About me

Let the journey begin!

It all started with a memorable event in my childhood. Around the age of four, I had the opportunity to enter the cockpit and have the pilots demonstrate how an altitude indicator works. It was a brief demonstration, but it left a deep impression on me. To this day, I still remember how amazed I was to see the instruments nicely packed in such a small cockpit and how curious I was to learn more about the art of flying. At the end of the demonstration, I told myself that one day, I would contribute to advancing aviation technology. Little did I know that later on, I would pursue a career in this field.

First stop: Washington (WA)

Choosing a major was a daring task for a sixteen-year-old me. To me, the options were endless, and I did not know which one would suit me best. At the time, all I knew was that I wanted to choose a field I would enjoy and could be good at. After much deliberation, I decided to combine my interest in airplanes and my superb ability in mathematics and sciences and chose to explore the field of aerospace engineering. Although this process was not easy, it was even harder to follow through with my decision as people around me consistently questioned my decision and future in aerospace engineering simply because of my gender. It was not easy to stand my ground and not be deterred, but it was one of the best decisions I made in my life. So, when it is your turn to choose your major, remember to be true to yourself and follow your passion! After all, you are the one who will have to do the required work and build your career. Having said this, being open-minded to suggestions and opinions is generally good, but always remember to think critically before taking any suggestions and opinions into account.

My introduction to engineering started at Green River College (GRC) in Auburn, Washington. By enrolling in the high school completion program, I had the opportunity to take college-level courses to concurrently satisfy the requirements for high school and the first two years of college. While doing well in my courses is critical to my academic success, participating in extracurricular activities was no less important. During my studies at GRC, I was involved in the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) and served as the secretary. As an ASME member, I participated in the human-powered paper vehicle competition and various engineering projects. These activities helped me find my place and role in this male-dominated field. I also worked at the Math Learning Center as a mathematics tutor. Here, I found the joy of teaching and helping students to develop their interests in mathematics and science. At the end of my two-year education at GRC, I earned my high school diploma and Associate Degree in Science - Transfer in Other Engineering. But more importantly, I had a clearer view of what engineering is all about, which career path to take, and what it feels like to be a female in a male-dominated field. With these, I continued my education at university with the confidence that I had chosen the right major for me.

Second stop: Michigan (MI)

Upon graduation from GRC, I transferred to the University of Michigan: Ann Arbor to major in aerospace engineering and minor in mathematics. Here, I had my first research experience. Together with other engineering students, I built the electrical system of an eXtended Solar Array System (XSAS) for a CubeSat. My second research experience was to develop real-time decision-making tools for evacuations and countermeasures in unintentional industrial accidents and biological attacks from atmospheric contaminant release events. I was also lucky to find graduate students and professors who were great mentors and always glad to offer their advice and guidance. Without them, I would not get to where I am today. During my senior year, I paid it forward by serving as a UROP peer advisor to first-year, second-year, and transfer students in engineering, introducing them to research and helping them with their academics. At the end of my undergraduate years, I found my interests in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research, mentoring, and academia. With this, I decided to go to graduate school.

Third stop: California (CA)

My graduate study started at Stanford University. In about 15 months, I earned my Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Although this is my shortest stop, the experiences I obtained here and the people I met here are valuable. Here, I also learned about various career options, such as working in the industry, building a startup, joining an existing startup, or pursuing a doctoral degree. These options opened my eyes and helped me choose my next step. During my last summer at Stanford, I decided to continue my education to the doctoral level and chose Prof. Krzysztof Fidkowski as my Ph.D. advisor. As you weigh your options for graduate school, I suggest you consider the type of mentorship and access to opportunities you would get from your prospective Ph.D. advisor, not only the university name. As a doctoral program in the United States usually lasts for at least five years, you and your Ph.D. advisor will be working closely for quite some time. I cannot overstate the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with your Ph.D. advisor to make the most of your doctoral studies.

Fourth stop: Michigan (MI)

Guess where my next stop is! After intensive planning and continuous communication with Prof. Krzysztof Fidkowski, I finally got the acceptance letter to enroll in the aerospace engineering doctoral program at the University of Michigan: Ann Arbor. I was excited to join the Computational Fluid Dynamics Group (CFDG)! The hard (fun) work kicked in quickly, even more so because I added a Ph.D. in Scientific Computing to my core aerospace engineering program. After obtaining my doctoral candidacy, my focus shifted from courses to research, publications, and networking. During my doctoral study, Dr. Scott Murman invited me to visit the NASA Ames Research Center and collaborate with his research group. Not only did this collaboration help me in my research progress, but it also brought a new perspective to my problem-solving approaches and technical communication skills. In addition to research, I allocated time for building my teaching and mentoring skills. While teaching and mentoring are often considered essential only for academic careers, I believe the ability to explain your work to others and mentor others is needed regardless of your career choice. Towards the end of my doctoral study, I invested more time in learning about research projects outside my expertise, helping me to see overlapping ideas between sub-fields of aerospace engineering and think of a way to couple these ideas into new research ideas. I must say that there is no magic recipe for being a successful doctoral student and getting the most out of your doctoral program. However, I want to point out that you have the power and responsibility to take the initiative and tailor the program to your needs. Work with your Ph.D. advisor in the process. For this reason, I believe your Ph.D. advisor plays a critical role in your academic and career success.

Let's pause for a second and assess my flight path!

Now, it's time for the big question! How do you choose an optimal flight path? Again, there is no specific rule. But in general, you need to pick your starting point and plan your flight path to the best of your ability. Accept that things in life do not always work out as planned. You may need to improvise and find a different path that will take you to your destination. You may even need to reassess your optimality conditions and constraints. Remember, you are the pilot of your life! Don't get easily discouraged because sometimes, challenges and detours open up a new path that we never thought of before.

Now, it's time for the big question! How do you choose an optimal flight path? Again, there is no specific rule. But in general, you need to first pick where you start and where you want to be, and then you find the optimal flight path to the best of your ability. As you go through the process, keep in mind that things in life do not always work out as planned. At times, you need to improvise and find a different path that will take you to your destination. You may even need to reassess your optimality conditions and constraints. Remember, you are the pilot of your life, and you have the responsibilities and abilities to take actions when the unexpected comes up. Don't get easily discouraged because sometimes, challenges and detours open up a new path that we never thought of before.

Current (final?) stop: Tennessee (TN)

Well, my flight path did get me to my "final" destination. I am now a tenure-track assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Being on the other side of the academic system is exciting and challenging, but I am looking forward to what is next to come!

To summarize...

Let yourself dream big! Don't let others deter you from entering any field of expertise you are passionate about! I've been in this male-dominated field for quite some time. If I can do it,  you can too! I believe that engineering is for everyone, and if it is your passion, you will find a way to make your mark in the field.