In the summer of 2025, physics graduate student James Taton had an exciting internship experience at NASA Grenn Research Center (NASA GRC). James, who is currently a second year MS physics student at CSU, is a key graduate teaching assistant (TA) at the department and graduate student researcher with Dr. Fodor. James got a BS in Physics from CSU in the spring of 2024 and as undergraduate was an active researcher, TA, and a key member of the outreach team of CSU’s chapter of the Society of Physics Students. Below is James’s reflection on the research experience at NASA GRC.

Over the summer, I was able to take part in an incredible experience at NASA Glenn Research Center as an OSTEM Intern. The internship was intended to contribute to the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project, established under NASA’s Sustainable Flight National Partnership. This project partnered with manufacturers GE and MagniX and was aimed at integrating hybrid-electric aircraft in commercial air travel with the goal of zero carbon emissions in commercial aviation by 2050. Electromagnetic compliance is a critical factor in the successful realization of this goal.

Electromagnetic compliance (EMC) is a crucial aspect of electrical engineering that characterizes the ability of electronic equipment to properly operate within its electromagnetic environment as well as not interfere with external electronics. EMC is split into two categories, emissions and susceptibility, with two subcategories each, conducted and radiated. Conducted emissions analyze self-compatibility issues with electronic equipment while radiated emissions look at the radiated electromagnetic fields from equipment to ensure they do not interfere with established electromagnetic frequency bands. Conducted susceptibility characterizes 

equipment tolerance to conducted electromagnetic noise within signal or power lines and radiated susceptibility characterizes equipment tolerance to external electromagnetic radiation. EMC issues can arise late in the process of research and development, leading to wasted time and resources. Computationally modeling proposed designs can provide a precursor to any possible EMC issues that might arise later and save time and money in the development process of electronics. In my internship role, I was positioned at GRC’s electromagnetic interference (EMI) lab tasked with computationally modeling the EMI of electronic powertrain components and developing workflows for future implementation utilizing COMSOL Multiphysics. The computational models that I developed dealt with conducted and radiated emissions.

The models and workflows I developed dealing with conducted emissions explored verification of capacitive relationships between adjacent conductors and the effects of capacitive coupling. The Federal Aviation Administration was another organization we frequently interacted with over the summer as they were conducting experiments investigating the capacitive coupling between high voltage cables and signal wires. I was able to computationally replicate results within five percent agreement to the FAA’s experimental results as well as theoretical results. 

When dealing with radiated emissions, I modeled the emissions of common mode current power supply lines of a PCB H-Bridge, a commonly utilized component in electric powertrains. While my results did not match our experimentally measured order of magnitude, the trend was in near complete agreement with the experimental trend which can provide insight into what frequency of radiated emissions might be “problem frequencies” later in development. The workflows I developed from these models can pose a useful resource to the engineers at NASA in the future implementation of COMSOL Multiphysics to modeling proposed electronic designs and signifying any EMC related issues.

The opportunity and work I completed in this role would not have been possible if it were not for my experience and connections in Cleveland State University's Physics Department as well as the Society of Physics Students and the Physics Honor Society: Sigma Pi Sigma. Throughout my undergraduate studies at CSU, I conducted research with the current chair of the physics department, Dr Fodor, doing computational microfluidics in COMSOL Multiphysics. This was critical in my qualifications for this internship as well as my credibility in the role. Furthermore, if it were not for Noel Sargent, a fellow CSU alumni and Sigma Pi Sigma member since 1970, who has been contributing to the department by sending job offers and opportunities to advisors, I would not have known of the position. This goes to show how pivotal the role the connections you make within your own department, as well as within the Society of Physics Students, plays in your future success. Reach out, ask questions, and get involved where you can. It can only come back to reward you in the future.