Brookhaven National Laboratory - Employer Spotlight Event

The Nexus Center for Applied Learning and Career Development at Farmingdale State College presents and Employer Spotlight Event:

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)

Date: Thursday, November 2nd

Time: 11 am - 12 noon

Place: Campus Center Ballroom

• BNL is a national lab on L.I. supported by the U.S. Dept. of Energy
• BNL leads advances in science and transformative technology
• Hear from panelists on careers (jobs/internships/research positions) at BNL
• Open to all students

Welcome Remarks

• FSC College President Dr. John Nader

BNL Panelists (see full bios below)

• Moderator: FSC Professor Gozde Ustuner, Fuel Cell Researcher, Chemistry Division
• Jean Cliff Brutus, CeC & LEReC Project Engineer Collider, Accelerator Department
• Jonathon Greene, Mechanical Engineer II, Electron Ion Collider
• Stephen Kasper, Staff Engineer, Production Division (FSC Alumnus)
• Roxanne Conroy, Principal Talent Acquisition Specialist, Recruitment, HR
• Nicole Zmich, Sr. Educational Program Representative, Office of Educational Programs
• Vincent Chiechi, Senior Designer, Electron Ion Collider (FSC Alumnus)

Pre-registration is suggested

Lunch will be provided. For more information, please email the Nexus Center at nexuscenter@farmingdale.edu.

PANELIST BIOS

FSC Professor Gozde Ustuner, Fuel Cell Researcher, Chemistry Division

Gozde Ustuner is the acting chair and the assistant professor of the Automotive Technology Department at Farmingdale State College. She has received her undergraduate degree from New York University and her Master’s degree from Stony Brook University both in Mechanical Engineering. Ustuner is currently on her last year of her doctoral studies in Materials Science Engineering. Besides her role as an academician, she is also a researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory and works with Surface Electrochemistry and Electrocatalyst Group focusing on optimizing Fuel Cell Technology. Her research work focuses on developing a new electrocatalyst for hydrogen fuel cells which will be suitable to apply fuel-cell powered passenger and commercial vehicles while generating clean electricity. Her areas of expertise include Renewable Energy, Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology, Electrocatalysis and Material Characterization.

Prior to her academic experience, she has worked as a design engineer in industry and has done various research projects where her works were funded by United States Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Foundation (NSF) and General Motors Company. She is also the external outreach coordinator for the Early Career Resource Group at Brookhaven National Laboratory, vice president of LI for Society of Women Engineers and she is passionate about helping students explore their interest in science and engineering.

Jean Cliff Brutus, CeC & LEReC Project Engineer Collider, Accelerator Department

Mr. Brutus is a Mechanical Engineer in the Collider Accelerator Department at Brookhaven National Lab since 2011. In his current role, he serves as the Lead Project Engineer and Project Manager for the Coherent Electron Cooling Experiment (CeC) and Low Energy RHIC electron Cooling (LEReC) . As the Lead Project Engineer, he is responsible for the overall planning, scheduling, operational and engineering support for the experiment, including design development, 3D modelling, analysis, simulation, testing, and troubleshooting. Most recently, Brutus helps in the engineering design work for the Electron Ion Collider (EIC).

Mr. Brutus took an interest in engineering from a young age. Growing up in Haiti, him and his brother shared a passion for motorsport. After moving to Long Island in 2006 to finish high school, Mr. Brutus attended Suffolk County Community College and Stony Brook University to pursue his Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering (ME), funded by the STEM program and other scholarships’ and his Master of Science, funded by the Turner Fellowship Program.

In 2016, Brutus earned his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. And, in 2018, he achieved his goal of becoming a licensed New York State Professional Engineer (PE).

Jonathon Greene, Mechanical Engineer II, Electron Ion Collider

Jonathon Greene is a Mechanical Engineer at Brookhaven National Laboratory, working in the Technical Systems Division for the Electron Ion Collider project. He is also the co-chair for the Early Career Resource Group at Brookhaven National Laboratory, a group designed to attract retain and develop early career professionals.

Mr. Greene received his undergraduate degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and Master’s degree from Stony Brook University, both in Mechanical Engineering. He earned his Master’s degree while working full-time. Mr. Greene has nearly a decade of industry experience in manufacturing design and development, research and development, and product sustaining support. He says learning is one of his favorite things to do and he is always interested in discussing new ideas. Some values that are important to him include self-improvement, environmentalism, efficiency, and collaboration.

Stephen Kasper, Staff Engineer, Production Division (FSC Alumnus)

Stephen Kasper is an early-career professional at Brookhaven National Lab, currently serving as a staff engineer. He graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Farmingdale State College. Prior to his role at the lab, he gained valuable experience at D3, where he held positions as a programming and design engineer. Following this, Stephen further honed his skills in estimating while working at a construction firm. His educational background and diverse work experiences have equipped him with a strong foundation in mechanical engineering and a versatile skill set.

With a diverse background that includes roles as a CNC programmer, design engineer, and estimator, Stephen brings a wealth of experience to his position at Brookhaven National Lab. He excels in liaising with scientists and engineers at the lab to streamline processes, expedite work, and contribute to cost reduction initiatives. Stephen's well-rounded experience and educational foundation make him a valuable asset to the team at Brookhaven National Lab.

Roxanne Conroy, Principal Talent Acquisition Specialist, Recruitment, HR

Roxanne Conroy is a seasoned recruiter and HR professional, with a special focus in STEM recruitment. She joined Brookhaven National Laboratory in 2021 and she is passionate about recruiting talent and building strong professional relationships, at all levels.

Prior to joining Brookhaven National Laboratory, she spent several years recruiting technical professionals within the defense and aerospace industry at North Atlantic Industries, as well as IBA, a global manufacturer of particle accelerators and radioisotope production.

Roxanne is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and a PHR, SHRM-CP certified professional. In her spare time, she enjoys running, biking and participating in fund raising running events across Long Island and New York City.

Nicole Zmich, Sr. Educational Program Representative, Office of Educational Programs

Nicole Zmich is a Senior Educational Program Representative in the Office of Educational Programs at Brookhaven National Laboratory(BNL). She leads the Community College internship program and the High School research program in the summer. Before joining BNL in her current capacity, she was a guest researcher in the chemistry department at BNL for over ten years and an alumnus of the Department of Energy’s summer internship programs. She has experience working both in industry and as an adjunct professor at a community college. She has her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with ACS certification from SUNY, Stony Brook University and a Masters of Science in Chemistry from UC San Diego. She owes her passion for mentoring and importance of STEM education to BNL and the DOE programs.

Vincent Chiechi, Senior Designer, Electron Ion Collider (FSC Alumnus)

Vincent Chiechi received his BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Farmingdale State College in May of 2018. Through Vincent’s years of experience, he started out as a machine operator at Northfield Precision Instruments making precision work holding solutions for some of the most prominent manufactures in the nation including the U.S. Mint. He became a CNC operator at Quickpouch, a custom packaging company that specializes in manufacturing custom packaging machines for the medical and food industries where he quickly progressed to a CNC Programmer role. Within a year of becoming a CNC Programmer and working closely with quality control and the design engineers, Vincent had progressed into a Mechanical Design role himself, working directly with customers to design automated packaging solutions to meet their needs. Vincent had joined BNL in March of 2023 as a Senior Mechanical Designer as a member of the Technical Systems Division Design Group where his years of hands-on practical experience will serve the EIC Team well.