Feel free to scroll my full resume/cv below or click the button below for a pdf version.

Most details and images of the specific projects listed here can be located in the "Robotic Projects" page

Education

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Aug. 2019 - December 2024

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (GPA:3.74/4.00)

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA

Aug. 2014 - May 2019

Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Minor in Astronomy (GPA:3.25/4.00) 

Relevant Coursework

• Modeling & Simulation of Multibody Dynamic Systems

• Robotic Systems Simulation and Analysis

• Advanced Mechatronics

• Bayesian Robotics

• Physical Simulation Concepts for Robotics

• Space Vehicle Design

• Finite Element in Machine Design

• Numerical Methods

• Model-Based Systems Architecture

Work Experience

Graduate Research Assistant 

Field and Space Experimental Robotics (FASER) LAB, Virginia Tech

Aug. 2014 - May 2019

• Constructed and implemented robotic agents and test stands for viability trials of in-space assembly research topics

• Developed analytical code base for evaluating damaged structures and their responses to external loading conditions both intentional and environmental

• Managed teams of undergraduate researchers to construct and test hardware elements for critical demonstrations

Structural Mechanics and Concepts Intern 

NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA

June 2017-August 2017, June 2018-August 2018

• Collaborated with a team to run in-space assembly demos for the CIRAS and Assemblers projects

• Worked on the electronics and Simulink models/MATLAB code to control the system

• Designed, built, and tested an interlocking universal connection for modular assembly robots

Engineering Outreach Student Assistant 

College of Engineering Cal Poly Pomona, CA

June 2016 – August 2019

• Organized and hosted events throughout the year for prospective and grade school students

• Developed and taught engineering curriculum and projects for grade school girls through the Femineers Program

• Assisted training classes of teachers during summer engineering programs

• Gave outreach presentations to inspire kids and share my past PLTW, VEX robotics, and internship experiences

Rotorcraft Aeromechanics Intern 

NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, CA

June 2015 – August 2015

• Cooperated with a small team to create CAD and physical models of various wind tunnel models

• Served as the Safety of Flight Inspector for a Boeing project in the 40x80 foot wind tunnel

• Worked towards fabricating a scale model of the 7x10 foot wind tunnel test section for a museum display

Projects

Dissertation — Active Forcing for Stabilization of Damaged Structures

Fall 2019 - Fall 2024

• Utilize finite element calculation in both Python and Abaqus to generate structural response data

• Implement sensor feedback and state estimation to drive damaged structures back into alignment for repair using intelligent scaffolding

• Generate and execute force paths to reduce additional damage to the truss structure

Dissertation — Built on Orbit Robotically-assembled Gigatruss (BORG)

Spring 2021 - Spring 2024

• Employed active forcing on unsupported assembly elements to stabilize working conditions for close-out insertions

• Developed a mixed assembly scheme of assembled and deployed elements

• Fabricated the BORG architecture elements and ran a series of hand and robotic assembly demonstrations

• Coordinated a team of heterogeneous robots in performing these assembly tasks

Assemblers

Summer 2018, Fall 2019-Fall 2020

• Refined the ball joint housing design for repeated stacks of Stewart Platforms

• Ran a series of pose demonstrations to validate the operational reach of the serialized parallel robots

• Constructed and tested with additional platforms for use in inter-agency collaboration

Commercial Infrastructure for Robotic Assembly and Services (CIRAS)

Summer 2017

• Established proper feedback and control to the NINJAR large industrial linear actuators

• Facilitated real-time data streaming through the Speedgoat system

• Aided in running multiple demonstrations for in-space assembly tasks where struts were assembled within 5mm and 3 degrees of accuracy

• Designed, refined, and assembled hardware and electronics elements for the NINJAR ground demonstration

Deputy Lead — Reusable Lunar Surface Access Vehicle

Fall 2019-Fall 2020

• Designed a craft capable of transit between the lunar surface and Deep Space Gateway hauling people and cargo

• Lead a team to meet specified deliverables for project reviews and presentations leading to submission for the 2019 AIAA Space Design Competition

• Preformed structural calculations for mission operations and maintained a CAD model to reflect design changes

• Ensured all subsystems strictly met NASA technical standards for crewed and uncrewed spacecraft systems

Team Lead — Interplanetary CubeSat Solar Sail

Fall 2015-Spring 2018

• Constructed a mission to prove the efficiency of solar sails utilizing solar radiation pressure

• Created a solar sail design for interplanetary missions housed in a CubeSat

• Led the structures team that created a scale model applying complex folding techniques

Publications

• Chapin, S.*, Everson, H.*, Chapin, W., Quartaro, A., and Komendera, E. (2023). Built On-orbit Robotically Assembled
  Gigatruss (Borg): A Mixed Assembly Architecture Trade Study. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 10.
  https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2023.1109131

• H. Everson, J. Moser, A. Quartaro, S. Glassner, E.E. Komendera, 2020. Autonomous Multi-Robot Assembly of Solar
  Array Modules: Experimental Analysis and Insights. 2020 International Conference on Intelligent Robots and
  Systems, Las Vegas, October 2020. https://doi.org/10.1109/IROS45743.2020.9341298

• Joshua Moser, Melanie Rose Anderson, Holly Everson, Amy Quartaro, William D. Chapin, Benjamin Beach, Julia
  Hoffman, Robert Hildebrand, Erik E. Komendera. Recent Developments in Robust, Accurate Autonomous Assembly
  Methods for Surface and Orbital Structures. ASCEND 2020 https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2020-4270

• H. Everson et al. (2018) Interplanetary CubeSat Solar Sail Mission. 2018 AIAA Region VI Conference, Davis, CA.

Technical Skills

Awards/Honors

• (2019 - Current) New Horizons Graduate Scholar

• (2019 - 2024) ICTAS Doctoral Scholar

• 2018 TE Connectivity Scholarship through SWE

• 2016 Outstanding Aerospace Sophomore

• Recipient of a Boeing scholarship 2015 and 2016

• Recipient of the NASA Aeronautics Scholarship 2014

Memberships

• Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 

  • • Student Chapter: Vice President (2018), Secretary (2017), Lower Class Representative (2016)

• Member, Space Automation and Robotics Technical Committee (SARTC)

• Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

• Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

• Member, Society of Women in Engineering (SWE)

• Ambassador, CPP Women in Engineering 2015-2019