Address:

7005 La Jolla Blvd, apt #1

La Jolla, CA 92037

Phone: (858) 405-7902

Email: melania@mpl.ucsd.edu

2003-present Scripps Institution of Oceanography San Diego, CA

·       2^nd year PhD student in Applied Ocean Science

1997–2001                  Universidad de Costa Rica San Jose, Costa Rica

·    B.S. Mechanical Engineering

2002                            NASA/Johnson Space Center Houston, TX

Internship

·    Conducted experiments with a cryogenic liquid nitrogen cooling system for a High Temperature Superconductive Magnet (HTMS). Acquired data from the HTMS while generating magnetic field and analyzed the results.

·    Developed a filament-based, electron emission probe, as a first step towards the design of a helicon plasma contactor for the International Space Station.

·    Installed and operated a Residual Gas Analyzer (RGA) Mass Spectrometer, for diagnosing plasma residues on the main plasma rocket vacuum chamber.

2001                            Universidad de Costa Rica San Jose, Costa Rica

Research Assistanship

·    Gained experience on performing spectral analysis on gas samples with an RGA.

Summer 2000              Dos Pinos                San Jose, Costa Rica

Internship

·       Engineering assistant in charge of the piping system for the construction of their $100 million plant.

2000-2001                   Universidad de Costa Rica San Jose, Costa Rica

Teaching Assistanship for “Science and Technology of Materials” course

·    Responsibilities include teaching special lectures, evaluating and grading tests, lab reports and homeworks.

Fluent in Spanish, English and German. Proficient in French.

Computer skills include: AutoCad, SolidEdge, MATLAB, Pascal, C++, Ishmael, EndNote and Microsoft Office

NAUI Open Water diving certification and Scripps Institution of Oceanography Research diver

Student Member of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA).

Recipient of two federal scientific investigation fellowships from the Costarrican Ministry of Science and Technology.

Mentor for the 2002 Texas Aerospace Scholars.

Former member of the Propulsion Team of the Amateur Spaceflight Association (ASA).

Former member of the Mechanical Engineering Student Council at the University of Costa Rica.

Former Disk Jockey at the University of Costa Rica’s cultural radio station.

Enjoy SCUBA diving, swimming, yoga, kickboxing, jogging and other outdoor activities.