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Curriculum Vitae - Alexander Hoehn, Ph.D.   (PDF)

Associate Professor Research - Aerospace Engineering Sciences - University of Colorado at Boulder   -   Associate Director Engineering at BioServe Space Technologies

Professional Experience:

Sep. '95 - present

Associate Professor Research (since 2003, assistant professor since 1995), Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder. Associate Director Engineering at BioServe Space Technologies, responsible for spaceflight payload development and space life sciences experimentation. Hardware design, manufacturing and successful spaceflight operations on 14 Space Shuttle flights with 6 different payload designs. The payloads include biotechnology experiments, plant growth chamber designs (largest, most advanced US spaceflight chamber currently available), refrigeration / temperature-controlled incubators and beverage dispenser / fluid management systems for the Space Shuttle. Managed the flight team of staff engineers, technicians and numerous undergraduate and graduate students. Instructor for Aerospace Engineering Sciences design classes. Current science research emphasis on plant growth in microgravity and potential applications for pharmaceuticals and enhanced plant products.

Jan. '94 - Aug. '95

Research Associate at BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado at Boulder. Managed spaceflight hardware design for plant growth in space, the Space Shuttle and satellite payloads. Payload manager for the Fluids-GBA payload aboard STS-63 and STS­77, as well as the Plant-GBA aboard STS-77 and the Plant-Module for Autonomous Space Support aboard the METEOR rocket launch. Supported plant research activities at BioServe Space Technologies and supervised graduate student researchers. Taught space life sciences and senior / graduate level engineering design classes.

Jan. '90 - Dec. '93

Research Assistant at BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado at Boulder. Managed Advanced Life Support Systems research group (plant production in space, experimental plant physiology). Managed subcontract 'Lunar CELSS' for Lockheed Missile and Space Corp. Designed flight hardware for microgravity research (KC-135, sounding rocket, space shuttle, METEOR rocket / satellite: biomaterials processing, plant growth, animal habitat). Mission operations team lead at the Payload Operations Control Center (POCC) in Huntsville.

Aug. '88 - Dec. '89

Post-Graduate Research Fellow of the German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD, at the Aerospace Engineering Sciences department / University of Colorado at Boulder. Researched bioengineering and plant physiology for advanced life support systems.

Aug. '87 - July '88

Staff Engineer at the European Space Research and Technology Center / European Space Agency (Noordwijk, the Netherlands). Managed Advanced Technology Engine study sub-contract for the chemical propulsion division. Supported meteorite / space debris related projects (testing, experimentation, model calculations) in continuation of previous research work in Munich.

Oct. '84 - July '87

Research Assistant at the Hypervelocity Accelerator Facilities of the Technical University Munich, Germany (Astronautical Engineering). Researched high velocity accelerators for micro meteorite and space debris simulation.

May '84 - Dec. '85

Associated Engineer, for BMW (Munich, Germany) in the CAD software design and support division: designed application programs for CAD-design engineers, trained design engineers on CAD systems (VAX / CD2000).

Academic Education:

Jan. '90 - Dec. 93

University of Colorado, Boulder - Doctor of Philosophy in Aerospace Engineering Sciences / Bioengineering. (GPA: 3.96 on a scale of 4.00).
Doctoral Thesis: "Effects of Gravity and Light on Plant Growth and Performance in Normal and Reduced Gravity". Advisor: Prof. Marvin W. Luttges, Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder.

Aug. '88 - Dec. '89

University of Colorado, Boulder - Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering Sciences / Bioengineering: emphasized advanced (biological) life support systems - plant physiology (GPA: 3.90 on a scale of 4.00).

May '84 - June '87

Technical University Munich - "Diplom Ingenieur" (Diploma / Master degree) in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering "mit Auszeichnung" (with special honor: GPA converted to U.S. system: 3.80 on a scale of 4.00).
Master Thesis: "Theoretical and Experimental Investigations for a Two-Stage Accelerator". Based on research done at the Hypervelocity Accelerator Facility for space debris and meteorite simulation, Astronautical Engineering Department. Advisor: Prof. Dr.Ing. Harry O. Ruppe / Dr. Martin Rott, Technical University Munich.

Oct. '81 - March '84

Technical University Stuttgart - Aerospace Engineering Department. Pre-diploma in Aerospace Engineering (i.e., undergraduate degree).

Teaching Experience:

1991 - present

Associate Professor Research (assistant professor since 1995, associate professor since 2004). Taught junior, senior and graduate level classes at the University of Colorado, Aerospace Engineering Sciences. Classes include Space Habitation Design, Spaceflight Hardware Design, Introduction to Space Life Sciences, BioSpherics and Life Support, Introduction to Space Experimentation, Senior Design Lab - Bioengineering and Instrumentation., Aerospace Electronics and Communication

Apprenticeship/ Internship:

April 1984

Internship - aerospace engineering, Messerschmidt Bφlkow Blohm (MBB), Ottobrunn - helicopter division - structures design.

Oct. '83 - Dec. '83

Internship - aerospace engineering; Messerschmidt Bφlkow Blohm (MBB), Hamburg: transport aircraft division: assembly, design, quality control.

July '83 - Aug. '83

Apprentice course aerospace engineering / mechanical engineering; Daimler Benz AG, Stuttgart: assembly, casting, modeling - aluminum and cast iron.

April '81 - June '81

Apprentice course aerospace engineering: Daimler Benz AG, Stuttgart: basic machinist and metal working education.

March '81 - April '81

Instruction course: welding (electric arc / gas).

Fellowships / Honors:

1996

Certificate of Appreciation, Spacehab Inc., for significant contribution to the Spacehab-04 mission / STS-77.

1995

NASA recognition for support of the USML-2 / STS-73 Spacelab mission.

1992

NASA recognition for outstanding support to the USML-1 / STS-50 Spacelab mission.

1988 / 1989

Post-Graduate Fellow of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

1987

Graduated with highest honors ("mit Auszeichnung"), Diplom-Ingenieur (Master of Sciences), Aerospace / Mechanical Engineering, Technical University Munich.

1979

Graduated with highest honors ("mit Auszeichnung"), Wagenburg Gymnasium, Stuttgart (science-oriented high school).

Professional Organizations:

since 1990

American Society of Gravitational and Space Biology, ASGSB.

since 1989

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, AIAA.

since 1993

American Society for Engineering Education, ASEE.

Languages:

Fluent in German (native tongue), English, and French. Basic knowledge in Italian, Dutch, and Spanish.

Computer Skills:

Windows, MS-DOS and Macintosh-type computer, VAX VMS, UNIX; word processing, spreadsheet, scientific / statistical data analysis, data acquisition and control, computer aided design; computer maintenance / user support. Responsible for flight software development for BioServe spaceflight experiments (Polycode, C++, DOS, Linux).

Personal Data:

Born April 18, 1960 in Stuttgart, Germany. German citizen, US Resident Alien ("green card"), single.
Extracurricular interests include skiing, biking, sailing, SCUBA, mountaineering.

References:

available upon request.

Publications:

Alex Hoehn  •  Home Page  •   Professional:  Research  •  Academic  •  Resume  •  Publications  •  Personal:   Interests  •  Photo Album  •  Link
Page last updated on 27 November 2005