WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Andrew Nix is an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at West Virginia University, with degrees from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (BS 1995) and Virginia Tech (MS 1997 and PhD 2003).

He is the lead faculty advisor of the WVU EcoCAR EV Challenge team. Dr. Nix has led the EcoCAR team through EcoCAR 3 and the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge from 2014-2022.

His expertise includes over 25 years in gas turbine engine design and durability research and development, primarily focused on turbine and combustor heat transfer and cooling as well as advanced pressure gain combustion research. He also has performed research in internal combustion engines for heavy-duty and off-road applications since joining WVU in 2006. 

Since 2014, he has led the EcoCAR team in competition deliverables and vehicle competition events, and has worked with EcoCAR graduate students in modeling and vehicle testing focused on improvement of hybrid electric vehicle energy efficiency.

Brian Woerner is the WVU EcoCAR team Connected Automated Vehicle Systems advisor. He is a professor in the Lane Department of Computer Science & Electrical Engineering at WVU.

Dr. Woerner has over 30 years of experience teaching and conducting research in the areas of wireless communications, networking and security. He has worked with EcoCAR for the past three years and enjoys the satisfaction students get from implementing and testing autonomous vehicle functionality for their capstone projects.

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Juan Pablo is from Mexico City, Mexico and joined the West Virginia University EcoCAR team in the fall of 2022.

He received his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, West Virginia. He is currently pursuing his master’s in business administration. His favorite part of EcoCAR is being a part of a competition that is recognized throughout the United States and allows for experience, networking and the opportunity to gain new responsibility.

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Kaycee Kiser is from Parkersburg, West Virginia. She received her bachelor’s of science in journalism from West Virginia University, and is currently working towards her master’s degree in the same subject.

She joined EcoCAR in the spring of 2022 as the communications manager. Her favorite part of EcoCAR is getting to learn about the aspects of engineering while getting hands-on experience for her career after graduation.

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Morgan Bartley graduated in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in software engineering.

She was born and raised in Martinsburg, West Virginia and has been on the EcoCAR team for around a year.  She started in undergrad, working on the Connected and Automated Vehicles team for her capstone, and is excited to be able to continue working with the team now as the DEI manager. Her favorite part of EcoCAR is getting to work with like-minded individuals on a project that she is  very passionate about.

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Colin Kellett is from Neptune, New Jersey. He received his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and is now pursuing a master’s degree in the same field while currently working as the Systems, Design, & Integration lead on EcoCAR.

He joined EcoCAR in Year 1 of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, and was appointed as the engineering manager in Year 4 of the competition. His favorite part about EcoCAR is being able to gain experience in multiple areas of the engineering design process and test and calibrate systems he designed.

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Dawson Dunnuck is from Brown County, Indiana. He joined the West Virginia University EcoCAR team in the fall of 2021. He graduated from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and is currently in his second year of getting his master’s in mechanical engineering at WVU.

His favorite part of EcoCAR is how team members can learn industry-applicable skills that are not available to the average student. He says it’s reassuring to know that the skills he is learning now will apply to almost any future job.

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Holden Fraser is from Clarksburg, West Virginia. He received his bachelor's degree from West Virginia University in electrical engineering with an emphasis in control systems, and is currently working towards his master’s degree in electrical engineering.

He joined EcoCAR and the Propulsion Controls and Modeling team for his senior capstone project and has been a part of the PCM team ever since. His favorite part about EcoCAR is getting to work with a team to develop control algorithms that were implemented in a vehicle that is currently on-road certified.

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Jared Diethorn is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering at WVU, and is now pursuing a doctorate in the same subject while working on EcoCAR.

He joined EcoCAR in the second year of the Mobility Challenge as a graduate student managing the Propulsion Controls and Modeling swim lane. In Year 4, he transitioned to the Connected and Automated Vehicle systems swimlane to lead students in the development of adaptive cruise control systems.

His favorite part of the EcoCAR project is developing algorithms to autonomously control the vehicle and testing in the vehicle on closed courses.

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Zachary Flanigan is from New Cumberland, West Virginia. He received his bachelor’s in electrical engineering at WVU and is now pursuing a master’s in the same subject while working on EcoCAR.

He joined EcoCAR as an undergraduate where he was a part of the Propulsion Controls and Modeling swimlane in Year 3 of the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. In Year 4, he was appointed as the GRA working on the Connected and Automated Vehicles swimlane. His favorite part about EcoCAR is developing algorithms that detect objects and working with V2X technology.