My CV

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Post Doctoral Research, Texas A&M University, SEAK Lab 
July 2020-Present

Working on computationally cognitive agents (robot brains) for design automation and assistance for a major company and working on a cognitive assistant for astronauts performing space missions with NASA.

Engineering Instructor, Oregon State University
April 2018-August 2020

Teaching ENGR 248 and ME 383, for both of these classes I developed new curriculum materials that focused on the different ways students learn.

April 2018-January 2020

Integrated design of consumer electronic products from concept through manufacture, managing junior engineering staff, writing SBIR proposals, and carrying out research and development of new products and technologies. I lead mechanical, electrical, and firmware design. Won three CES Design Innovation awards.

December 2014-February 2017

Mechanical design on several products including BB-8 (from Star Wars), SPRK+, Ultimate Lightning McQueen, and the home robot Misty. Additionally, I ran research and development of potential products and feasibility testing.

Summer 2013

Development of analysis and decision-making tools for engineering project management.

Summer 2012

Development of software tools for design and manufacture of pump systems.

EDUCATION

June 2018

Completed with a 4.0 GPA. My dissertation was on creation and analysis of autonomous decision makers that face risk, uncertainty, and complexity for control of robotic systems and automated design problems. Research partially funded by the National Science Foundation.

May 2016

Received CIE Outstanding Graduate Research Award for my work on risk informed decision making, published an ICED top paper, and was a Mechanical Engineering Department Honoree. Research funding came from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and a NASA Early Stages Innovation Grant.

May 2014

Deans Gold Scholarship Recipient, member of the Engineering Honors College, and Math Minor. Additionally, I performed biomechanics and biomaterials research with Dr. Carolyn Skurla including gait modeling and analysis.

SKILLS

  • Computational Cognition
  • Robotics and Mechatronics
  • Design Automation
  • Game Theory
  • Decision Theory
  • Machine Learning
  • Design Theory and Methods (DTM)
  • Autonomous Decision Making
  • Consumer Product Design
  • Project Management
  • Mathematical Modeling
  • Computer Aided Design
  • Programming
  • Additive Manufacturing

PUBLICATIONS

Autonomous Decision Making Facing Uncertainty, Risk, and Complexity
Doctoral Dissertation, Published June 2018

A Comparison of Tree Search Methods for Graph Topology Design Problems
International Conference on-Design Computing and Cognition, 2018

Conceptual Design of Sacrificial Sub-Systems: Failure Flow Decision Functions
Research In Engineering Design, 2018

Active Mission Success Estimation through Functional Modeling
Research In Engineering Design, 2018

Autonomous System Design and Controls Design for Operations in High Risk Environments
Proceedings of the ASME 2016 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences

Towards Risk-Informed Operation of Autonomous Vehicles to Increase Resilience in Unknown and Dangerous Environments
Proceedings of the ASME 2016 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences

Design of Autonomous Systems for Survivability through Conceptual Object-Based Risk Analysis
Masters Thesis, Published May 2016

PHM Informed Robotic Mission Control
Proceedings of the AIAA RMS Annual Technical Symposium 2015

Active Mission Success Estimation through PHM-Informed Probabilistic Modelling
Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Prognostics and Health Management Society 2015

Risk Attitude Informed Route Planning in a Simulated Planetary Rover
Proceedings of the ASME 2015 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering Conference August of 2015

Rerouting Failure Flows Using Logic Blocks in Functional Models for Improved System Robustness: Failure Flow Decision Functions 
Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference on Engineering Design, July of 2015

PATENTS

Multi-body self propelled device

WO2017165283 A2

Hybrid Additive Manufacturing Method and Apparatus Made Therefrom

US20170057164A1

Charging Unit For Mobile Device

US20180191181A1

10 Currently Pending for Consumer Robotic Products

US Patent App. 29/675,567
US Patent App. 16/569,720
US Patent App. 16/569,712
US Patent App. 16/569,703
US Patent App. 16/569,715
US Patent App. 16/569,697
US Patent App. 16/569,718
US Patent App. 16/569,701
US Patent App. 16/569,722
US Patent App. 16/569,727

Presentations and Invited Talks

Deconstructing Decisions, Self-Doubt, and Imposter Syndrome
ACT-W National Conference
Portland, OR June 2019

Soroptimists International Corvallis, Ruby Award Speech Syndrome
Soroptimists International Corvallis Spring Tea
Corvallis, OR May 2019

A Comparison of Tree Search Methods for Graph Topology Design Problems
International Conference on-Design Computing and Cognition
Milan, Italy May 2018

Still We Rise – 2018 Corvallis Women’s March
Corvallis, OR January 2018

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2017 Vigil
Oregon State University

Towards Risk-Informed Operation of Autonomous Vehicles to Increase Resilience in Unknown and Dangerous Environments
International Design Engineering and Technical Conference and Computers & Information in Engineering
Charlotte, NC August 2016

Autonomous System Design and Controls Design for Operations in High Risk Environments
International Design Engineering and Technical Conference and Computers & Information in Engineering
Charlotte, NC August 2016

Design of Autonomous Systems for Survivability through Conceptual Object-Based Risk Analysis
Research Thesis Defense
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO April 2016

Prognostics Informed Rover Mission Control
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics – Rocky Mountain Section, Annual Technical Symposium
Golden, CO November 2015

On Strategy Stitching in Large Extensive Form Multiplayer Games – A Review
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO November 2015

Active Mission Success Estimation Through PHM-Informed Probabilistic Modelling
Annual Conference of the Prognostics and Health Management Society
San Diego, CA October 2015

PHM Informed Robotic Mission Control
Annual Conference of the Prognostics and Health Management Society -Doctoral Symposium
San Diego, CA October 2015

Lecture Series on Risk Informed Decision Making and Design
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO Fall 2015

Control of an Autonomous Mobile Robot through Development of Prognostics Informed Damage Aversion Functions
International Design Engineering and Technical Conference and Computers & Information in Engineering
Boston, MA August 2015

Toward a Dedicated Failure Flow Arrestor Function Methodology
International Design Engineering and Technical Conference and Computers & Information in Engineering
Boston, MA August 2015

Risk Attitude Informed Route Planning in a Simulated Mars Rover
International Design Engineering and Technical Conference and Computers & Information in Engineering
Boston, MA August 2015

Rerouting Failure Flows Using Logic Blocks in Functional Models for Improved System Robustness: Failure Flow Decision Functions
International Conference on Engineering Design
Milan, Italy (Presented in absentia) June 2015

Regional Transportation District of Denver Variability Analysis
University of Denver, Daniels School of Business
Denver, CO April 2015

Prognostics Informed Robotic Mission Control
Colorado School of Mines Mechanical Engineering Department Seminar
Golden, CO April 2015

Optimized Failure Flow in a Planetary Rover
Conference of Earth Energy & Research
Golden, CO February 2015

Sensitivity Analysis of FAST (Fatigue, Aerodynamics, Structures, and Turbulence)
NREL Wind Facility
Boulder, CO December 2014

Awards and Recognitions

Soroptimists International Ruby Award for Women Helping Women Research
Soroptimists International Corvallis
Corvallis, OR
May 2019

CIE Outstanding Graduate Research
ASME IDETC/CIE
Charlotte, NC
August 2016

PHM Society Doctoral Symposium Selection
PHM Society Annual Conference
San Diego, CA
October 2015

ICED Top Paper Award
ICED Annual Conference
Milan, Italy
June 2015

Mechanical Engineering Departmental Honoree Finalist
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO
April 2015

University of Denver Analytic Challenge 2nd Place
University of Denver, Daniels School of Business
Denver, CO
April 2015

Conference on Earth Energy & Research, Graduate Poster Presentation Runner Up
Conference of Earth Energy & Research
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, CO
February 2015

Waco Interweave Lifetime Achievement in LGBTQ Advocacy Award
Waco Interweave
Waco, Texas
May 2014

Self-Proclaimed “Icon of Queer Grace and Perfection”
Awarded by myself
Everywhere
Everyday