MIT’s Space Propulsion Lab for the Chronicle of Higher Education

September 23, 2014

Seen here in the Space Propulsion Laboratory near a large vacuum tank, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics Ph.D. candidates Natalya Brikner and Louis Perna (light shirt) have been working on the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The device is used to maneuver a 10cm cubic satellite in space. Brikner and Perna have formed a company, Accion Systems Incorporated, to commercialize the research. Brikner, graduating in Winter 2014, is CEO of the company, and Perna is co-founder. The research at MIT was done under Space Propulsion Lab director Paulo Lozano, professor in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Aeronautics and Astronautics Ph.D. candidate Louis Perna is seen here in the clean room of the Technology Research Laboratory in the Microsystems Technology Laboratory at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Perna is reflected in a silicon wafer from which he creates both the extractor grid and emitter chip frame for the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats project at MIT. One side has a purple hue due to 300 nanometers of oxide grown on the wafer. Researchers in the cleanroom have to wear a bunny suit or clean room suit while working to prevent contamination. Perna works on silicon MEMS fabrication and packaging in the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats project at MIT. The iEPS device is used to maneuver a 10cm cubic satellite in space. Two Ph.D. candidates working on the project, Natalya Brikner and Louis Perna have formed a company, Accion Systems Incorporated, to commercialize the research. Brikner, graduating in Winter 2014, is CEO of the company, and Perna is co-founder.

Dr. Paulo Lozano is the director of the Space Propulsion Laboratory in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. One of the projects developed by the lab is the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats. The device is used to maneuver a 10cm cubic satellite in space. Ph.D. candidates and researchers in the lab Natalya Brikner and Louis Perna have formed a company, Accion Systems Incorporated, to commercialize the research. Brikner, graduating in Winter 2014, is CEO of the company, and Perna is co-founder. The research at MIT was done under Space Propulsion Lab director Paulo Lozano, professor in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Seen here in the Space Propulsion Laboratory, lab director Dr. Paulo Lozano (right), and Ph.D. candidates Natalya Brikner and Louis Perna (left) have been working on the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The device is used to maneuver a 10cm cubic satellite in space. Brikner and Perna have formed a company, Accion Systems Incorporated, to commercialize the research. Brikner, graduating in Winter 2014, is CEO of the company, and Perna is co-founder. The research at MIT was done under Space Propulsion Lab director Paulo Lozano, professor in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Aeronautics and Astronautics Ph.D. candidate Louis Perna is seen here in the clean room of the Technology Research Laboratory in the Microsystems Technology Laboratory at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Perna is putting on an additional apron and other personal protective equipment that is used to protect researchers from corrosive chemicals used in the lab. Researchers in the cleanroom have to wear a bunny suit or clean room suit while working to prevent contamination. Perna works on silicon MEMS fabrication and packaging in the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats project at MIT. The iEPS device is used to maneuver a 10cm cubic satellite in space. Two Ph.D. candidates working on the project, Natalya Brikner and Louis Perna have formed a company, Accion Systems Incorporated, to commercialize the research. Brikner, graduating in Winter 2014, is CEO of the company, and Perna is co-founder.

Seen here in the Space Propulsion Laboratory, Aeronautics and Astronautics Ph.D. candidate Natalya Brikner has been working on the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The device is used to maneuver a 10cm cubic satellite in space. Brikner, alongside fellow Ph.D. candidate Louis Perna, has formed a company, Accion Systems Incorporated, to commercialize the research. Brikner, graduating in Winter 2014, is CEO of the company, and Perna is co-founder. The research at MIT was done under Space Propulsion Lab director Paulo Lozano, professor in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Seen here in the Space Propulsion Laboratory, lab director Dr. Paulo Lozano (center), and Ph.D. candidates Natalya Brikner and Louis Perna (left) have been working on the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The device is used to maneuver a 10cm cubic satellite in space. Brikner and Perna have formed a company, Accion Systems Incorporated, to commercialize the research. Brikner, graduating in Winter 2014, is CEO of the company, and Perna is co-founder. The research at MIT was done under Space Propulsion Lab director Paulo Lozano, professor in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

The ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats is made by MIT's Space Propulsion Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The device, shown here next to a US quarter for scale, is used to maneuver a 10cm cubic satellite in space. The Space Propulsion Lab is directed by Dr. Paulo Lozano, professor in MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Two Ph.D. candidates working on the project, Natalya Brikner and Louis Perna have formed a company, Accion Systems Incorporated, to commercialize the research. Brikner, graduating in Winter 2014, is CEO of the company, and Perna is co-founder.

A couple weeks ago I had a short time in MIT's Space Propulsion Lab photographing some of the team behind the ion Electrospray Propulsion System (iEPS) for CubeSats. I'd photographed the group previously before for MIT News, but this time the focus was on two graduate students who are working to commercialize the technology with a new company called Accion Systems Incorporated. This time I got to peek inside a cleanroom where some of the components are manufactured from silicon wafers. It was a difficult shooting environment; only a couple of pieces of equipment could be brought in, and I was wearing a full "bunny suit" which doesn't have much in the way of ventilation.

The Chronicle story is available to read here, and you can see more pictures in my archive.

Portraits of MIT workers for Labor Day spotlight

September 9, 2014

Raul Ortiz is a custodian in MIT's Department of Facilities. He is seen here on MIT's campus, where he has worked for 16 years.

Varin Ang is a Senior Project Manager in MIT's Department of Facilities. She has worked at MIT for 8 years. She is currently overseeing a project in this building, MIT Building 46, installing a sculpture above a lobby and staircase. Ang is a licensed architect, but since coming to MIT has focused more on project management.

Denise Guillette is a Construction Safety Engineer with MIT's Campus Engineering and Construction. She is seen on the scaffolding surrounding facade work on MIT's Building W31, the Du Pont Athletic Gym.

Juan Hernandez is a third shift supervisor in MIT's Department of Facilities' Custodial Services. He is seen in the Custodial Services office in Building 10 on MIT's Campus, where he has worked for a little more than a year.

Sogna Scott is an Administrative Assistant II in MIT's Department of Facilities, where she helps oversee the departments 30 employees. Sogna is seen here on MIT's campus in Department of Facilities equipment storage areas.

Sharon Clute is a Locksmith in MIT's Maintenance and Utilities. Clute is seen here on MIT's campus the lock shop in Building E19.

Albert Gray is a mover in MIT's Department of Facilities specializing in recycling. Gray is seen here on MIT's campus near a loading dock between Buildings 7 and 11.

A few weeks back, I had a seven-part portrait series for MIT's News Office highlighting workers around campus. The creative director identified a number of subjects for the piece and then brainstormed locations that would highlight both the subjects' personalities and their jobs. Seven images ran as the homepage of MIT.edu over Labor Day weekend. You can see how one of the images looked in MIT's front page archive.

Recent work for the Wall Street Journal: Keurig, law schools, and women in the workplace

September 8, 2014

Kimberly Steimle Vaughan is the Chief Marketing and People Officer at Suffolk Construction in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She's photographed here at the company's national headquarters in Boston on Mon., June 30, 2014.

Brian Kelley is Chief Executive of Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. He is photographed here in the company's Massachusetts hub offices in Burlington, Massachusetts, on Wed,. Aug. 20, 2014, the week before the release of their new brewing machine Keurig 2.0. The machines here are used to manufacture Keurig cups (or K-Cups) in the lab.

Chaloea Williams graduated from Boston University's Law School in May 2014 and got a job at the law firm WilmerHale as a first year associate in the litigation department. She is seen here on the campus of Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, on Friday, June 20, 2014.

Sarah Damerville graduated from Boston University's Law School in May 2014 and got a job at the law firm Weil, Gotshal and Manges as a first year associate. She is seen here on the campus of Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, on Friday, June 20, 2014.

It's been a busy few months of travel, but I managed to squeeze in a handful of portrait assignments for the Wall Street Journal. The topics have been varied, but the one thing these shoots had in common was extremely short time to work with the subjects. Recent assignments, seen above, included portraits of Keurig Green Mountain CEO Brian Kelley for a story about a new brewing machine developed by the company, Suffolk Construction Chief Marketing and People Officer Kimberly Steimle Vaughan for a story about gender pay equity, and recent Boston University law school grads Chaloea Williams and Sarah Damerville for a story about big law firms increasing hiring rates.

Thanks as always to Parker and the rest of the team for calling me on these shoots.

St. Peter’s Fiesta in Gloucester, MA

July 10, 2014

The winner of the Greasy Pole Contest celebrates and carries the flag as he returns to shore during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA. The contest has been held since 1931 and involves participants running along a greased horizontal pole over Gloucester Harbor.

Competitors participate in the Greasy Pole Contest during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People watch as confetti is shot into the air during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People watch as the Fiesta Queen passes by in the Sunday procession during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Groups of men carry religious statues and icons, including Saint Peter and Mary, through the streets of Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA, as part of a procession and parade during St. Peter's Fiesta.

Bishop Arthur Kennedy of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston leads the Blessing of the Fleet near Gloucester Harbor during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Pictures of former Greasy Pole Contest winners hang on a wall on Commercial Street in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA. The contest began in 1931.

Children hold decorated oars at the edge of the Sunday Procession during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Men collect donations and attach them to religious statues in the Sunday Procession during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Spectators gather on the beach to watch Siene boat races and the Greasy Pole Contest at St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People drink alcohol on a porch during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Marching bands wait for the start of the Sunday Procession at St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People fill balloons and make balloon arches for the Sunday procession during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

People call out blessings and celebrations to various saints with chants such as "Viva San Pietro" during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Crosses and crucifixes are visible in St. Peter's Square during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Children walk along a funhouse bridge as people walk through the carnival area during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Men take a statue of St. Peter down at the end of the day during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

A rootbeer and lemonade stand was in the midway at the carnival during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

A carnival worker lays on the ground between trucks and trailers at the carnival of St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Spectators gather on the beach to watch Siene boat races and the Greasy Pole Contest at St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Groups of men carry religious statues and icons, including Saint Peter and Mary, through the streets of Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA, as part of a procession and parade during St. Peter's Fiesta.

A man gets ready to play a carnival baseball game during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

Participants celebrate after winning the Siene Boat race during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA.

I'm a sucker for small-town community events. I'm drawn in by the display of local pride and little unique touches that differentiate these festivals, parades, and other public gatherings. Gloucester's St. Peter's Fiesta has been on my radar since moving to Boston, but this is the first year I made it up to witness the religious processions, carnivals, and greasy pole contests. I tried something a little different with this one, going for a very saturated and colorful look in the pictures. More images are available in my archive: St. Peter's Fiesta 2014 - Gloucester, Massachusetts

Working Dads for the Wall Street Journal

July 3, 2014

Fred Bermont, daughter Elyse Bermont (age 2.5, right) and son Dylan Bermont (age 9 months) pose for a portrait before he drops the kids off at day-care in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont plays with daughter Elyse Bermont (in tent, not pictured, age 2.5) and son Dylan Bermont (age 9 months) in their home in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work and drops the kids off at day-care on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont drives his children Elyse Bermont (age 2.5, rear) and Dylan Bermont (age 9 months, not pictured) to day-care in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont and daughter Elyse Bermont (age 2.5) watch Sesame Street in their home in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work and drops the kids off at day-care on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont plays with daughter Elyse Bermont (left, age 2.5) and son Dylan Bermont (age 9 months) in their home in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work and drops the kids off at day-care on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont plays with daughter Elyse Bermont (age 2.5) and son Dylan Bermont (age 9 months) in their home in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work and drops the kids off at day-care on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont dresses son Dylan Bermont (age 9 months) while daughter Elyse Bermont (left, age 2.5) plays in a tent in their home in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work and drops the kids off at day-care on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont kisses wife Jen Bermont before she leaves for work while holding son Dylan Bermont (age 9 months) in their home in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont holds son Dylan Bermont (age 9 months) as he drops the kids off at day-care in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company, in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon.

Fred Bermont and daughter Elyse Bermont (age 2.5, right) eat before he drops the kids off at day-care in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, before he goes to work on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

Fred Bermont gets ready for work at his home in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA, on June 9, 2014. Bermont is the father of two children and shares parenting duties with his wife, Jen Bermont. Fred usually takes care of the morning routine, including feeding, dressing, and dropping the kids off at day-care, and Jen picks them up and watches over them in the afternoon. Fred is a Senior Clinical Standards Specialist at Shire, a pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Lexington.

For a Wall Street Journal story published in advance of Father's Day, I photographed Fred Bermont and his family during their morning routine in Lexington, Massachusetts. The story focused on dads taking over their share of parenting duties. Fred, in this case, takes care of breakfast, getting the kids ready for the day, and taking them to daycare before he goes to work.

These are the kind of assignments I really like (though I would've liked a start time later than 6:15am!) because I could just be a fly on the wall documenting this family's story. Thanks again to Parker at the WSJ for the great assignment.

Here's the slideshow that the Journal ran, and here's BagNewsNotes' take on the pictures and story.

Landscapes from Tully Lake near Royalston, Massachusetts

June 13, 2014

A view of Tully Lake at Tully Lake Campground near Royalston, Massachusetts, USA.

Wild mushrooms grow at Tully Lake Campground near Royalston, Massachusetts, USA.

A view of Tully Lake at Tully Lake Campground near Royalston, Massachusetts, USA.

Branches from a downed log poke up from Tully Lake at Tully Lake Campground near Royalston, Massachusetts, USA.

A view of Tully Lake at Tully Lake Campground near Royalston, Massachusetts, USA.

Branches from a downed log poke up from Tully Lake at Tully Lake Campground near Royalston, Massachusetts, USA.

A night view of Tully Lake at Tully Lake Campground near Royalston, Massachusetts, USA.

With summer comes camping and I spent a weekend at Tully Lake near Royalston, Massachusetts, earlier this month. These are a few of the landscapes I took from the lakeside tent spot I happened to get and while canoeing on the lake.

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