster, including the discharge channel, near plume, and far plume. The plasma models can further be coupled to circuit models of the facility and power supply. I’ve completed the data-driven modeling portion of the project and am in the process of developing the plasma fluid simulations. I hope to be able to compare my simulations results to the data obtained by experimentalists in JANUS. 

Outside interests/hobbies: bouldering, hiking, science fiction, standup comedy