Physics Alumni in Industry

Ellen Rea

Education:

BA Physics (Cleveland State University – 2020)

BS Mechanical Engineering (CSU – 2020)

Experience:

Currently: Aerospace Engineer, GE Aviation Edison, Cincinnati, OH

NSF’s REU student at CSU (2018)

Current Occupation: Ellen started a job as an aerospace engineer in the GE Aviation Edison Program. This is a three-year rotational program focused on jet engine design and manufacturing. She eventually plans to continue her education by pursuing a master’s degree.

Max Orseno

Education:

BS Physics Honors (Cleveland State University – 2010) 
MS Civil Engineering (CSU – 2012)

Experience:

Currently: Engineer IV,First Energy – Westlake OH 
CSU SPS Chapter VP (2008 – 2009)

Why CSU Physics? The small-scale department allows for in-depth and meaningful discussions and interactions between students and professors, especially once students realize that everything in life can be deconstructed down to fundamental physics. Also, the small class sizes quickly become an excellent learning environment for an engaged student.

Current Occupation: Max Orseno has continued to pursue his career in structural engineering. Max has designed steel structures and concrete foundations serving clients in markets ranging from heavy industrial to light commercial. Max’s career has sent him to Alabama and Wyoming, over twelve cumulative months, acting as a field engineer and construction manager. Recently, Max become a professional civil engineer licensed in the State of Ohio.

Hannah Shuman Dee

Education:

BS Physics Honors (Cleveland State University – 2014)

Experience:

Currently: Director of Client Solutions 
Integrity Laboratories - Knoxville, TN

Current Occupation

“I was given an unexpected opportunity to work at a clinical laboratory startup. The laboratory performs a variety of clinical testing including basic blood tests that your primary care doctor might order, genotyping strains of bacteria so a physician can identify the proper antibiotic to treat an infection with, and quantitative toxicology testing.”

Ilona Tsuper

Education:

BS Physics (Cleveland State University – 2018) 
BS Chemistry (Cleveland State University – 2018)

Experience:

Currently: Research and Development Chemist,   Permatex– Solon OH 
CSU SPS Chapter Rockefeller (2015 – 2017) 
CSU SPS Chapter VP (2017 – 2018)

Why CSU Physics? Ilona did undergraduate research presented it at regional/national conferences; she was the recipient of the Best Undergraduate Poster Award at the APS and Quadrennial Physics Conference, and won the Second Place GSoft Matter Award at the 2018 APS March Meeting of the APS

Current Occupation: Continuing the legacy, Ilona is working as the Senior Chemist of Bulk Material at Cosmax, down the hall from her partner in crime. She directly works with the R&I department (New Jersey), formulating and testing cosmetic brands manufactured in the US.

Tyler Rhoades

Education:

COSHP Salutatorian (2020) 
BA Physics, BS Math Honors (Cleveland State University – 2020) 
MS Math (Cleveland State University – 2021)

Experience:

Currently: Data Analyst 
Cleveland Clinic Foundation – Cleveland, OH

In his own words: I have grown up in Northeast Ohio the entirety of my life, both living in and often visiting Cleveland. While completing my 4+1 in mathematics, I was able to complete a bachelor’s degree in Physics, initiate a cross-disciplinary senior project, and publish a research paper. The published paper focused on microfluidic mixing devices which have been utilized to increase the efficiency and efficacy of research within the fields of biology and chemistry. The capstone project enabled me to pursue my interest in image processing through its application to historic paintings. By doing so, I was able to find a passion of mine, and as a graduate student, I have continued learning about image processing techniques to eventually be employed in either the field of medicine or art following the completion of my master’s degree in Mathematics.

Lee Candiff

Education:

BA Physics (Cleveland State University – 2023)

Experience:

Currently: Explosives Engineer, 
Science Applications International   Corporation – Cleveland, OH 

Amanda Beach

Education:

BA Physics (Cleveland State University – 2009)

Experience:

Currently: Technical sales and Service Rep, 
Columbia Chemical – Chicago IL

Brian Bellisario

Education:

BS Physics (Cleveland State University – 2013) 
MS Physics (Cleveland State University – 2015)

Experience:

Currently: Engineering Supervisor, 
ZIN Technologies – Middleburg Hts, OH

Matthew Wancata

Education:

BA Physics (Cleveland State University – 2013) 
BS Electronic Eng  (Cleveland State University – 2013)

Experience:

Currently: Optical Engineer, 
Soraa – Independence, OH

Christian Gunder

Education:

BS Chemical Engineering (Cleveland State University – 2017)

Minor Physics (Cleveland State University – 2017)

Experience:

Currently: fermentation technology lead, Cargil – Eddyville, KY

Kaitlin Vandemark

Education:

BS Physics Honors (Cleveland State University – 2013)

BA Communication (Cleveland State University – 2013)

MBA, Lake Erie College, 2019

Experience:

Currently: CAPEX and Indirect Category Manager,

North American Transformer, Youngstown OH

CSU SPS Chapter VP (2010 – 2012);

CSU SPS Chapter President (2012 – 2013)

NSF sponsored research at University of Munich, 2012

Why CSU Physics?

“CSU Physics provides you with the opportunities to be your very best”

Current Occupation

“I started as a co-op with ABB as a Proposal Engineer in the Industrial Automation Power Generation market. I was offered a full time position in Proposals after graduation.  In 2018, I started my new role as a Key Account Manager, where I act as the conduit between the customer and the many ABB factories.”

Anthony Dobrila

Education:

BS Physics Honors (Cleveland State University – 2018)

Experience:

Currently: Data Engineer, 
Marathon Petroleum – Findlay, OH

Why CSU Physics?

“I chose CSU physics because of the amazingly talented staff and their incredible passion for teaching me and my peers how to be successful and driven intellectuals. CSU Physics taught me how to think on a level no other major or department could rival.”

Current Occupation

“As a software developer, I am constantly using the critical thinking skills I obtained while in the CSU’s physics program. I primarily design, develop, and deliver complex software solutions to customers in the Oil & Gas industries by leveraging multi-platform technologies for data storage, data analytics, and predictive modelling. I would not have been able to do this without the lessons and skills I learned from CSU Physics department.”

Dan Terrano

Education:

BS Physics (Cleveland State University – 2018) 
BS Chemistry (Cleveland State University – 2018)

Experience:

Currently: Research and Development Chemist, Permatex – Solon OH 
CSU SPS Chapter Treasurer (2015 – 2017) 
CSU SPS Chapter President (2017 – 2018)

Why CSU Physics? Dan worked on multiple research projects as an undergraduate. He directly worked on studying and modelling the properties of elastin-like polypeptides and anisotropic gold nanorods and developing a heating stage and imaging techniques to be used for studying soft matter on a Scanning Electron Microscope. Dan presented his research at multiple national conferences and received a poster award in 2016 at the Quadrennial Physics Congress.

Current Occupation: Dan is working as a senior raw material chemist at Cosmax USA with his partner in crime, Ilona, continuing the beauty and the beard saga.

Samantha Tietjen

Education:

BS Physics Honors (Cleveland State University – 2021) 
MS Physics (Cleveland State University – 2020)

Experience:

Currently: Barn Manager & Lesson Instructor, Lilac Thyme Stables 
SPS Outreach Coordinator 2017-2019 
SPS President 2019-present 
NSF’s REU student at CSU (2019) 
2019 SPS Leadership Scholarship

In her own words: Originally applied to college as a Studio Arts major with the intention of completing a degree in Scientific Illustration, but she so thoroughly enjoyed her high school physics that she decided to do a last-minute degree switch and have enjoyed every resulting moment of the decision. At CSU, she has been involved with SPS as Outreach Coordinator and Chapter President. SPS has allowed her to take on leadership opportunities through physics in ways she previously never would have considered. SPS involvement helped to pave the way for her student research. She studies soft matter systems using Dynamic Light Scattering and Scanning Electron Microscopy. She published a peer-review abstract and working a manuscript.

Michael Georgalis

Education:

BS Physics (Cleveland State University – 2006) 
MBA 2016

Experience:

Currently: Physicist, Application Eng Group 
TMC Vibration Control – Peabody, MA

Ngozi Williams

Education:

BA Physics (Cleveland State University – 2021) 
BE Civil Engineering (Cleveland State University – 2021)

Experience:

Currently: Development Associate, Silver Hills 
Research Associate, Mitsui Collective –   Cleveland, OH 
CSU SPS Outreach Crew

Patrick Herron

Education:

BA Physics (Cleveland State University – 2023) 
MS Physics (Cleveland State University – 2024)

Experience:

Currently: Research & Development Scientist, 
Oakwood Labs, Solon OH 
CSU SPS Secretary 2021-22; 
CSU SPS President 2022-24; SPS Outreach Coordinator 2022-24

In his own words: I came to CSU in the fall of 2020 to complete my B.S in physics. I have served as the CSU SPS chapter secretary, president, and outreach coordinator. I performed research in the light scattering lab with Dr. S, which served to spark my curiosity in optics. I have also worked as an undergraduate and graduate TA for the introductory physics labs. It really feels like I have done a little bit of everything in my time here. Throughout my time at CSU, I have made so many connections with mentors and friends that I will keep with me as I transition into the next phase of my life. My trips to two March Meetings (2021 and 2022) as well as Physcon 2022 are experiences that I will cherish, and they gave me the opportunity to spend time with some of my classmates who I now consider lifelong friends.

Jordan Miller

Education:

BA Physics (Cleveland State University – 2023) 
MS Physics (Cleveland State University – 2024)

Experience:

Currently: Research & Development Scientist 
Energizer Holdings Inc., Lakewood, OH 
CSU SPS Treasurer 2021-23 
SPS Vice President 2023-24; SPS Outreach Core 2021-24

In her own words: I came to Cleveland State University in the fall of 2020 to pursue a master’s in physics through the Physics 4+1 Program. During these past several years, I have had the chance to be involved with the department in ways that have truly helped me grow as a scientist. I was asked to be a lab TA after my first year at CSU and since then teaching has always been my favorite part of the week. I have been an officer of our Society of Physics Students (SPS) chapter since 2021. I have also conducted research with Dr. Jessica Bickel since 2022 in her scanning tunneling microscopy lab. My time in her lab helped me to realize that research and lab work is one of my passions and was vital to the success of my “post-graduation transition”.