Justin Neubauer

justin.neubauer.unlv@gmail.com | www.justinneubauer.com

Professional Experience

Boeing Defense, Space & Security                                      9/2025 – present

MP&P Engineer – Fiber Optics

· Worked in the Production Support Labs focusing on design and testing of optical systems designed for harsh environments for a variety of defense applications.

Mission Support and Test Services, LLC (MSTS)                   5/2021 – 9/2025

Principal Optomechanical Engineer

· Worked in the Applied Physics group focusing on design of high-speed diagnostics for shock physics experimentation including multiplexed photon Doppler velocimetry, broadband laser ranging, VISAR, LIDAR, and Fabry-Perot interferometers.

· Designed and fielded elegant solutions on unique experiments within the weapons complex including experiments at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory. 

· Taught multiple internal courses on optical velocimetry and ranging systems with hands-on shock physics experiment, computer-aided design with SolidWorks, and practical 3D printing.

· Wrote and deployed LabVIEW code to NI RIO embedded control boards with field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to control high-speed velocimetry systems with feedback controls.

Howard Hughes College of Engineering, UNLV                    9/2023 – 9/2025

Adjunct Professor

· Aiding graduate researchers in the Active Materials and Smart Living Laboratory researching novel soft robotic actuation and sensing methods including bolstering of particle imaging systems.

· Building framework for graduate level engineering courses in optical systems and interferometry.

Active Materials and Smart Living (AMSL) Lab, UNLV     5/2017 – 12/2022

Research Assistant

· Developed foundation for soft polymeric gel sensors including theoretical framework and reduced dimensional mapping multi-physics mathematical models for smart gel (i.e. polyvinyl chloride) sensors.

· Conducted innovative research using modern particle image velocimetry (PIV) and imaging systems for sensing complex flow fields.

· Fabricated and modified additive manufacturing mechanism capable of liquid deposition modeling (LDM).

Howard Hughes College of Engineering, UNLV                 8/2018 – 8/2021

Teaching Assistant

Instrumentation and Control Laboratory (ME 423L)

· Introduction to data acquisition using LabVIEW software with mechatronic sensors and signal conditioning.

· Mathematical modeling of 1st and 2nd order systems including DC motor speed and position controller using standard PID control as well as swing-up rotary pendulum control using a linear-quadratic regulator (LQR).

3D Modeling with SolidWorks (ME 240)

· Introduction to part design, assembly integration, and engineering drawings with an overview of simulation tools using finite element analysis (solid mechanics, fluid flow, and heat transfer).

Center for Intelligent & Interactive Robots, S. Korea   06/2019 - 07/2019

Engineering Intern/NSF PIRE Fellow

· As part of NSF international program, participated on international team researching soft robotics and artificial muscles at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) under Dr. Youngsu Cha.

· Completed extensive physics-based modeling of a multi-directional piezoelectric sensor.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Mechanical Engineering  

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (3.94 GPA)

Dissertation: Mechanoelectrical Transduction Behavior in Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Based Soft Polymer Gel Sensors for Soft Robotic Applications

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering  

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (cum laude 3.73 GPA)

Senior Project: Waste Management Disinfectant System 

Patents

1. K.J. Kim, A. Washington, E. Chao, J. Neubauer, S. Leon, Z. Frank, and Z. Olsen. Modular expandable 3D printer (U.S. Patent Application No., PCT/US2019/064389) filed 04/12/2019.  https://patents.google.com/patent/US12162218B2/en 

Book Chapters

1. Washington, J. Neubauer, K.J. Kim. Chapter 3 - Soft actuators and their potential applications in rehabilitative devices, Editor(s): A. Jafari, N. Ebrahimi, Soft Robotics in Rehabilitation, Academic Press, (2021), Pages 89-110, ISBN 9780128185384, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818538-4.00003-4.

Journal Publications

1. P. Younk, N. Maatouk, J. Neubauer, M. Palacios-Trujillo, and J. Stephenson. A minimum detectable signal specification for photon Doppler velocimetry. Journal of Dynamic Behavior of Materials. (Under review)

2. J. Neubauer and K.J. Kim. Multiphysics modeling framework for soft PVC gel sensors with experimental comparisons. Polymers 15(4), 864 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15040864

3. J. Neubauer, H Jeremy Cho, and K.J. Kim. Tunable polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based soft polymer gel sensors. Smart Materials and Structures 31, 115025 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/ac9a8f

4. J. Neubauer, Z.J. Olsen, Z. Frank, T. Hwang, and K.J. Kim. A Study of mechanoelectrical transduction behavior in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Gel as Smart Sensors. Smart Materials and Structures 31, 015010 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-665X/ac358f

5. Y.R. Lee, J. Neubauer, K.J. Kim, Y. Cha. Multidirectional cylindrical piezoelectric force sensor: design and experimental validation. Sensors 20, 4840 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/s20174840

6. T. Hwang, Z. Frank, J. Neubauer, et al. High-performance polyvinyl chloride gel artificial muscle actuator with graphene oxide and plasticizer. Sci Rep 9, 9658 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-46147-2

Conference Works 

1. N. Minaian, J. Neubauer, and K.J. Kim. Flexible electroactive polymer gel-based artificial skin: flow sensing and visualization. SPIE Smart Structures and Nondestructive Evaluation(2023).

2. D. Fisher, J. Faccinto, A. Sennain, J. Neubauer, and K.J. Kim. Potential biocompatible PVC gel sensors with novel segmentation for biomimetic nervous systems. SPIE Smart Structures and Nondestructive Evaluation (2023).

3. J. Faccinto, D. Fisher, A. Sennain, J. Neubauer, and K.J. Kim. Electromechanical applications of PVC gels and EPIC actuators in varifocal lenses. SPIE Smart Structures and Nondestructive Evaluation (2023).

4. A. Sennain, D. Fisher, J. Neubauer, and K.J. Kim. Thermal characteristics of mechanoelectrical properties in PVC gel sensors. 6th International Conference on Active Materials and Smart Mechatronics (2022).

5. J. Faccinto, D. Fisher, A. Sennain, J. Neubauer, and K.J. Kim. Electromechanical applications of PVC gels and EPIC actuators in varifocal lenses. 6th International Conference on Active Materials and Smart Mechatronics (2022).

6. J. Faccinto, J. Neubauer, A. Washington, and K.J. Kim. Wearable soft robotic system for enhanced glovebox worker safety. 1st Annual Competitive Research Award Workshop (2022).

7. J. Neubauer and K.J. Kim. Investigation of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) for Planar and Quasi-Planar Sensing Applications. SPIE Smart Structures + Non-destructive Evaluation (2022).

8. J. Neubauer, J. Faccinto, D. Krystek, and K.J. Kim. Investigation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for planar and quasi-planar sensing applications. Waste Management (2022).

9. D. Krystek, J. Faccinto, A. Washington, J. Neubauer, N. Minaian, Z. Olsen, and K.J. Kim. Development of a modular 3D printer for customizable wearable technology. SPIE Smart Structures + Non-destructive Evaluation (2022).

10. J. Neubauer and K.J. Kim. State space mathematical modeling for mechanoelectrical transduction of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) based sensors. SPIE Smart Structures + Non-destructive Evaluation (2021).

11. A. Washington, J. Neubauer et al. Development of the intelligent, preventative infrared (IR) inspection system housed in hybrid robotic platforms. Waste Management Symposia (2020).

12. S. Pochempally, D. Zagaceta, J. Neubauer, et al. Development of the intelligent, preventative infrared (IR) inspection system housed in hybrid robotic platforms. Waste Management Symposia (2020).

13. J. Neubauer, Z. Frank, and K.J. Kim. Active catheter driven by hybrid actuator consisting of ionic polymer-metal composites and hydraulics. SPIE Smart Structures and Non-destructive Evaluation (2019).

14. A. Washington, J. Neubauer, K. Solasa, and K.J. Kim. A soft-robotic snake platform using EAP. SPIE Smart Structures and Non-destructive Evaluation (2019).

15. J. Neubauer, Z. Olsen, and K.J. Kim. Active Catheter Driven by Hybrid Actuation: Experimental and Modeling Results. 16thInternational Conference on Ubiquitous Robots (2019).

16. J. Neubauer, Z. Olsen, and K.J. Kim. Ionic polymer-metal composite actuators: functionality in catheter use and possible hybridization. 3rdInternational Workshop on Active Materials and Soft Mechatronics (2018).

17. J. Neubauer, Z. Olsen, and K.J. Kim. IPMC embedded in a soft pneumatic robotic actuator: Preliminary experiments in actuation and sensing behaviors. 15th International Conference on Ubiquitous Robots (2018).

18. S. Trabia, R. Hunt, T. Hwang, Z. Frank, J. Neubauer, et al. Multiple mode ionic polymer-metal composite array for use in travelling wave actuators and sensing. SPIE Smart Structures and Non-destructive Evaluation (2018).

19. J. Neubauer and K.J. Kim. Multi-functional IPMC exhibiting electro-mechanical and pneumatics to create a complex hybrid actuator. SPIE Smart Structures + Non-destructive Evaluation (2018).

Relevant Coursework

Linear Systems, Nonlinear System Control, Hybrid/Switched Systems, Adaptive Control, Digital Control Systems, Imaging and Image Processing, Advanced Dynamics, Energy and Variational Methods, Finite Element Analysis, Mathematical Physics, Advanced Thermodynamics, Optics for Engineers

Technical Skills

Optics, Mathematical Modeling (COMSOL, MATLAB), Control System Synthesis (MATLAB, Simulink, LabVIEW), CAD (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Blender), Technical Writing (Project Reports, Funding Proposals, Journal and Conference Papers), Additive Manufacturing, Optics, Software (MATLAB, Simulink, LabVIEW, Python, COMSOL, SolidWorks, Arduino, Microsoft Office)

Career and Personal Interests

Optics, Robotics and Control Theory, Machine Learning / Artificial Intelligence, National Parks, Fly Fishing, Woodworking, Baseball, Astronomy, and Painting