Patrick Ferrell

Patrick Ferrell has a diverse work experience spanning over several industries and roles. Patrick began their career as a Research Intern at the Superconducting Super Collider National Laboratory in 1992 and 1993, where they designed and performed energy measurements using various techniques, earning recognition from the American Physical Society.

Patrick then joined Ultratech, Inc. in 1995 as a Mechanical Design Engineer, where they designed precision mechanisms and fixtures that improved motor platen flatness and wafer chuck rotation stability. Patrick later became a Systems Engineer, leading a team to reduce thermally-induced image distortion in microlithography machines and contributing to wafer alignment and registration improvements.

After their time at Ultratech, Inc., Patrick Ferrell worked at Sierra Applied Sciences as a Staff Scientist & Engineering Manager from 1998 to 2005. Patrick'sresponsibilities included redesigning and equipping a high-vacuum research and development laboratory, as well as developing a computer interface between machining tools and sensors for automated magnetic field mapping, greatly reducing testing time and integrating it with finite-difference modeling.

In 2013, Patrick Ferrell became the Owner/Operator of Garden & Grove, where they offered organic landscape and horticultural management services. Patrick maintained certifications in organic vegetable and orchard maintenance, ornamental arboriculture, and Integrated Pest Control.

From 2014 to 2017, Patrick Ferrell served as the Innovation Lab Trainer at the Harris County Public Library, managing the Jocelyn H. Lee Innovation Lab. Patrick then transitioned to the role of Maker Programming Specialist from 2017 to 2018, where they developed and promoted Maker and STEM programming throughout the library system and led digital fabrication classes.

Patrick Ferrell also had a role as an Adjunct Team Member - Congregational Life Staff at the Unitarian Universalist Association from 2018 to 2020.

Since 2020, Patrick Ferrell has been involved with re:3D Inc as a Senior Engineer, where they have been developing technology to adapt large-format 3D printers to use high-performance polymer pellets as feedstock for additive manufacturing. Patrick has also collaborated with material scientists at the University of Tennessee on projects involving additive manufacturing solutions for spacecraft ablative heatshield applications and investigating on-orbit waste stream recycling for lunar and deep space missions.

Additionally, in 2020, Patrick Ferrell worked as an R&D Engineering Consultant for Mesquital, where they evaluated the potential of adapting a SNUBA product as an emergency ventilator for COVID-19 patients, which led to the device becoming a Top 5 Finalist in the U.S.

Patrick Ferrell has a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Patrick also holds another Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Physics from the same university. In terms of additional certifications, they have completed the "Additive Manufacturing for Innovative Design and Production" course at MIT xPRO in August 2022. Patrick obtained the "Makey Makey Certified Educator" certification from Makey Makey in July 2017. Additionally, in December 2016, they became a "Raspberry Pi Certified Educator" through the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Lastly, in August 2016, they completed the "Tinkering Fundamentals: A Constructionist Approach to STEM Learning" course on Coursera.