Physicist gone Software Developer with a demonstrated history of working in a broad range of industries. Strong interest in Software Development, with programming languages including Javascript/Typescript, C, Python, Ruby, CSS, HTML5, MatLab and Golang. Top frameworks are React, Next.js, Ruby on Rails, and EmberZNet. Experienced with full-stack web development and cloud computing on AWS. Knowledge of embedded systems, working with Silicon Labs Mighty Gecko Cortex M4 Series building mesh connected devices over Zigbee. A physicist skilled in numerical modeling in the fields of Reservoir Geomechanics and Geophysics. Formal education includes a Master of Science (M.Sc.) from the Department of Physics at the University of Alberta and a B.Sc. in Pure and Applied Mathematics from the University of Calgary (First Class Honours).
Embedded systems and full stack web development
This project consumed a big chunk of my time; working in the IoT world programming up a Zigbee connected microcontroller using Silicon Labs EFR32MG13P series. The controller can be configured to work with 1-5 channel led lighting strips. I did all the embedded firmware on the controller along with a supporting Android/iOS app, and cloud services.
The controller is embedded C, working with the Mighty Gecko series with EmberZnet and Bluetooth. The EmberZnet framework left me predominantly in the application layer, where all the heavy lifting of the mesh network is taken care of by Silicon Labs's Zigbee Libraries and plugins. There's a Micrium RTOS with tasks switching between Bluetooth Low Energy and Zigbee.
The android/iOS app is built out with React Native which allows for rapid UI development for both iOS and android. In order to interface with the native bluetooth libraries for both Android and iOS I bridged the react native code to some lower level native drivers in Swift and Java.
Cloud services with Node.js, AWS ECS, lambda functions, and terraform.
University of Alberta - Geomechanical Modeling of Rock Fracturing and Microseismiticty
Some work with my previous M.Sc professor, Mirko van der Baan, at the University of Alberta, running/analyzing Numerical Simulations to better understand the micromechanics of rock fracturing and it's associated microseismicity. You can check out our most recent JGR publication here. I also put together d3.js visualizations for the figures in the paper which you can see here. Visualizations built out with d3.js and Angular.js, and the webserver written in Go.
41 Signal Regiment - Reserve Signal Officer
Signal Troop commander and operations officer at 41 Signal Regiment retired as a Captain in 2020.
Programming Languages
Javascript/TypeScript · C · Python · Ruby · Golang
The languages I'm predominantly working in right now. Javascript/Typescript, well it's the language that powers the web, and the web powers the internet, the internet powers the world... C, the ability to drop an assembly instructions in the middle of one's code is a testament to how low level the language is. It can be painful at times, but I really enjoy it. Python, it is just so easy to pull stuff together and get up and running quick. There's a python library for everything. Ruby, I'm a pretty big fan of RoR. Golang is such a concise language, it feels like a blend of Python, Javascript and C. Huge fan of the languages forced error handling. The language seems to drive proper coding etiquette by it's very nature.
Favorite Podcasts
Linux Unplugged · Security Now · Embedded · Hacking Humans · Coding Blocks
On going professional development and learning ...
Some of my top highlights so far are/were:
Next on the list
Hobbies/Interests
When I'm not working I like to go snowboarding in the winters, learning spanish and I like to get away to travel whenever I can, my most recent travels took me to Italy and Argentina.
Conference abstracts and publications
Mirko van der Baan and Drew Chorney (2019) Insights From Micromechanical Modeling of Intact Rock Failure: Event Characteristics, Stress Drops, and Force Networks, JGR Solid Earth. See Figures here.
Chorney D.R, M. Mack, and S.C. Maxwell (2016) Hydraulic Fracture Sensitivity Study with a Fully-Coupled Microseismic Geomechanics Model, American Rock Mechanics Association.
Grob M., F. Zhang, S.C. Maxwell, D.R. Chorney, and M. Mack (2016) Geomechanical Modeling of Induced Seismicity Associated with Triggered Fault Slip during Multi-Stage Hydraulic Fracturing, CSEG GeoConvention.
Smith M, S.D. Goodfellow, D.R Chorney, and S.C. Maxwell (2016) Investigation of Increased Microseismic Deformation along a Hydraulic Fracture Treatment Well, CSEG GeoConvention.
Chorney D.R, B. Lee, and S.C. Maxwell (2016) Microseismic Geomechanical Modeling of Asymmetry of an Upper Montney Hydraulic Fracture, CSEG GeoConvention.
S.C. Maxwell, M. Mack, F. Zhang, D. Chorney, S.D. Goodfellow and M. Grob (2015) Differentiating Wet and Dry Microseismic Events Induced During Hydraulic Fracturing, URTEC.
S.C. Maxwell, D. Chorney, and S.D. Goodfellow. (2015) Microseismic Geomechanics of Hydraulic-Fracture Networks: Insights into Mechanisms of Microseismic Sources, The Leading Edge.
Chorney D.R., and S.C Maxwell (2015) Reservoir Characterization for Improved Fracture Modeling and Microseismic Prediction, Society of Exploration Geophysics, New Orleans
Zhang F., D. Chorney, M. Grob, S. Maxwell, B. Damjanac, and J. Hazzard. (2015) Effects of Hydraulic Fracture Crossing Natural Fractures: Numerical Study Using Hybrid Discrete-Continuum Modeling, International Symposium on Rock Mechanics.
Chorney D., Jain P., Grob M., and Van der Baan M. (2014) Numerical Analysis of Acoustic Emissions, the Radiated Energy and their Moment Tensors in Triaxial Deformation Tests, American Rock Mechanics Association.
Chorney D., P. Jain, M. Grob and M. Van der Baan. (2013) Modeling of Microseismicity Associated with Rock Deformation and Fracturing, GeoConvention, CSEG.
Chorney D., Jain P., Grob M., and Van der Baan M. (2012) Geomechanical modeling of rock fracturing and associated microseismicty, The Leading Edge.