234 LIMEROCK TERRACE #102, STATE COLLEGE, PA 16801
(801) 477-4143 • JAMESESPLIN@PSU.EDU
WWW.JAMESESPLIN.INFO • WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/IN/JAMESESPLIN
J. JAMES ESPLIN
SKILLS
Proficient in MATLAB (7 yrs.), LabView (7 yrs.), Mathematica (5 yrs.), STAR-CCM+ (2 yrs.), and LTSpice (2 yrs.).
Areas of expertise include nonlinear acoustics, bubble acoustics, underwater acoustics, flow noise, passive and active noise
control, structural vibrations, digital signal processing (DSP), image processing & computer vision, sound/structure
interaction, computational fluid dynamics, ultrasonics, nondestructive testing (NDT), transducer arrays, equivalent circuits,
solid and fluid acoustics/mechanics, electro-acoustics, enclosed sound fields, outdoor sound propagation.
Possess a current U.S. Department of Defense secret clearance. U.S. Citizen.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Acoustics, The Pennsylvania State University
3.91/4.00 Cumulative GPA
State College, PA
“Predicting the Bubble Cloud Extent due to an Underwater Explosion”
3.77/4.00 Cumulative GPA
M.S. Physics, Brigham Young University
Provo, UT
“Active Noise Control of a Centrifugal Fan Mounted in a Mock Laptop Enclosure”
3.74/4.00 Cumulative GPA
B.S. Physics, Brigham Young University
Provo, UT
“How Nonideal Microphones Affect Directional Impulse Response Measurements in Room Acoustics”
May 2016
June 2012
April 2010
WORK EXPERIENCE
Applied Research Laboratory at the Pennsylvania State University
Office of Naval Research University Lab Initiative Fellow
State College, PA January 2013 – Present
 Developed a new, scalable, physics-based model for the prediction of the extent of the underwater bubble cloud induced
by subsurface explosions.
 Used experimental, computational, and analytical techniques in tandem to validate and refine the model.
 Synthesized information and techniques from different fields of study.
NATO Centre for Maritime Research & Experimentation (CMRE)
La Spezia, Italy June 2012 – August 2012
Acoustics Research Fellow
 Improved an underwater acoustics propagation model to be more computationally efficient and faster (by 10×).
 Applied physical insight to a difficult, opaque algorithm in order to improve accuracy (by 10+ dB in select cases).
 Networked with researchers from a variety of locations and fields.
BYU Physics Department
Provo, UT September 2010 – June 2012
Graduate Research Assistant
 Developed a model to accurately predict and reduce noise radiated from a laptop computer.
 Measurements demonstrated 15+ dB of tonal noise reduction, resulting in a significantly quieter system.
 Acknowledged for the ability to communicate complex concepts simply.
NOV IntelliServ
Provo, UT July 2011 – May 2012
Acoustics Consultant & Intern
 Researched new ways to apply acoustic techniques to oil well drill strings to identify potentially expensive or dangerous
problems during well drilling.
 Collaborated with professionals from many different disciplines and areas of expertise.
 Recognized for creative problem solving and quality work.
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos, NM May 2010 – July 2010
Geophysics Intern
 Used ultrasonic NDT to localize fractures and determine damage in solid materials with noncontact techniques.
 Gained experience utilizing piezoelectric sensors, Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometers (SLDV’s), National Instruments
DAQ’s and other laboratory equipment.
 Worked with distinguished researchers with the possibility of future collaboration.
BYU Physics Department
Provo, UT September 2008 – April 2010
Research Assistant
 Employed signal processing and experimental techniques to localize room reflections using a seven-microphone probe.
 Measured high-amplitude rocket noise on the first-stage Ares I ground test in August 2009.
Over→
PUBLICATIONS
J. J. Esplin, J. K. Boyle, S. D. Sommerfeldt, K. L. Gee, “Active control of a centrifugal fan noise:
Modeling design guidelines,” Proc. Mtgs. Acoust. 12, 040009 (2011)
P.-Y. Le Bas, T. J. Ulrich, B. E. Anderson, J. J. Esplin, “A high amplitude, time reversal non-contact
excitation (TRANCE),” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 134, Issue 1, pp. EL52 – EL56 (2013).
P.-Y. Le Bas, T. J. Ulrich, B. E. Anderson, J. J. Esplin, “Toward a high power non-contact acoustic
source using time reversal,” Echoes, the newsletter of the Acoustical Society of America 2, Issue 3, pp.
7 – 8 (2012).
J. J. Esplin, B. E. Anderson, T. W. Leishman, B. T. Thornock, “The effects of non-cardioid directivity
on incidence angle estimation using the polar energy time curve,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 130, Issue 4, pp.
EL244 – EL250 (2011).
January 2015
July 2013
Summer 2012
September 2011
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
J. J. Esplin, J. K. Boyle, S. D. Sommerfeldt, K. L. Gee, “Active control of a centrifugal fan in a mock
laptop enclosure,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 130 2564 (2011).
J. K. Boyle, J. J. Esplin, S. D. Sommerfeldt, K. L. Gee, “A two-dimensional model for control of
centrifugal fan inlet noise in a notebook computer,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 130 2564 (2011).
J. J. Esplin, J. K. Boyle, S. D. Sommerfeldt, K. L. Gee, “Active control of centrifugal fans: Modeling
design guidelines,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 129, 2584 (2011). (Invited)
J. K. Boyle, J. J. Esplin, S. D. Sommerfeldt, K. L. Gee, “Active control of centrifugal fans:
Experimental results,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 129, 2584 (2011).
T. J. Ulrich, P.-Y. Le Bas, B. E. Anderson, and J. J. Esplin, “Toward a high power noncontact
acoustic source using time reversal,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 129, 2531 (2011).
T. J. Ulrich, P.-Y. Le Bas, B. E. Anderson, and J. J. Esplin, “The time reversal acoustic noncontact
source (TRANS)”, XV Internat. Conf. Nonlin. Elasticity Mat., Otranto, Italy, July (2010).
J. J. Esplin, B. T. Thornock, T. W. Leishman, “The effects of nonideal microphone directivity
patterns on directional impulse response measurements,” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 126, 2287 (2009)
November 2011
November 2011
May 2011
May 2011
May 2011
July 2010
October 2009
AWARDS AND ACADEMIC HONORS
Office of Naval Research University Laboratory Initiative Fellow
“Active control of centrifugal fans: Modeling design guidelines.”
161st Meeting of ASA, Seattle — Best Student Paper in Noise
“The effects of nonideal microphone directivity patterns on directional impulse response
measurements.” 158th Meeting of ASA, San Antonio — Best Student Paper in Architectural Acoustics
John and Amelia Bowers scholarship recipient — Brigham Young University
Heritage Scholar — Brigham Young University
Eagle Scout
Jan. 2013 – Present
May 2011
October 2009
Jan. 2009 – Apr. 2009
Sep. 2003 – Dec.2009
February 2000
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIA TIONS & EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Student Representative, ASA Technical Committee on Underwater Acoustics
May 2014 – Present
President, BYU ASA Student Chapter
May 2011 – April 2012
Vice-President, BYU ASA Student Chapter
September 2010 – April 2011
Member, American Physical Society (APS)
July 2015 – Present
Member, Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE)
January 2012 – Present
Member, Acoustical Society of America (ASA)
November 2008 – Present
Voluntary Representative, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Rome, Italy August 2004 – September 2006
234 LIMEROCK TERRACE #102, STATE COLLEGE, PA 16801
(801) 477-4103 • JAMESESPLIN@PSU.EDU
WWW.JAMESESPLIN.INFO • WWW.LINKEDIN.COM/IN/JAMESESPLIN