Alyssa Troksa
About Alyssa Troksa
Alyssa Troksa is a Materials Engineer currently working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where she specializes in the production and characterization of nanoparticles for advanced applications. She has a strong background in materials science, having previously held positions in various research and development roles, and is actively involved in promoting women in STEM fields.
Work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Alyssa Troksa has been employed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) as a Materials Engineer since 2019. In this role, she focuses on the development and characterization of nanomaterials. Her work includes the production of monodisperse, magnetic cobalt nanoparticles for applications in 5G millimeter wave absorbers. Troksa utilizes various characterization techniques such as Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM), radiography/x-ray computed tomography (CT), and Instron compression testing to analyze nanomaterials. She has also contributed to the fabrication of the lowest density gold monolith reported, utilizing a freeze-casting technique developed at LLNL.
Education and Expertise
Alyssa Troksa holds a Master of Science in Material Science and Engineering from the University of Washington, which she completed in 2016. Prior to that, she earned her Bachelor of Science in the same field from the same institution in 2015. Her educational background has equipped her with a strong foundation in materials engineering, enabling her to engage in advanced research and development projects, particularly in nanoparticle synthesis and characterization.
Previous Work Experience
Before her current role at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Alyssa Troksa worked in various positions that contributed to her expertise in materials engineering. She served as a Materials Science Engineer Post College Appointee at LLNL from 2017 to 2019. Additionally, she worked as a Mathematics Tutor at Fusion Math for nine months in 2016-2017 in the Greater Seattle Area. Troksa also gained experience as a Business Development Intern at the Pacific Northwest Diabetes Research Institute in 2017 and as an Engineering Summer Hire at W. L. Gore & Associates in 2012.
Research and Development Contributions
Alyssa Troksa has made significant contributions to research and development in the field of materials science. She has developed tunable synthesis methods for iron oxide/silica core/shell nanoparticles, optimizing structural color for flexible displays. Troksa has also scaled up nanoparticle synthesis, achieving increases in yield over a hundredfold while maintaining the quality of the monodisperse particles. Currently, she is collaborating with Millipore Sigma to commercialize ceramic nanoparticle-loaded inks for HEPA filters.
Community Involvement and Mentorship
Alyssa Troksa is actively involved in community initiatives aimed at promoting women in STEM fields. She participates in the Expanding Your Horizons workshops, which encourage young girls to explore careers in science and technology. Additionally, she is part of the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship mentoring program, where she supports students pursuing education in STEM disciplines, helping to foster the next generation of female engineers and scientists.