Mechanical Engineering
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Dr. Ryan Falkenstein-Smith is a Mechanical Engineer in the Firefighting Technology Group of the Fire Research Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Syracuse University in 2017, following his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the same institution in 2013. As the leader of the Smart Fire Fighting Project, Dr. Falkenstein-Smith's research centers on developing measurement science and technology to improve situational awareness, operational effectiveness, and firefighter safety. This work includes engineering innovative sensor and data processing technology, such as gas extractive devices for predicting backdrafts and non-invasive analytical tools. His efforts also focus on improving chemical analysis capabilities within the Fire Research Division to identify and quantify various compounds in smoke.
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