What I Do I am a structural analyst and project manager in our research and development organization.
Why Engineering? I was always interested in astronomy and space when I was a kid. In high school I learned about aerospace engineering and really got interested when I learned how I could be involved in aircraft and spacecraft development. I always liked math and science, especially physics, so it was a great fit!
School Days I have a B.S in Aerospace Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and a M.S. in Systems Architecture & Engineering from the University of Southern California.
My Day At Work I work in structures where most of my work is analyzing designs to help optimize them. I have also participated in testing where we'll load new structures until they break to see how strong they are. I get to work with a team of people and manage schedule and budget as a project manager.
Best Part I love being able to work on challenging projects, particularly since we do a lot of development in my area. I also like that I can be a part of solving problems to help contribute to aircraft and space development!
Proud Moments When I was at Penn State, I was a founding sister of our chapter of Phi Sigma Rho, a sorority for women in engineering and engineering technology. I loved having a network of women with similar interests and got a lot out of the opportunity. I've continued to be involved in PSR since graduating and am currently the National President.
Challenges When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to study aerospace engineering but I did not always get the most encouraging response from everyone. People would tell me it was difficult and be surprised I was interested in doing it. But I had the support of all my family and friends and loved proving to everyone else that I could be an aerospace engineer.
Want to be an Engineer? Sometimes it's challenging to get through engineering, but it is well worth it when you get to do something that you love. Engineering opens a lot of opportunities and is worth the hard work!
Additional Thoughts Nicolette is the national president of Phi Sigma Rho, a national sorority just for women in engineering!
Hobbies When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. While I may have strayed from that, I've decided to learn how to fly airplanes. I'm currently in pursuit of my private pilot certificate and am loving being able to fly!