Gabriel J. Soto, PhD

full CV

I am a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Madison-Wisconsin. I currently work in the ReTI (Reactor Technology Innovations) Group with Professor Ben Lindley. My research interests include modeling, simulation, and optimization of nuclear and renewable energy systems and spacecraft operations.

I received my B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Miami in 2015 with a dual major in Physics. In our group senior capstone project, I served as the thermal systems lead and designed the chassis of a 6U CubeSat capable of atmospheric re-entry. The main objective of the small spacecraft was to gather albedo measurements from the polar ice caps.

I received my M.S. and PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University in 2018 and 2020 respectively. I worked in the SIOS (Space Imaging and Optical Systems) Lab with Professor Dmitry Savransky. My PhD thesis centered on mission planning of space imaging missions. The two main optimization avenues were the delivery of space imaging spacecraft to their desired orbital destination and their optimal operations once stationed. The ultimate objectives were to minimize cost and maximize their scientific output or discoveries. During my 5 years in the SIOS Lab, I was granted several NASA JPL grants to continue my research and worked closely with collaborators there.

I am currently working on two separate research projects: one on integrated nuclear and solar energy systems, the other on flexible operation of small modular nuclear reactors (SMR). The integrated energy systems project centers on energy storage and dispatch from both a lead-cooled fast nuclear reactor and a molten salt power tower concentrated solar plant. Optimized dispatch is used to maximize energy production and revenue during high demand times. The project is funded and in collaboration with INL and NREL. The SMR project focuses on prognostic health monitoring of the NuScale plant nuclear units and long term effects of flexible power operation on the remaining usable life of the full system. The project is also in collaboration with INL.