Team Member Bios
Ethan Keeler
I am currently a senior in the electrical engineering program at Montana State University, and I am originally from Butte, Montana. I love the great outdoors and love the natural landscapes that Montana has to offer. I have worked in the field of nano-optics research for over one year now, and I am very excited to continue learning about optics on a larger scale with this spectrograph competition. It is awe inspiring to learn that basic sunlight all around us holds numerous secrets about our universe. I have always loved challenges, engineering, and math, and this competition is a great integration of all of these aspects.
Drew Moen
I was born and raised in Whitefish Montana. After high school, I got my associates of science degree from Flathead Valley Community College. I am currently attending Montana State University as a senior in electrical engineering. I have been working on undergraduate optics research for almost one year and am currently planning to go to grad school after I achieve my bachelor�s degree. I became interested in the solar spectrograph competition because of its relevance to electromagnetism and optics.
Courtney Peck
I am from Sidney, MT and moved to Bozeman, MT to study physics at Montana State University. Currently, I am a senior in physics and next fall I plan to attend graduate school to study solar physics. I became interested in solar physics after participating in a solar physics REU where I was able to model solar flares. I joined an NSSSC team from MSU to expand my knowledge of sun and gain experience in designing experiments and hardware. My role on the team involves designing the scientific goals of the spectrograph, modeling optical components, and later assembling, testing, and calibrating the device.
Chris Zimny
I am the mechanical engineering student working on this spectrograph project. My major responsibilities will include selection of stepper motors, casing materials selection, and final spectrograph assembly. I grew up in Billings, Montana and is currently a senior pursuing a bachelor�s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Montana State University in Bozeman with a minor in Aerospace Engineering. In addition to school, I am an officer in the local chapter of American Society of Mechanical Engineers and participating in a couple research projects. In my freetime he also enjoys backpacking, reading, playing guitar, and bike rides out to the M.
Kevin Repasky
I am currently an assitant professor for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Montana State University. My areas of expertise include laser research and development, laser remote sensing, electro-optics, feedback and control, and optical technology development for communications. I am functioning as the group's advisor (Team Dark Star).
