Learning and Growing - Profile Blake Christierson

Blake Christierson’s research is making strides in the fields of Bayesian inference and additive manufacturing, while his dedication to guiding future engineers is making waves in the University of Texas at Austin community. 

A member of Professor Omar Ghattas' OPTIMUS Center at the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Blake has immersed himself in the world of PDE-constrained optimization and Bayesian inverse problems, studying surrogate modeling techniques to facilitate these complex computations. Working closely with Nick Alger, he has focused on tensor-network surrogates leveraging randomized decompositions as low-rank approximations to streamline outer-loop problems. Recently, he has also been exploring derivative-informed neural operator surrogates with Thomas O’Leary Roseberry.

Blake and Ghattas are excited to take these novel surrogate approaches to the challenging application of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) — a 3D printing technique for metals. 

“There are many interesting applications for metallic 3D printing,” Blake explains. “A lot of them relate to my engineering background, where complex topologies and multifunctional requirements just aren’t possible with more conventional manufacturing processes.”

“It’s been a really enjoyable project as it taps into my mechanical engineering pursuits, and aligns with my multiphysics simulation experience from my internships at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,” the graduate student recalled with a smile. He vividly remembers first seeing LPBF parts on Formula SAE race cars, where the process enabled awe-inspiring lightweight, performant, and integrated design solutions. 

Formula SAE is a student design competition that Blake enjoyed as an undergraduate wherein teams of engineering students build and test a formula-style race car. 

“I’m a mentor for UT’s Longhorn Racing now. Formula Racing at UC Davis was really important to me as an undergrad. It was one of the ways I got into computing,” he says. As a mentor, he emphasizes systems engineering principles, guiding students through vehicle simulations and optimization studies to ensure the team justifies design decisions in preparation for their annual competition. 

“Solid systems engineering is a major passion of mine,” Blake shares. He relishes the challenge of making informed decisions at the beginning of a project, knowing that the impact of those choices often outweighs decisions made later when more data is available. Blake’s mentorship is crucial for helping undergraduates navigate these challenges, ensuring they can learn and grow without feeling overwhelmed. 

“In the engineering world, systems engineers usually have decades of experience, designing products multiple times over, so they know what will work given a set of constraints,” he explains. “But for these undergrads, who have at best seen three cars built and haven’t been super involved as freshmen, it’s a different challenge.”

Apart from his research and mentorship, Blake makes time for fun through a variety of hobbies, from dabbling in chess to running, table tennis, and sand volleyball. “It’s one of the things I really appreciate about the Oden community—the intramural sports,” said the grad student. “It’s a lot of fun and a good way to unwind.” His transition to the outdoorsy lifestyle popular among Oden Institute graduate students has been a welcome change, even if the Texas heat required some adaptation.

Blake’s commitment to the UT community extends beyond his research and mentorship. He aims to foster a more active and engaged student body within the Oden Institute. His work, including hosting the 2023-24 Babuška Forum with Sophia Smith, has been instrumental in fostering connections between CSEM students and the faculty and staff of the Oden Institute. 

“I’m just happy to be in a place with such diverse work and so many people who care about different things,” Blake reflects. His journey at the Oden Institute is marked by growth, both in his research endeavors and in his contributions to the community — a testament to his drive to not only excel but also to lift up those around him.