REU 2013 Blog: Marcos Corchado

Meet Marcos

June 24, 2013

Marcos Corchado, 24, is a mechanical engineering student from Puerto Rico doing a summer internship at the MagLab. He’s one of the 24 students — chosen from 179 applicants — to participate in the prestigious Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. He’s earned the opportunity to travel to Tallahassee, live in a Florida State University dorm and spend eight weeks working and learning cutting-edge science with a MagLab mentor.

Marcos Corchado

Marcos was born in Manhattan, New York, but moved to Puerto Rico when he was eight. Reared by a contractor father and a stay-at-home mother, he and his twin sister both study engineering at Puerto Rico University. They’re products of a childhood spent surrounded by their dad’s blueprints and schematics.

Under the guidance of his mentor, FSU Professor Eric Hellstrom, and graduate student Jeremy Weiss, Marcos will design and build a tool called a high-heat screw press. The goal is to use it to heat-treat superconducting wire — wire that can transmit electricity without resistance if kept extremely cold — while it’s under tremendous pressure. They think the added pressure may help improve the wire’s ability to conduct electricity. Marcos’ job is to build this tool and test it to find out. If successful, this process could be used as a step in larger heat-treating processes for superconducting wires. It could also mean his first publication.

Marcos spent his first days at the lab’s Applied Superconductivity Center quietly reading in his cubicle. He’s in the materials research phase of his project. This involves browsing online catalogs, taking notes, doing calculations and compiling lists of metals or composites that could work for his project.

Marcos is also a nature macro-photography enthusiast. When he’s not in the lab, he’s exploring the Tallahassee wilderness, taking photos of plants and animals. His favorite shot so far is of cypress trees growing out of the pristine North Florida swamp at Leon Sinks.

Be sure to check back when we catch up with Marcos in a few weeks.

--- by Christopher Hill