About Me
Hi! I'm Nathan Schaff, an Aerospace Engineering PhD Student and SMART Scholar with the US Navy. I currently live in New Smyrna Beach and I attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I have lived all over the world including Australia, India, the UAE, Indonesia and Kuwait. I am an avid player of the Scottish Smallpipes and I am a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver as well as a certified Private Pilot with Tail-dragger, Complex and High Performance endorsements.
EDUCATION
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PhD: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Graduating: Dec 2025
Pursuing PhD in Aerospace Engineering (Dynamics and Control Option)
GPA: 4.0
Master's Degree: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Graduated: Dec 2023
Received an Aerospace Engineering Degree (Dynamic and Control Option) With Distinction. GPA: 4.0. Thesis title:
Online Aircraft System Identification Using a Novel Parameter Informed Reinforcement Learning Method
Undergraduate: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Graduated: May 2022
Received an Aerospace Engineering Degree (Aeronautics Option) Summa Cum Laude. GPA: 3.90 and have been placed on the Dean's List for Outstanding Scholarship and Accomplishment for all semesters. Member of the ERAU Honors Society. Received Presidential Scholarship for all semesters.
High School: Scotch College, Perth
Graduated: Dec 2017
Obtained my IB Diploma with a score of 38. Classes were: Physics HL, Math HL, Music HL, Economics SL, Literature SL, Spanish ab initio
WORK EXPERIENCE
Department of Defense SMART Scholar
May 2024 - Current
Current working as a SMART Scholar for the United States Navy. Sponsored by the US Naval Surface Warfar Center - Panama City
AE413 Graduate Teaching Assistant (GAANN Fellow)
Jan 2024 - May 2024
Worked as a graduate teaching assistant for AE413 - Aircraft Stability and Control
AE432 Graduate Teaching Assistant (GAANN Fellow)
Aug 2022 - Dec 2023
Worked as a graduate teaching assistant for AE432 - Flight Dynamics and Controls
Research Assistant for ASSURE "Investigate Detect and Avoid Track Classification and Filtering" FAA Research Project:
Jan 2022 - Sept 2022
Assisted in conducting literature reviews regarding new and existing UAS collision avoidance software.
NASA Langley Intern (ASAB)
Aug 2021
Hand-wrote software that can automatically trim any conceptual design aircraft in horizontal flight conditions in 10-30 minutes. Human alternative would require around 1-3 days. Program was written in Python 3.6 and OpenVSP, using VSPAero for Aerodynamics Analysis. Additionally, wrote manual for program including sections on operations, troubleshooting, and capabilities
Embry-Riddle Tutoring Lab - MATLAB Tutor
Sept 2019 - March 2020
Worked as a tutor for the program MATLAB. As a tutor, I supported students in both learning MATLAB and learning how programming languages work in general. I also helped students better their critical thinking and problem-solving skills in an engineering context.
PROJECT AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Scitech 2024 - Online Aircraft System Identification using Parameter Informed Reinforcement Learning
Jan 2024
AIAA Published Conference Paper pertaining to the use of Parameter Informed Reinforcement Learning (PIRL) for system identification of fixed wing aircraft.
Master's Thesis - Online Aircraft System Identification Using a Novel Parameter Informed Reinforcement Learning Method
Dec 2023
Thesis presents development and analysis of a novel method for training reinforcement learning neural networks for online aircraft system identification of multiple similar linear systems, such as all fixed wing aircraft.
BARRY (Double Inverted Pendulum Genetic Network)
Jan 2022 - May 2022
Developed Genetic Network that balanced a double inverted pendulum. Network weights were encoded into genome which was optimized through the genetic algorithm method.
Genetic Algorithm Based Adaptive Flight Controller
Jan 2022 - May 2022
Working to design an adaptive flight controller for aircraft longitudinal stability that is based solely or partially in genetic algorithms. Developed prototype software that uses genetic algorithms to balance an inverted pendulum.
Preliminary Design of a Combat Air Patrol Fighter
Sept 2021 - Dec 2021
Developed a concept for a combat air patrol fighter that used high aspect ratio composite wings to allow for efficient cruise and combat maneuverability. This enabled the aircraft to weigh 50-60% of existing aircraft.
Randomized Mesh Linear Interpolation (RMLI) Algorithm
Sept 2020 - Dec 2020
Developed a python program that can find the ideal 4 digit NACA airfoil 20 times faster than exhaustive search. Program was able to, on average, find an airfoil that could achieve 97% of the maximum possible Lift/Drag Ratio in only 18 minutes as opposed to the 8 hours it would take to find it with exhaustive search.
Download here (with manual):
https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/7c581f4d-d88f-4e21-92ae-ab22d40330e5/RMLI OPT.zip?id=3349642
Gravity Assist Trans-Saturn Injection (GATSI) Optimizer
Sept 2020 - Dec 2020
Developed program that uses numerical methods to find optimum launch windows for interplanetary probe missions to Saturn/Titan. Probe arrives at Saturn exclusively through use of one small burn from Earth and slingshots around the other planets
Download here (with manual):
https://uploads.strikinglycdn.com/files/053acc21-55c8-4640-9c5a-8a11e385b58b/GATSI.zip?id=3350286
Project Echo
Jan 2020 - Sept 2022
Directed spark-funded team investigating effectiveness of phased-array, inverse triangulation, and spiral signal acoustic navigation systems. Project supervised by Dr. Stefani Mancas.
https://commons.erau.edu/discovery-day/db-discovery-day-2021/oral-presentations/2/
Project Nautilus: Navigation Team
Jan 2019 - May 2020
Worked as team lead with the goal of better understanding and designing an experimental underwater navigation system. The system would use inverse triangulation to locate an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) through sonar pings from a central hub/buoy
Evergreen AI
Sept 2018 - Aug 2021
Developed an artificial intelligence informed stock trading system. Programming utilizes the TensorFlow python library and LSTM neural networks for prediction
Mars' Moons Mission
Mar 2018 - May 2018
As part of ERAU Honor's program, conducted feasibility investigation into a potential unmanned mission to Mars' moons using an orbital relay around Mars and two small lander/satellites that would land on Phobos and Deimos
Inclination Change via Elliptical Orbits Investigation
Jan 2017 - May 2017
Investigated the effectiveness of increasing a spacecraft's orbital apogee in order to exploit the negative relationship between velocity and altitude such that an inclination changing burn would require less fuel/delta v
Periapsis Reduction Efficiency from Interplanetary Trajectories Investigation
Jan 2017 - May 2017
Investigated relationships behind interplanetary orbits to develop equation for maximum aerobraking efficiency of spacecraft returning from interplanetary missions
Service Advocacy Project
Jan 2015 - Dec 2015
Worked with Akram Azimi (2013 Young Australian of the Year) as an advocate for education-based approaches to reduce the rates of open-defecation in developing countries. Spoke at the Global Health Conference 2015 as well as some radio-work.
SKILLS
Matlab
Used to develop AI/dynamics and control algorithms
Simulink
Used to develop AI/dynamics and control algorithms
Python
Used to develop AI/GenNet algorithms for dynamics and control applications
Artificial Intelligence
Experienced in implementing neural networks, reinforcement learning, deep learning, genetic algorithms, and genetic networks
Latex
Used Latex for a variety of papers including thesis
TensorFlow/Keras/pyGAD
Used to develop AI algorithms for Dynamics and Control applications
CATIA v5
Used to model and design Combat Air Patrol prototype aircraft for class assignment. See Preliminary Design of a Combat Air Patrol Fighter for more information
OpenVSP
Used for evaluation of Urban Air Mobility and Regional Air Mobility designs while working as an intern at NASA Langley. See NASA Langley Intern (ASAB) for more information
Research/Indepentent Research
Can work independently on research tasks with minimal assistance/support
Technical/Academic Writing
Author of published research including a paper for Scitech and a Master's Thesis
Private Pilot's License
With Tailwheel, Complex and High Performance Endorsements
Advanced Open Water Diver
Obtained Open Water Certification at 12 and completed Advanced Rating at 14
Microsoft Office 365
Completed several projects making prodigious use of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneDrive, OneNote, Sharepoint and Teams
HOBBIES/INTERESTS
Playing the Bagpipes/Smallpipes
Games
Flying
Classic/Retro Cars
Reading with my Cats and Dog
Travel
- Contact
If you have any related questions, please send me a message.
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