Life After Davis: NASA and Prediction

I spent 10 wonderful years at Davis, completing both my B.S. and Ph.D. in the Department. During my final year of grad school, I interned as a Pathways intern at NASA’s Ames Research Center, and after completing my Ph.D. in 2021, joined NASA as a full time research scientist. 

At NASA, I work with the Diagnostics and Prognostics research team. Prognostics is the science of prediction, and my team develops new tools and technologies that monitor systems, like a battery on a drone or a component on the International Space Station, and predict how they will degrade with use. One application of this work is emerging operations in aerospace through NASA’s System-Wide Safety project. As new aircraft become common, like drones delivering pizzas or electric air taxis transporting passengers between cities, predictive technologies will be needed to ensure vehicle and passenger safety. I contribute new algorithms to this project that make sure drones fly safely through airspace without crashing into buildings or falling to the ground. 

I love working at NASA. My days are filled with unique research that feels meaningful, and I’m surrounded by curious and kind colleagues. I’m grateful for my time at Davis for preparing me to contribute to this impactful organization. 
Outside of NASA, my husband and I got married in 2023 and now live in Seattle, Washington. We recently welcomed a new puppy to our family, and we love spending our weekends on long dog walks exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest. 

Katy’s team was recently awarded NASA’s 2024 Software of the Year for their Python package, ProgPy. The software is for use in predicting how a system (motor, battery, etc) will degrade with use. Prognostics are used to prevent failure, improve safety, and reduce maintenance costs. ProgPy was awarded for it’s robustness and ease of use in a variety of industries, without a lot of overhead. Available on github. Congratulations team!