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Annika T

- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Expertise

Robotics, Systems Engineering; Control Systems; Automation; Aerospace Engineering; Physics; Mechanical Engineering

Bio

Annika Thomas is a PhD student studying Mechanical Engineering at MIT. She holds a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia and a bachelor's degree in Math and Physics from College of Idaho. She has spent the last seven years conducting research related to autonomous robotic systems, spacecraft thermal and structural design, microfluidics, dark matter, massive star formation, and propulsion systems. Annika is passionate about research and plans to pursue an occupation working on automated spacecrafts for space exploration missions. Annika's favorite book is Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and her favorite movie is Interstellar. When she's not studying, you can find her rock climbing, taking photographs, snowboarding or golfing with friends.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Machine Learning to Characterize Massive Star Formation

Using images of the milky way galaxy in combination with gas clump composition, this project aims to characterize and sequence the stages of massive star formation utilizing perception techniques in machine learning.

Design of a CubeSat

In this project, you will design all components of a functional Cube Satellite (CubeSat) with a payload of your choice. This project will involve Computer Aided Design as well as simulation to verify thermal and structural performance of your design. This project involves an option to physically construct the CubeSat depending on funding constraints.

Coding skills

C++, Matlab, Python, Java, R Studio, Mathematica

Languages I know

Spanish, Intermediate

Teaching experience

I've taught students ranging from middle school students to undergraduates over the last seven years with a focus in STEM fields. I have private tutored high school students in geometry, algebra, calculus, and physics. I worked at Vallivue Middle School for a year tutoring middle school students with the AVID program. At College of Idaho, I was a lead tutor at the academic support center where I tutored undergraduate students in mathematics, Spanish, physics and computer science as well as trained new tutors. At Columbia University, I worked in the Tutoring and Learning Center to teach high school students geometry and calculus as well as develop materials for tutors to use during their sessions. I also worked with Professor Yesilevskiy at Columbia University to redesign a mechanical engineering laboratory course to be directed at student-driven learning. I taught with Columbia's SHAPE program, an engineering outreach program aimed at providing high school students with an immersive engineering learning experience.

Credentials

Work experience

University of Idaho (2017 - 2017)
Lab Technician
Boise State University (2018 - 2018)
Materials for Society REU Participant
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2019 - 2019)
Physics REU Participant
Stanford University (2020 - 2020)
SURF Program Participant

Education

Columbia University
BS Bachelor of Science
Mechanical Engineering
Albertson College of Idaho
BS Bachelor of Science (2019)
Mathematics & Physics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MS Master of Science
Control Systems and Aerospace Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Mechanical Engineering and Statistics

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