SHPE - Fall 2008 - (Page 58)

PROGRAMS & SERVICES motors to generators and control systems for water treatment projects in Montana and Guam. “This internship is incomparable to other job experiences,” he said. “They train you and are actually counting on your work. Since you’re an intern, they know that you are going to ask a bunch of questions, and they like that because it shows that you are willing to learn.” Electrical engineering student Nahum Torres worked as a designer developing the electrical infrastructure for water treatment facilities. In this role he drafted layouts for power distribution, lighting and control systems. “I learned how to communicate with different engineering disciplines as well as the importance of paying attention to detail and delivering my best work,” Torres said. “This internship opened my eyes to the power distribution and control systems fields and confirmed that I made the right decision in pursuing a career in electrical engineering.” CDM expressed interest in hiring him after graduation. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Internship SHPE and NASA Marshall have had a four-year partnership through this internship program. Going into the fourth year, Marshall representatives have selected more students than any previous year, and they are consistently satisfied with the work SHPE students produce and the quality of applicants they receive. Students each received a $5,000 summer stipend and travel to a 10-week internship in Huntsville, Alabama. This year’s recipients include: Gabriel Montemayor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Neyvin De Leon, Cornell University; Pamela Valdez, University of Texas at El Paso; Noemi Torres, The University of Alabama in Huntsville; Zenia Garcia, University of Texas at El Paso; Marcus LaRose, University of Texas at San Antonio; Luis Bill, Skyline Community College; and Omar Fabian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mechanical engineering student Neyvin De Leon was assigned to making non-intrusive, cost-effective optical sensors (rather than electrical sensors) from existing lab equipment. He really enjoyed the freedom of the work environment. “At times I felt as if I was being treated as Ph.D. student,” he said. “They tell me what the goal is, and they expect me to arrive there using my knowledge and the resources at hand. Also, there are a lot of professionals that I can always ask, but they really rely on me. They are confident in my abilities, and I really appreciate it. The most valuable thing I gained was the knowledge that I am in the right career field and that aerospace is where I want to be. It’s nice that I realized that in my sophomore year.” Pamela Y. Valdez, an electrical and computer engineering student, was assigned to the Control Electronics and Signal Conditioning Electronics department. Her project included designing, analyzing, building and testing a thermostat for multiple purposes. “Since I was a kid I wanted to know how NASA worked,” she said. “It has been rewarding to get handson experience in my field of study. It has made me feel more interested in my degree because now I know what it is like to work as an engineer in the real world.” Omar Fabián worked in the Materials and Processes Laboratory. There he collaborated with a team of scientists who are developing an electrochemical method for efficiently extracting oxygen, a key component of life and rocket fuel, from lunar soil. Since the project is still in its nascent stages, he used spectroscopic methods to characterize the solubilizing chemicals for use in the process. “While I could readily forecast the contribution of materials science in nanotechnology, I never really considered what advances the discipline held for space technology and exploration,” he said. “Being a part of this critical first step in enabling future space habitations…is undeniably exciting and has really put the work of scientists and engineers in perspective.” In the fall, Fabian starts his Ph.D. in materials science at the University of Texas at Austin. Computer science major Noemi Torres was assigned to EV43, where she worked on rewriting the graphical user interface for a data analysis software program to make it accessible for the blind. Another project involved an interface for object avoidance and detection on the SICK-LIDAR 200. “This internship has not only improved my selfesteem, but also helped me accept the fact that hard work does indeed pay off,” she said. Mechanical engineering sophomore Luis Bill, was a research associate at the NASA Robotics Academy. He worked on the Return to the Moon project, a partnership between the University of Alabama in Huntsville and MSFC, which focuses on navigation, hazard avoidance and localization of an autonomous lunar terrain robot. The research includes study of a variety of navigation systems (including beacon-, stellar- and GPS-based solutions) as well as some physical construction, sensor development, computer programming and actuator development. The robot’s mission was to locate and autonomously navigate itself to radio beacon goal points. “I learned so much about robotics, which is my passion,” he said. “Collaborating with my co-workers taught me the importance of being a strong team player in order to get the job done efficiently.” To watch videos of the robot tests, visit http://www.youtube. com/user/NASAROBOTICS. ■ During internships at MSFC Luis Bill worked on an autonomous lunar robot while Neyvin De Leon worked on optical sensors. 58 SHPE ❘ Fall 2008 http://www.youtube.com/user/NASAROBOTICS http://www.youtube.com/user/NASAROBOTICS

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Fall 2008

SHPE - Fall 2008 Contents President's Letter From the Vice President Calendar of Events National Board of Directors The Great '08: Chapter Leaders Learn to Spread 'SHPE Fever' Browser National Retreat Provides a Redefinition An Engineer and a Politician Capitalizing on Engineering Talent Grupos de Afinidad A Focused Approach to Getting the Job You Really Want SHPE Conference 2008 IPC Update Programs & Services Keeping Warm with 'Yuper' Familia Spirit Promise of Spring Recruit, Engage and Retain Regional Student Representatives Regional Roundup Advertisers Index

SHPE - Fall 2008

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