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.
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