Work Experience

Metrology Specialist - Productivity Quality Inc. | Plymouth, MN (Aug. 2021 - Present)

  • Develop and maintain Windows applications and scripts for both internal and external use
    • Automate inspection and manufacturing processes using robotics and computer software we create
    • Improve work practices to shorten routine tasks from taking hours to minutes every day
  • Convert internal data storage from Excel-based to SQL-based tables, then manage those databases
  • Facilitate and guide research efforts regarding accuracy of CT scanners in metrology

Key Achievements

  • Created a simulation of a machining facility, allowing customers to see how adjusting parameters in their workflow can affect their accuracy and repeatability on various parts
  • Initiated and completed the changes in practice from no data storage → Excel-based storage → SQL/SQLite-based storage

Oceans/Water Researcher - Student Airborne Research Program (SARP) | Palmdale, CA (June 2020 - Aug. 2020)

  • Investigated the effects of the Californian Thomas Fire on Lake Casitas
    • Researched how the fire impacted the lake's water area and sediment concentrations, even after the fire burned out
  • Applied remote sensing (GIS) techniques and technologies to analyze NASA satellite imagery
  • Presented my discoveries to NASA researchers upon completing my work
A picture of Lake Casitas in 2017 A picture of Lake Casitas in 2019 A picture of Lake Casitas' Suspended Particulate Matter
Images of Lake Casitas. The first satellite image shown was taken in 2017, second image in 2019. Notice the difference in water levels.
The third image represents the suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentration of Lake Casitas taken in 2014.
A video I took while flying in a NASA DC-8 aircraft, collecting atmospheric data (O3 levels, CH4 concentrations, etc).

Atmospheric Researcher - Saint John's University | Collegeville, MN (May 2019 - Aug. 2019)

  • Studied aerosol concentrations in the atmosphere at Saint John's University
    • Programmed a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm with my professor to model these concentrations
    • Researched concentration trends seen through a several-day period, as well as how smoke from the west coast impacted MN's air
  • Utilized a sun photometer to collect data; wrote programs in C++ and Mathematica to manipulate and analyze them

Physics Tutor and Lab TA - College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University | Colleville, MN (Aug. 2018 - May 2021)

  • Assisted students with homework assignments, both one-on-one and in groups
  • Collaborated with professors in leading introductory laboratory classes
  • Graded lab reports and made suggestions for future improvement

Projects

Cosmology Researcher - Saint John's University | Collegeville, MN (Aug. 2020 - May 2021)

  • Collected data on variable, anomalous Cepheid TYC 1031 1262 1 using our telescope for my senior thesis
  • Analyzed and compared data with past measurements to searchfor trends using programs such as Xephem, Gaia, and scripts in R
  • Presented our results to the Physics Department upon completion
The location of TYC 1031 1262 1 in the sky.
An image of our star — TYC 1031 1262 1 — in the sky. Visible in the constellation Hercules.
A plot of pulse period vs time for the star.
A plot detailing how the pulse period of the star changes over time. The blue line represents a trend of the period from a group of researchers in Turkey, while the red line shows the trend we established. As a result, we conclude not enough data has yet been collected to show a meaningful trend.
A picture of Jordan Zachmann and his advisor.
A photo taken with Dr. Thomas Kirkman, my research advisor, after earning the department's Top Senior Thesis Award.

Citizen Researcher - NASA Citizen-Enabled Aerosol Measurement for Satellites (CEAMS) | Montgomery, MN (June 2020 - Aug. 2020)

The CEAMS team created this project to allow citizens to help calibrate aerosol optical depth measurements taken by satellites. The team provided participants with an Aerosol Mass and Optical Depth sampler to place in our yards, which took measurements every twenty minutes for ten weeks. An article detailing our work can be found here.

Education

Saint John's University

2017 - 2021
Collegeville, MN

Physics Club President (2 years) and Treasurer (1 year), Engineering Club Officer (2 years), Wind Ensemble Tuba Section Leader (4 years)

Skills