1. Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research
Af f iliated Academic Units:
Department of Space Science
CH/ NSSTC
320 Sparkman Driv e
Huntsv ille, Alabama 35805
Phone: (256) 961-7403
Fax: (256) 961-7730
http://cspar.uah.edu
April 22, 2014
D. Stephen Pierre Jr., P.E.
Tau Beta Pi Scholarships
P.O. Box 2697
Knoxville, TN 37901-2697
Dear D. Stephen Pierre Jr.
This letter is in support of Jurgen A. Sawatzki Chaw’s application for a Tau Beta Pi
Scholarship.
Currently I am a research engineer at the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research at the
University of Alabama in Huntsville. My field of work includes design of front-end electronics for
solid state detectors for balloon born and space instrumentations. I designed charged particle
detectors based on large area silicon matrixes for astrophysics research. In present time we work
on active project to design of the ground light source, which will be used to calibrate orbital
telescope of the Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO).
In March 2014 Jurgen was hired as Student Specialist Level III to work in our astrophysics
group. One of tasks that he was working on was mechanical and electrical design of the instrument
containing programmable calibration light source based on Xenon lamp and high power ultraviolet
light emitting diode. The instrument that he designed was successfully used for calibration of one
telescope module during precursor Balloon-EUSO test flight in Timmins, Canada. Telescope
module was flown on the high altitude balloon, and calibration light source was operating from the
helicopter flying under the balloon.
Jurgen took a leading role in mechanical design of the light source module and
professionally performed this job in extremely tight time schedule. He showed perfect knowledge
of Pro-E mechanical design software, basic electrical fundamentals. In addition to creating of
design documentation Jurgen expressed brilliant initiative and supported manufacturing process
from choosing of materials and communicating with machinist to assembling and testing of the
instrument. He also showed good experience in developing of software applications and crated
virtual control panel for operating of calibration light source. His work was really critical
contribution to this small project.
Working on a second project “Trapped and Energetic Solar Particle Spectrometer” Jurgen
was evaluating an alternative types of photodetectors to investigate a possibility of upgrading of
existing instrument. He showed himself as fast learning, very well organized and very interested in
advanced electronics development.
In addition Jurgen A. Sawatzki Chaw is a most pleasant personality: open to help and
discuss problems, patient and friendly. It is a real pleasure to work with him.
Sincerely,
Evgeny N. Kuznetsov
Research Engineer III
CSPAR / University of Alabama in Huntsville