Alex Bulk joined NREL in 2019 after working in trace explosives detection research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he worked to design aerodynamic sampling systems to collect and detect trace explosives. While at NIST, Bulk performed research toward developing standards for chemical detection systems and studied the mechanics of microparticle adhesion. Bulk has a strong background in fluid mechanics, experimental design, and image processing/statistics through his research at NIST as well as from his previous graduate research in cardiovascular mechanics at Colorado State University.

Alex has developed flow-analysis image processing software to integrate microscopic, high-speed videos bisecting the embryonic heart of animal models in order to measure flow characteristics to identify and diagnose congenital heart defects. Alex has also performed research toward developing a device to analyze burn severity through measurement of blood perfusion at the skin surface.