Education
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA
Ph.D. mechanical engineering, GPA 4.9/5.0 2018
Thesis Advisors: Douglas P. Hart, Yang Shao-Horn, Alexander H. Slocum, Thomas W. Eagar
S.M. mechanical engineering, GPA 4.8/5.0 2013
Thesis Advisors: Alexander H. Slocum, Yet-Ming Chiang, W. Craig Carter
Harvard University Cambridge, MA
A.B. engineering sciences, GPA 3.7/4.0 2011
Research & Design Experience
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Washington, D.C.
National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Fellow with Debra R. Rolison
Designing rechargeable zinc-based mesoporous, 3D-nanoarchitectures and nanocomposites for energy storage applications. 2018–Present
Douglas P. Hart Laboratory (MIT) Cambridge, MA
Research Assistant for Douglas P. Hart
Created and patented a method to mitigate self-discharge in aluminum–air batteries using an oil displacement system with underwater oleophobic electrode and separator-membrane surfaces. First author of paper published in Science. 2015–2018
Akamai Technologies, Inc. Cambridge, MA
Intern for Kevin Riggle in Information Security
Created and patented a method to destructively sanitize solid-state drives (SSDs) that reduced sanitization costs by more than 2 orders of magnitude. Summer 2015
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Livermore, CA
Intern for Matt Wraith in Defense Technologies Engineering Division
Designed, programmed, and fabricated ultralight, ultrastiff 3D-metal-printed cellular structures for aerospace applications using OpenSCAD and Netfabb. Summer 2014
Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) Cambridge, MA
Precision Engineering Research Group (MIT)
Research Assistant for Alexander H. Slocum
Created and patented a high energy density flow battery for grid storage applications. Performed cost analyses, modeling, and optimization of structural/fluid system to stop viscous fingering induced flow instabilities. Co-first author and first author of papers published in Energy & Environmental Science and Journal of Power Sources. 2012–2014
Resolute Marine Energy, Inc. Cambridge, MA
In collaboration with Precision Engineering Research Group
Created a set of analytical tools verified with FEA and experimentally tested to design a pressure-smoothing device used in wave-powered desalination systems for Resolute Marine Energy, Inc. First author of paper published in Journal of Energy Resources Technology. 2011–2012
Spirit AeroSystems Wichita, KS
In collaboration with Precision Engineering Research Group
Visited Spirit AeroSystems manufacturing plant and worked with management to improve machine design and manufacturing processes with a team of 5 engineers. March 2012
Harvard University Cambridge, MA
Student of Conor J. Walsh
Designed, built, and tested a proof-of-concept prototype of an implantable AV-shunt flow modulator with a team of 3 engineers and 2 physicians at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. First author of paper published in Journal of Medical Devices. Spring 2011
Harvard Biorobotics Laboratory Cambridge, MA
Research Assistant for Robert D. Howe
Designed, built, and tested fingertip mechanical impedance analyzer with neurologists from Arizona State University to improve robotic hand design. Summer 2010
Westervelt Research Group (Harvard) Cambridge, MA
Research Assistant for Robert M. Westervelt
Designed, programmed, and tested a multi-touch interface for a microfluidic chip that allows users to view and manipulate living biological cells with a touchscreen in real time. Summer 2009
Publications, Patents, & Presentations
Publications
[6] Ko, J.S., Geltmacher, A.B., Hopkins, B.J., Rolison, D.R., Long, J.W., Parker, J.F., 2018. Robust 3D Zn sponges enable high power- and energy-dense alkaline batteries. (submitted)
* equal contribution
Patents
Presentations
[6] Hopkins, B.J. and Hart, D.P. High-power, low-corrosion aluminum-air battery (talk). Fall Meeting of the Material Research Society, Boston, MA, November 2017.
[5] Hopkins, B.J. and Hart, D.P. High-power, low-corrosion aluminum-air battery (talk). ASME 2017 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), Tampa, FL, November 2017.
[4] Hopkins, B.J. and Hart, D.P. High-power, low-corrosion aluminum-air battery (talk). 232nd Meeting of the Electrochemical Society, National Harbor, MD, October 2017.
[3] Hopkins, B.J. and Hart, D.P. High-power, low-corrosion aluminum-air battery (poster). MIT Mechanical Engineering de Florez Award Competition, Cambridge, MA, May 2017.
[2] Hopkins, B.J. and Hart, D.P. High-power, low-corrosion aluminum-air battery (poster). MIT Mechanical Engineering Research Exhibition, Cambridge, MA, September 2016.
[1] Hopkins, B.J., Fan, F.Y., Li, Z., Smith, K.C., Chen, X., Slocum, A.H., Carter, W.C. and Chiang, Y.M. Gravity induced flow cell using suspension-based flow electrodes (poster). Fall Meeting of the Material Research Society, Boston, MA, December 2013.
Awards, Honors, & Press
Awards
Awarded a National Research Council (NRC) postdoctoral fellowship sponsored by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. June 2018
First place graduate winner ($1,500) for engineering design in the MIT Mechanical Engineering de Florez Award Competition. Presented a poster and working prototype of a high-power, low-corrosion aluminum-air battery. May 2017
Grand prize winner ($500) for outstanding presentation at the MIT Mechanical Engineering Research Exhibition (MERE). Presented a poster entitled "High-Power, Low-Corrosion Aluminum-Air Battery" and was one of three grand prize winners out of 76 graduate student contestants. September 2016
Akamai Patent Award ($2,000) for filing a patent on a method to destructively sanitize solid-state drives (SSDs) that reduced sanitization costs by more than 2 orders of magnitude. First Akamai intern to ever receive a company patent award. August 2015
Star Family Prize Award nomination for exemplary intellectual and personal guidance of undergraduate students at Harvard College. March 2015
Grand-prize winner of MIT's Product Design and Development Competition ($900) for a toddler fire-escape device. Spring 2013
CIMIT Award for Mechanical Ingenuity for a surgically implantable AV-shunt flow modulator. Spring 2011
Harvard PRISE Scholar (stipend, room, and board). Summer 2009
Mabel and Lawrence S. Cooke Eagle Scout Scholarship ($48,000). Summer 2005
Micron Science and Technology Scholarship ($16,500). Spring 2005
Honors
Graduated cum laude from Harvard College. May 2011
Graduated with high honors from engineering department of Harvard College. May 2011
Press
Clemens, K. 2018. A solution to the aluminum air battery issue. Design News.
King, A., 2018. Oil boosts battery shelf life by suppressing corrosion. Chemistry World.
Fitzgerald, R.J. 2018. Improving the potential of aluminum–air batteries. Physics Today.
Amin, N. 2018. Extending the life of metal–air batteries. Lab Roots.
Tollefson, J. 2018. Oil foils corrosion in high-capacity batteries. Nature.
Temming, M., 2018. These fragile, futuristic batteries run longer with a little oil. Science News.
Epstein, Z. 2016. Revolutionary new battery runs on gravity. BGR.
Chandler, D.L., 2016. Old timekeeper, new battery technology. MIT Technology Review, 119(5).
Meehan, C., 2016. Wanna store solar energy? MIT says flip-it. Solar Reviews News.
Chandler, D.L., 2016. New concept turns battery technology upside-down. MIT News Office.
Fox News, 2014. MIT scientist invents fuel allowing electric cars to go father without bigger batteries. National Fox News.
Teaching & Leadership Experience
Harvard Pforzheimer Resident Engineering Tutor Cambridge, MA
Advised and tutored students at Pforzheimer House in math, engineering, and computer science. 2012–2018
MIT 15.783 Product Design & Development Head Teaching Assistant Cambridge, MA
Mentor for interdisciplinary graduate design class taught by Steven D. Eppinger, Maria Yang, Jerome Arul, and Matthew Kressy. Spring 2015
MIT 2.009 Product Engineering Processes Teaching Assistant Cambridge, MA
Mentor and class photographer for senior design class taught by Professor David R. Wallace. Fall 2014
Treasurer of MIT Competitive Powerlifting Team Cambridge, MA
Organized finances and fundraising for and actively participated in MIT club sport. Spring 2013
Activities Committee Co-Chair Cambridge, MA
Organized and led social activities for local church with a membership of over 100. 2012–2013
Director of Finance and Record Management Cambridge, MA
Organized finances and maintained records for local church with a membership of over 200. 2010–2012
Branch President and Missionary Moscow and Tula, Russia
Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Learned Russian to support and lead local Russian church communities. Regularly taught English and helped maintain hospitals, orphanages, shelters, and public parks. 2006–2008
Eagle Scout Salt Lake City, UT
Received Eagle Scout award at age 12 and earned a total of 81 merit badges. June 1999