James Nicholas, Ph. D.
About James Nicholas, Ph. D.
James Nicholas, Ph.D., is an R&D S&E Material Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories with extensive experience in composite manufacturing and advanced testing equipment.
Current Role at Sandia National Laboratories
Since 2019, James Nicholas, Ph.D., has been serving as an R&D S&E Material Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories. In this role, he leads an interdisciplinary professional team in collaborative research and development projects. He is responsible for managing multiple projects simultaneously and demonstrates a strong ability to learn new processes and assume new responsibilities.
Previous Positions at Sandia National Laboratories
Before his current role, James Nicholas worked as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories from 2017 to 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During his tenure as a postdoctoral researcher, he gained valuable experience in material sciences, which paved the way for his current position.
Academic Career at Missouri University of Science and Technology
James Nicholas has a rich academic background from Missouri University of Science and Technology. He served as a Graduate Lecturer in 2016 for 11 months and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant from 2010 to 2012 for two years, both in Rolla, MO. Concurrently, he worked as a Composite Material Researcher from 2010 to 2016, focusing on material sciences and composite manufacturing methods.
Educational Background in Mechanical Engineering
James Nicholas earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Mechanical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, completing his degree in 2017 after four years of study. He also obtained a Master of Science (MS) in Mechanical Engineering from the same university, where he studied from 2009 to 2013. His undergraduate education culminated in a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering.
Technical Expertise and Skills
James Nicholas possesses extensive hands-on experience with various composite manufacturing methods such as Hand Lay-up, Resin Transfer Molding, and Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM). He is proficient in using advanced testing equipment, including Instron, MTS, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Additionally, he has expertise in simulation software like ANSYS/FLUENT, ABAQUS, and COMSOL, which he uses for composite materials research.