Nick Welchert, Ph.D.
About Nick Welchert, Ph.D.
Nick Welchert, Ph.D., is an Associate Engineer at Exponent with expertise in ventilation design and quality management in the mining sector. He has a background in chemical engineering and has conducted significant research in chemical vapor deposition techniques during his doctoral studies.
Work at Exponent
Nick Welchert has been employed as an Associate Engineer at Exponent since 2023. His role is based in Los Angeles, California, where he works on-site. In this position, he applies his expertise in engineering to various projects, contributing to the company's focus on scientific and technical consulting.
Previous Experience at Rio Tinto
Prior to his current role, Welchert worked as a Process Engineering Intern at Rio Tinto in 2017 for three months. This internship took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he gained practical experience in process engineering within the mining sector.
Internship at Freeport-McMoRan
In 2016, Welchert served as a Summer Intern at Freeport-McMoRan for three months in Safford, Arizona. This internship provided him with exposure to the operations of one of the largest open-pit mining companies in North America, enhancing his understanding of copper processing and mining ventilation.
Education and Expertise
Welchert holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arizona, where he studied from 2013 to 2017. He furthered his education at the University of Southern California, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering from 2018 to 2022. His expertise includes ventilation design and ISO 9001 quality management, particularly in mining and electrorefining.
Research Contributions
During his doctoral research, Welchert developed novel chemical vapor deposition techniques for thin polymer films applicable in biomedical implants, hydrogen production, and microfabrication. He conducted research on chemical vapor deposition on liquid substrates and designed custom vapor delivery systems, utilizing computational fluid dynamics for simulations.