How would you describe your job to someone standing behind you in the grocery checkout line?
I work in a materials science laboratory, in the Chemical Analysis Branch. I test metal alloys to determine the elemental composition of the material. These materials are used for Space Shuttle and ground support engineering operations.

What is your educational background?
I have a BS in Chemistry from Spelman College, and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida.

What path did you take to get where you are now?
It all started in 1986, the summer between my junior and senior year in high school. I participated in SHARP: Summer High School Apprentice Research Program. SHARP is an intensive program designed to introduce high school students to science and engineering disciplines and NASA/KSC. My chemistry teacher found out about the program and four of us from the Daytona Beach area participated in the program. SHARP was a wonderful experience and I was truly grateful to NASA for the opportunity to be a participant. After SHARP, I thought I'd never see NASA again. Before I graduated from high school, the manager of the SHARP program remembered me, and called to let me know that Spelman College had recently received a grant from NASA to fund the Women In Science and Engineering (WISE), a scholars program. This scholarship included tuition support and a summer internship with NASA for four years.

How did you get your current job?
I worked in this lab during one of my summer internships. When I graduated from Spelman and NASA offered me a permanent position I requested to come and work in the NASA labs.

What do you consider to be your key career decisions?
Initially, it was Mrs. Aumiller, my high school Chemistry teacher who influenced me to study Chemistry. She made chemistry and learning fun. But when I discovered I really liked chemistry, especially after such a great summer with NASA, I decided to major in Chemistry/Pre-Law. The next step that brought me closer to a career with NASA was obtaining the Spelman WISE scholarship. After I graduated, I really was not sure if I wanted to go to graduate school and earn a PhD or start working full-time. When NASA offered me a job, I immediately accepted the position and I have not regretted my decision.

What is your ultimate career goal?
Ultimately for NASA, you can either stay in the technical field or go on the management track. My goal is to become a technical expert in metal alloy analysis for materials used at KSC.

What kinds of people do well at NASA?
People who are willing to change. I can honestly say that when I started in the lab I was doing work that I was trained to do. However, there were a lot of things I had to learn that didn't necessarily apply to chemistry-skills I didn't even know I had. You have to be flexible in order to work for NASA. Even though our primary mission is to launch the space shuttle, there are times when secondary duties have to be done.

What scientific backgrounds does your lab look for?
Chemistry, materials science, physicists, chemical engineering. Materials science involves a lot of disciplines-metallurgy, concrete technology, ceramics engineers, and corrosion engineers, to name a few. It depends on the particular area that you're looking at.

What is your typical day like? Is there such a thing?
Oh, my goodness, no. Our laboratory is a non-routine laboratory. That means we do not have a schedule for the types of samples we will receive or when we will receive them. Our mission is to provide non-biased analysis to NASA, contractors, other government agencies and universities. There are contractor laboratories on Center that perform routine analysis.

What do you like about your job? What don't you like?
I like that we don't do routine analysis. Each sample seems to present a fresh challenge for us. Not only does it push us to our limits but in supporting KSC and NASA with the problems that do come up.

There are different aspects about everybody's job that they don't like. There are days when the bureaucracy becomes a burden, but you just get over it and get the job done. The immediate group I work with is great.

What have been your most interesting projects or opportunities?
One of my most interesting projects was when I got a vial of astronaut sweat as a sample. This occurred several years ago, but I do recall asking the gentleman I was working with how he obtained a standard in order to compare the sample to. He told me that he went outside, mowed his lawn, and collected his own sweat as the standard

If you had it all to do over again, what would you do differently about your career?
Go back and take differential equations in order to do a PhD in Materials Science. I don't even remember calculus! Once you get out of school and start working full-time it becomes difficult to juggle your immediate responsibilities.

Who are your role models?
Mrs. Aumiller and my parents. Mrs. Aumiller inspired me to have a love for Chemistry. My parents inspired me to love learning and to be the best that I can be.

What do you do when you're not at work?
I stay very active in my church and my husband and I also travel throughout the year.

What is the most rewarding thing about what you do?
The most rewarding things are the opportunities that NASA affords its employees. I was able to get my Master's degree and I have traveled, worked with young people through some of the mentoring programs that NASA have and I enjoy my work and my co-workers. The list goes on and on. I have learned a lot because of NASA and I try to pass that knowledge along.

What advice do you have for others who want a job like yours?
Study hard. I had to have the right grades and work hard for them. I've told the kids I tutor to read, to study hard, and to make sure that science is what they want to do. There are many summer programs out there so go and experience different things. It's okay if something doesn't work out or they change their mind afterward. That's how they learn and find out what is right for them.