About me
I am an aerospace engineer passionate about space engineering, spacecraft design and computational mechanics. I obtained a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering in the Aerospace Mechanics Research Center at the University of Colorado Boulder. My research focuses on nonlinear system identification of aerospace systems using machine learning techniques from noisy measurements. Other passions include trail running and fitness, reading human interaction and psychology books and traveling around the world to learn from other cultures.
Work experience
INSIEME PSAAP-III at Stanford
Boulder, CO / Stanford, CA, U.S.A
Uncertainty Quantification of a laser-induced combustion thruster
Tasks:
- Currently doing research on uncertainty quantification and deep learning of exascale Multiphysics simulation ensembles.
- Researcher in the Predictive Science Academic Alliance Program at Stanford University working on the Integrated Simulations using Exascale Multiphysics Ensembles (INSIEME project).
Aerospace Mechanics Research Center (AMReC)
Investigated novel finite element algorithms (FEA) for multiphysics interactions
Tasks:
- Developed dual state and parameter estimation algorithms based on Bayesian Inference methods.
- Devised novel algorithms for data-driven dynamical model identification from noisy data using sparse regularization and machine learning techniques.
- Developed partitioned finite element thermal-structure and fluid-structure interaction algorithms.
- Presented research at various workshops and conferences including SIAM Computational Science and Engineering 2021.
- Served as a teaching assistant for Structures and Materials course, mentored students, and prepared lectures.
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP)
Developed a particle model of Jupiter radiation belts from Juno spacecraft measurements.
Tasks:
- Analyzed data from Juno spacecraft to identify plasma and radiation particles of Jupiter’s radiation belts.
- Performed Monte Carlo simulations using ESA's Multi-Layered Shielding Simulation Software (MULASSIS).
- Developed software to model Jupiter radiation environment.
Designed, developed and simulated the attitude determination and control system of a 6U nanosatellite.
Tasks:
- Designed and implemented attitude determination and control algorithms for a Earth Observation nanosatellite.
- Programmed a spacecraft flight dynamics simulator for Low Earth Orbit nanosatellite missions.
- Planned, executed, evaluated, and supervised all phases of spacecraft flight dynamics, estimation, and control operations.
- Collaborated and scheduled critical review meetings with industry partners from Elecnor Deimos.
Education
Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences
University of Colorado Boulder
Advisor: Dr. Alireza Doostan
Tasks
- Research on data-driven modeling identification of nonlinear mechanical systems using sparse regularization methods, machine learning and artificial neural networks. My research focuses on identifying and understanding a physical model from noisy measurements and predicting its behavior.
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences
University of Colorado Boulder
Tasks
- Mentored students for the Statics, Structures and Materials course.
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering
Technical University of Catalonia (BarcelonaTech)
Advisor: Dr. Juan Carlos Cante
B.S. Thesis: Study of numerical techniques for structural optimization in aeronautics
- Analyzed finite element and nonlinear optimization techniques applied to structural topology optimization of aerospace structures.
- Developed a software tool for structural topology optimization based on density methods.
- Optimized the topology of an aircraft wing rib structure subject to weight constraints and aerodynamic loads.
Skills
Communication
Spanish: Native
Catalan: Native
English: Fluent (CEFR-C1 certificate)
French: Intermediate
Technical
O.S.: Windows / Linux
Office: MS Word / MS Excel / MS Power Point / Latex
Programming: C++ / MATLAB & Simulink / Python / HTML-CSS
Engineering: Solid Works / CATIA / ANSYS / TensorFlow / Pytorch
Honors & Awards
- Awarded a Graduate International Travel Grant by University of Colorado. (2019)
- Ph.D. research funded by National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant: CMMI-1454601. (2018)
- Member of the winning team of the Space Station Design Workshop. (2016)
- Awarded a Balsells Fellowship for graduate studies at University of Colorado Boulder. (2016)
- Awarded a research fellowship by Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC). (2015)
- Distinguished B.S. Thesis Award for being among the top 5%. (2014)
Additional info
Publications
- Cortiella, A.; Vidal, D.; Jané, J.; Juan, E.; Olivé, R.; Amézaga, A.; Munoz, J.F.; Via, P.; Carreno-Luengo, H.; Camps, A.. 3Cat-2—Attitude Determination and Control System for a GNSS-R Earth Observation 6U CubeSat Mission. European Journal Of Remote Sensing. Vol. 49 - 1 (2016):pp.
- Carreno-Luengo, Hugo and Camps, Adriano and Via, Pol and Munoz, Juan Francisco and Cortiella, Alex and Vidal, David and Jan{\'e}, Jaume and Catarino, Nuno and Hagenfeldt, Miguel and Palomo, Pedro and others. 3Cat-2—An experimental nanosatellite for GNSS-R earth observation':' Mission concept and analysis. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing. Vol. 9 - 10 (2016):pp. 4540-4551
- Alexandre Cortiella, Kwang-Chun Park, Alireza Doostan. Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamical Systems via Reweighted ℓ1-regularized Least Squares. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering. Vol. 376 - (2021):pp. 113620
- Alexandre Cortiella, Kwang-Chun Park, Alireza Doostan. A Priori Denoising Strategies for Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamical Systems - A Comparative Study. ASME. J. Comput. Inf. Sci.. Vol. 1 - 1 (2022):pp. 1-34
Conferences
- 2015 IEEE Young Professionals in Remote Sensing Conference. Dec 2 – Dec 5, 2015. Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Presentation: Attitude Determination and Control System for a GNSS-R Earth Observation 6U CubeSat Mission
- Multi-Physics Workshop: Advances in Numerical Methods for Simulation, Optimization, and Uncertainty Quantification of Coupled Physics Problems. Apr 23 – Apr 24, 2018. University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, U.S.A.
- 8th International Conference on Computational Methods for Coupled Problems in Science and Engineering (COUPLED PROBLEMS 2019). Jun 3 – Jun 5, 2019. Sitges, Catalonia, Spain.
Presentation: Partitioned Symmetric Formulation and Solution Algorithms of Thermoelastic Interaction Problems. Article to be submitted
- 15th U.S. National Congress on Computational Mechanics. Jul 28 – Aug 1, 2019. Austin, Texas, USA.
Presentation: Improving Stability of Numerical Methods for Recovering Governing Equations from Noisy Data (Presented by Dr. Alireza Doostan)
Activities
- FSM Grad Colloquium Committee member: Seminar series aiming to host graduate student speakers who will give brief research fundamentals talks to promote interaction and facilitate knowledge exchange and potential collaborations. (September 2019 - Present)
- Applied Mathematics - The Next 50 Years (University of Washington): Attended the three-day conference preceded by a two-day workshop on the themes of data science and optimization, and various applications. (June 17-21, 2019)
- President of the CU Catalan Club at University of Colorado Boulder: (September 2016 – Present)
- Polar Cube Project at Space Grant Consortium Colorado: Simulated attitude control algorithms for a 3U cubesat with reaction wheels. (Fall 2016 – Spring 2017)
- Space Station Design Workshop 2016 (Stuttgart, Germany): Intensive one-week team competition focused on designing a conceptual Space Station located in cis-lunar space. Responsible for the Attitude and Orbit Control System. (2016)
- IEEE Young Professional Conference in Remote Sensing: Presented the advances on the attitude determination and control system of the 3Cat-2 cubesat. (2015)
- Online MOOC courses via EDx: Hypersonics – from shock waves to scramjets” (University of Queensland) & Introduction to programming with Java (Universidad Carlos III). (2015)
- Course in Computational Fluid Dynamics by the Heat and Mass Transfer Technological Center: Laminar flow and introduction to turbulence modelling (BarcelonaTech). (2014)
- L3S Cubesat Launcher Project at UPC: Developed a launch vehicle capable of putting cubesat nanosatellites into Low Earth Orbits. Designed the nose cone structure of the rocket, and performed vibration analysis using a finite element software. (2013)
- Course in C++ programming by the Heat and Mass Transfer Technological Center.: (2013)
- RockLab Project at Terrassa Rocket Team: Designed the propulsion system of a small solid rocket aimed at operating at 28 km above sea level. (January 2011 – June 2013)
- Handball player: Played in four different handball teams including F.C.Barcelona and Catalonia Team (team formed by the best players in Catalonia region). Captain of two teams. Won three National Spanish Championships. (1999 – 2015)
