Melissa Green

Summary

Melissa Green, an engineer at Ascent Laboratories, discusses her dynamic role in aerospace technology, primarily working on hypersonics for NASA and the U.S. Air Force. With a Bachelor's in Environmental Research Engineering, she outlines her daily tasks, from test engineering and safety protocol implementation to complex systems integration. Melissa emphasizes the importance of problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability in engineering, reflecting on her diverse career path that began with environmental compliance and transitioned to cutting-edge aerospace research. She encourages aspiring engineers to pursue their passions while being open to continuous learning and adapting to new challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 Melissa Green works at Ascents Laboratories, focusing on aerospace technology development for NASA and the U.S. Air Force.
• 🧪 She holds a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Research Engineering from Humboldt University.
• 🔧 Melissa's daily responsibilities include preparing experiments, ensuring equipment readiness, and overseeing safety protocols during testing.
• 🔍 During research phases, she integrates off-the-shelf technologies and performs failure mode analysis to identify potential risks.
• 🧠 Engineering is viewed as a thought process for problem-solving, emphasizing systems engineering over traditional math-heavy approaches.
• 📉 As a test engineer, she uses less math than her colleagues in fluid dynamics, who focus on more complex calculations.
• 📚 Critical reading and comprehension of technical documents are essential skills for her role as a research engineer.
• 👩‍🔬 Melissa's career path included internships and roles in environmental compliance before transitioning to aerospace technology.
• 🏫 High school education in college prep classes focusing on math and science helped prepare her for a career in engineering.
• 🌱 Melissa emphasizes the importance of following one's interests and being open to new information in the engineering field.

Q & A

What is Melissa Green's educational background?

Melissa Green holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Research Engineering from Humboldt University.

What type of company does Melissa work for?

Melissa works for Ascent Laboratories, an aerospace technology development company that conducts research primarily for NASA and the U.S. Air Force, focusing on hypersonics and tunnel applications.

What are Melissa's primary responsibilities when testing is taking place?

During testing, Melissa acts as the test engineer, preparing experiments, ensuring equipment is ready, verifying safety protocols, printing checklists, coordinating staff, and conducting the test.

How does the engineering process relate to Melissa's daily work?

Melissa views engineering as a thought process that involves logically anticipating outcomes and ensuring all possibilities are considered, rather than solely relying on mathematical equations.

What skills does Melissa consider essential for a research engineer?

Melissa emphasizes the importance of being able to read and comprehend technical literature, integrate information from various sources, and understand the specifications of different components.

How did Melissa's career path lead her to her current position?

Melissa's career began with an internship at Oak Ridge National Lab, followed by roles in environmental compliance for the U.S. Army and pollution prevention for the Navy, before joining Ascent Laboratories to work on biofuels and eventually aerospace projects.

What does Melissa wish she had focused on more during her education?

Melissa wishes she had paid more attention to her physics and electronics classes, as she now realizes the importance of having a solid understanding of electronics in her engineering work.

What advice does Melissa give to those interested in pursuing a career in engineering?

Melissa advises pursuing interests that excite you, being open to learning, and recognizing that science involves adapting to new facts and being prepared to revise your understanding based on experimental results.

What does Melissa love most about her job currently?

Melissa enjoys her job because it allows her to balance work with her personal life and appreciates the satisfaction of successfully building complex equipment that operates as intended.

How does Melissa incorporate safety protocols in her work?

Melissa ensures safety protocols are in place by performing thorough checks and conducting failure mode analyses to predict and mitigate risks associated with chemical experiments.