Ryan Brahan

  

Biography:

Security Clearance: Secret Clearance

Work Experience: 0.5 years

Work Experience:

Quantitatively driven engineering and economics student with a passion for modeling uncertainty across domains. Experienced in applying statistical learning, optimization, and simulation methods to real-world systems, ranging from aerospace design to environmental risk. Draws on rigorous military and academic experiences to approach challenges with technical depth, strategic thinking, and analytical problem-solving. 

Military Service:

  • Branch/Position: Marine Corps

    Period: June 2026 - present

    Security Clearance: Secret Clearance

    Duties Description:

    Marine Option Midshipman at Northwestern University, set to commission as an active duty Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in June 2026. 

Work history:

  • Job Title: Climate Modeling Intern

    Company: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

    Period: June 2025 - present

    Role Description:

    Modeling atmospheric cloud behavior in LLNL’s Computational Modeling Division, focusing on erosivity and reentry vehicle mass loss. Applying predictive analytics and uncertainty quantification to assess risk in extreme physical environments.

    • Engineered predictive models to quantify vehicle mass loss due to atmospheric water erosion using radar-based data
    • Simulated reentry trajectories under variable cloud conditions to model probabilistic erosion outcomes, aligning with risk assessment methods used in finance 

  • Job Title: Navy ROTC - Marine Corps Option

    Company: Northwestern University

    Period: June 2022 - present

    Role Description:

    Completed intensive military leadership training in preparation to commission into the United States Marine Corps while pursuing undergraduate studies; selected for leadership roles overseeing unit operations, logistics, and communications. Developed discipline, composure under pressure, and a mission-oriented mindset. Hold an active Secret DoD Security Clearance.

    • Extensive experience leading highly functional, diverse teams (40+ personnel) through large-scale training events 

  • Job Title: Undergraduate Researcher - NASA-Funded Research Project

    Company: Integrated Design Automation Laboratory (with NASA)

    Period: January 2025 - present

    Role Description:
    • Built ML models to predict mechanical properties of recycled polymers for space applications, reducing testing time and cost
    • Applied statistical learning techniques analogous to portfolio optimization to improve experimental efficiency 

  • Job Title: Undergraduate Researcher

    Company: Integrated Design Automation Laboratory

    Period: June 2024 - present

    Role Description:
    • Constructed Gaussian Process and Bayesian Optimization models to optimize airfoil designs under uncertainty
    • Drew parallels between engineering design risk and financial decision-making under stochastic constraints 

  • Job Title: Undergraduate Researcher

    Company: Dr. Jennifer Dunn Research Laboratory

    Period: March 2024 - September 2024

    Role Description:
    • Evaluated lifecycle emissions from natural gas decommissioning in the US energy system using the GREET model
    • Quantified carbon, energy, and water usage impacts for medical device supply chains; named an author in a soon-to-be-published paper 

Education:

  • Northwestern University

    Bachelor's Degree – Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace Engineering Concentration), Economics

    Period: September 2022 - present

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