Nick Welchert

Dr. Welchert uses his expertise as a chemical engineer to analyze failures and explosions related to petroleum refining, chemical processing, the maritime industry, and the mining industry. He has extensive knowledge pertinent to operating, analyzing, and modifying custom built reactors, semiconductor device fabrication, mining, and quantitative chemical analysis.

Prior to Exponent, Dr. Welchert received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Southern California. He researched novel chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques to develop thin polymer films for biomedical implants, hydrogen production, and microfabrication. He designed and tested custom vapor delivery systems and simulated the CVD process using computational fluid dynamics to optimize the manufacture of gradient thin polymer films. While also at USC, Dr. Welchert researched CVD on liquid substrates to produce a preceramic silicon-containing membrane. He has operated, analyzed, and modified custom-built reactors and thin film deposition processes. Dr. Welchert has also worked at some of the largest open-pit mining sites in North America, which provided expertise in copper processing, mining ventilation, and high-throughput quality control.

Dr. Welchert analyzes chemical properties using FTIR, XPS, and EDS and physical properties using SEM, ellipsometry, and goniometry. He analyzes complex fluid dynamics using COMSOL Multiphysics, AFT Arrow, and other simulation. He has expertise in ventilation design, ISO 9001 quality management, and work site standards and regulations pertaining to mining and electrorefining.