About Paluxy Scientific
Paluxy Scientific is a scientific consulting company serving Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth. We bring together the expertise of siblings Zach and Madeline Brown, whose backgrounds span experimental physics, photonics, and electrical engineering.
Our experience includes building optical systems, developing measurement techniques, and modeling the behavior of materials and devices. We understand the work involved in taking an idea from an initial question to an experiment—and the judgment required to determine what the results actually mean.
Zach Brown PhD, Experimental Condensed Matter Physicist
I’m an experimental physicist with a practical, hands-on approach to solving technical problems, from routine measurements to complex system design. I am an expert in I work methodically, with a data-first mindset and a focus on intuition, reasoning, and a clear understanding of underlying mechanisms. I’m driven by the conviction that technical work should create real value—whether by solving pressing problems, enabling innovation, or opening new opportunities.
My strengths include optical system design, electronics, novel measurement techniques, and data analysis/interpretation. I’ve built custom instruments capable of performing entirely new types of measurements. While I love delicate hands-on experimentation, I also enjoy automating my systems and designing user interfaces that make them accessible to others. In my previous lab, I actively trained colleagues and ensured that setups were intuitive and maintainable. I’m comfortable bridging mechanical, electrical, and computational domains, and I prioritize reliability, clarity, and efficiency in every project. I’m also skilled at working within tight resource constraints, often developing creative, low-cost solutions without compromising performance.
Madeline Brown PhD, Experimental Photonics Electrical Engineer
I’m a photonics researcher with a PhD in electrical engineering and a background in physics. My work combines optical experiments, computational modeling, and data analysis to understand how materials and devices behave. I like taking a question that doesn’t have an obvious answer and figuring out what to measure, which assumptions to test, and how to make sense of the results. When something doesn’t work as expected, I’m persistent about understanding why. I value careful experiments and clear explanations, especially when the findings will guide a design choice or the next stage of a project.
My experience includes designing and building ultrafast optical setups, characterizing nonlinear materials and semiconductor structures, and modeling optical and electromagnetic behavior in COMSOL. I use MATLAB to automate measurements, control instruments, and develop analysis routines, and I’ve carried research projects from initial planning through setup development, troubleshooting, and interpretation. I pay close attention to the details that make a measurement reliable, including controls, repeatability, and sources of uncertainty. I also enjoy improving how experiments run, whether that means integrating equipment, reducing manual steps, or finding a more effective way to analyze the data. I want the systems and methods I develop to be useful to the people who continue working with them.
Working With Us
Every project starts with a conversation about the technical question, what has already been tried, and what a useful outcome would look like. We establish a scope that reflects your goals, available resources, and the work needed to address the problem.
Throughout a project, we explain our methods, discuss findings, and identify questions that need further investigation. When results point in an unexpected direction, we work through what they mean and how they affect the next step. Depending on the scope, our involvement may include work at your facility, remote modeling and analysis, or a combination of both.
Tell Us About Your Project
Share what you’re working on, where you’re encountering difficulties, and what you hope to accomplish. We’ll discuss how our experience fits your needs and what an initial scope of work could involve.