“Meet the MARS Challenge!”
2017 - JUDGES PANEL
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Ms. Beckwith is a Materials and Processes Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in
Pasadena, CA.
She is currently the Materials and Processes, Contamination Control, and Planetary Protection team lead
for a Mars-based technology demonstration.
Katie has received numerous awards from JPL and NASA for her work to: identify and address material
selection and processing issues on a critical instrument; lead an agency-wide working group to improve
technical and quality standards for circuit boards; and establish tailored processes to ensure mission
success for high-risk projects.
Her interest in space and engineering began when she observed the comet Hale-Bopp in 1997. This
inspired her to pursue science-based extracurricular activities through the Carnegie Mellon Institute for
Talented Elementary and Secondary Students and, later, the Westinghouse Science Honors Institute and
Pennsylvania Governor’s School for Health Care.
Her husband, Mark Jesick, PhD, is a Mission Design Engineer for inner planet missions at JPL and a native
of Indiana, PA.
She is a 2007 graduate of Mars Area High School and received a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science
and Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Campbell is currently the John A. Mellowes '60 Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at
Cornell University.
Also, he serves as the S.C. Thomas Sze Director (chair) of the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace
Engineering
As a graduate student, worked on a team that developed feedback control algorithms that were
evaluated on MACE, a dynamics & control laboratory flown on Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1995. He spent
2 weeks in mission control at NASA JSC, designing new experiments and uplinking them to the astronauts
to implement.
Has led NASA and Air Force research programs, and advised students, focused on spacecraft technology.
Examples include pulsed plasma thrusters; and cooperative information sharing and fuel optimal control
Most recently, his research has focused on ground robotics, including planetary exploration, autonomous
driving, and human-robot collaboration.
Has served on panels for NASA and the Air Force, planning and evaluating next generation space satellites
and telescopes.
Educationally, led teams of undergraduate students to design and launch student built satellites. One
experiment was the ION-F system, which included three satellites designed to cooperatively fly together.
The second was the ICE Cube satellites, small cubesats (10cm per side) designed to study the ionosphere
and space weather.
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, and M.S. and PhD from MIT in Aeronautics and
Astronautics.
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Dr. Frund is Senior Manager of Chemical Research & Respiratory Product Development at MSA, a global
manufacturer of safety products committed to worker’s safety for over 100 years.
He holds patents of PPE devices such as the multi-purpose GME/GME-P100 Respirator cartridge, and on
chemically resistant laminated garment materials.
Dr. Torgerson is Manager of New Product Development at Callery (formerly BASF Inorganics).
He has a 21 year career of innovating products, manufacturing processes and business models.
He has developed innovative solutions for many of America’s innovating companies: Apple, GM, Northrup
Grumman, Lockheed, GM, Ford, Abbott Labs, P&G, 3M.
He’s a Moderator at the annual “You Be the Chemist”, an academic competition @ Seneca Valley Middle
School
Dr. Torgerson is a Hobbyist, Tinkerer, and “Maker” at heart – from woodworking to DIY electronics.
He received his Doctorate from Michigan State University in Chemistry.
Dr. Weitzell is the Aquatic Laboratory Director in the Falk School of Sustainability, where he coordinates
operation of the School’s recirculating aquaculture systems, culturing fish and other aquatic organisms in
support of teaching and research within Chatham University’s Sustainability & Food Studies Programs.
His current research focuses on:
 Physical alterations to headwater streams during watershed urbanization and the associated impacts
to aquatic biodiversity at multiple scales.
 Small scale aquaponics systems to increase food security in urban neighborhoods
 Sensitivity of native fish species to common environmental pollutants in the Pittsburgh region, such
as road salt, fracking brine, & acid-mine drainage.
 Potential of duckweed in mitigation of nutrients in aquaculture wastewater, and as an alternative
protein source for aquaculture feeds
He received his Doctorate from University of MD in Environmental Science.