{"id":23570,"date":"2023-02-01T15:16:04","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T15:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/?p=23570"},"modified":"2024-03-22T11:40:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T18:40:13","slug":"career-switch-software-engineering-nasa-internships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/stem\/news\/2023\/02\/01\/career-switch-software-engineering-nasa-internships","title":{"rendered":"Career switch to software engineering led to five NASA internships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By: Lacey Arnold (photographs provided by Tyler Choi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler Choi was studying political science and economics to prepare for law school, but as graduation neared, he wasn\u2019t sure if this was the right path. He started to ask himself big life questions: Is this something I want to do? Am I being pressured down this path?
\n
\nAfter realizing he wasn\u2019t committed to law school Tyler went to work as a financial advisor for a few years while figuring out his next step. While working in finance Tyler became aware of how technology was shaping our future society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tyler<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought, maybe if I\u2019m going to make a career switch and jump into tech that now might be the time to do so,\u201d said Tyler. \u201cOf course, I was riddled with anxiety and doubt because doing anything like that is very scary.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support network to make the switch <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having a brother and father working in the field of computer science gave Tyler the knowledge that it would be a tough switch, but the confidence that he could do it. In his exploration of programs, he found the nine-month Graduate Certificate in Software Design & Development<\/a> with a pathway for admission into a master\u2019s program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Tyler could apply, he had to complete a few prerequisite courses in programming I, programming II and college-level calculus at a local community college. Being new to tech and starting at zero, Tyler fought through the anxiety of doing something new. He knew the industry was competitive and felt like he was one of many jumping into tech, but even though the barrier to entry was high he knew the tech industry had a lot to offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler recognized that he was making the switch in the greater Seattle area and felt fortunate that this area is so tech responsive. A few of his friends working at Microsoft and Amazon gave him some advice: find an internship your very first summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being new to tech with barely a few prerequisites courses complete, Tyler didn\u2019t think that advice was going to work. While looking for internships, he completed the prerequisites courses and applied to the graduate certificate for autumn 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landing his first NASA internship <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As someone fascinated by space, stars and the moon, Tyler applied to several different National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) internships and only heard back from one that he\u2019d been selected: software engineer at the Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California.
\n\u201cHaving applied to the graduate certificate gave me a boost in my application. But what I noticed is that NASA really values not just academic experience, but community experience and how involved you are in your school community,\u201d said Tyler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"""\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201c足彩app哪个是正规的 most important thing I recognized that is different with NASA, and perhaps the private sector, is that NASA really values nurturing people who aspire to become future leaders and those who are generally interested in space.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virtual mentorship across five centers <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tyler\u2019s first internship at Ames went so well that it set the stage for continuing to work with NASA over the coming years. NASA leaders motivated Tyler to apply to intern at other centers. 足彩app哪个是正规的 pivot from on-site to virtual internships during the pandemic made it possible for Tyler to stay in Washington and experience working at five different centers all over the country: (Ames Research, Kennedy Space, Langley Research, Marshall Space Flight, HQ) all over the country and collaborate with NASA partners worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI genuinely enjoyed the work experience, and just being able to work on specific missions that will support the future of space endeavors,\u201d said Tyler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NASA hosted virtual gatherings to encourage intern networking and invited speakers to give seminars. Tyler remembers an incredible seminar presented by the chief principal of the James Webb Space Telescope, listening to astronauts share their space and training experiences, and watching presentations on the failures and mistakes NASA has made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c足彩app哪个是正规的re was a balance of intellectually intriguing presentations, but also these somber, important lessons and reflections that all emphasized the point that NASA doesn\u2019t give up,\u201d said Tyler. \u201cIf you fail, you fail, and you figure out what went wrong and try to do it again.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exploring the Moon, science and Mars <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the first Ames internship, Tyler helped build a 3D map of the Moon\u2014imagine Google Earth, but for the Moon. 足彩app哪个是正规的 map gives astronauts a 3D visualization of lunar terrain to help them better explore the Moon and navigate around mountains and creators.
\n
\nNot only was it a fun experience working with lunar data sets, but Tyler could also see that everyone working at NASA wants to be there and is positively motivated. \u201c足彩app哪个是正规的re’s something really empowering when people know that what they’re trying to do is advance human civilization,\u201d said Tyler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler wanted to continue being a part of the NASA community with great mentors on different projects, so he continued to apply to be an intern at NASA. 足彩app哪个是正规的 next internship Tyler did was as a software engineer for the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida, where he was a part of their launch control systems.
\n
\nEach rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Center requires a lot of data to be processed and examined before, during and after launch. \u201cI was part of the launch control systems team handling some of that data in the firing room to help mission organizers and scientists understand what was going on,\u201d said Tyler. \u201cI contributed to the Artemis rocket software refactoring and software code to the firing room systems that handles reading and monitoring data collected during the rocket launch.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"""\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Next, Tyler interned with the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where he aided in building a VR training simulation of landing a lunar lander as part of the Artemis missions. 足彩app哪个是正规的 training simulation is a mixed reality experience where people can use a controller to practice landing a ship on the moon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there Tyler continued his software engineering internship experience at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, where he worked on a data visualization room in VR. \u201cThat opportunity came about because of my VR experience at Marshall,\u201d said Tyler. At Langley, Tyler transitioned from working on space missions to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“足彩app哪个是正规的re are a lot of scientists at NASA who understand the value of machine learning and AI, but they don’t understand how it works since it\u2019s still a relatively new field.\u201d Tyler\u2019s role was to design a VR system that could help them understand how machine learning reaches its decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To conclude Tyler\u2019s internship experience he worked as a technical researcher at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was part of the Mars Reconnaissance team. This team focuses on how humans are going to get to Mars and collaborates with Mars experts all around the world from different space agencies. This internship was very different because it didn’t involve any software development, rather it was more about technical research and presentations.
\n
\n\u201cThis was great to have the opportunity to work with distributed teams around the world from vastly different cultural backgrounds and perspectives,\u201d said Tyler. \u201cBut we were unified under the same goal\u2014how are we going to get to Mars and how do we work together to become a multi-planetary species?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"""\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m truly proud to have made a small contribution to a diverse set of missions that may have a positive impact at NASA, and mentors that I can stay in touch with for future opportunities,\u201d said Tyler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate research assistant in master\u2019s program <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During Tyler\u2019s internship experience he was awarded the graduate certificate in spring 2021 and applied to the Master of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering<\/a> for autumn 2021. This opened doors for research opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler\u2019s two years at NASA ended up giving him the experience needed to be awarded a graduate research assistant (RA) position with Dr. Kelvin Sung, professor in the School of STEM, Division of Computing & Software Systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c足彩app哪个是正规的 research work that I\u2019m doing is only possible because of my first internship at NASA\u2014visualizing lunar terrain,\u201d said Tyler. As a research assistant, Tyler is playing a key role in visualizing earth terrain in virtual reality for a system to assist emergency service responders in search and rescue missions. 足彩app哪个是正规的 work Tyler is doing as a RA relates to his culminating master\u2019s defense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProfessor Sung is great. He\u2019s not only a great advisor, but it has been a positive work experience that I feel has allowed me to make substantial progress as a software developer,\u201d said Tyler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s next? Don\u2019t let the fear and anxiety stop you. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As Tyler approaches graduation in spring 2023, he has found himself on a path of working in virtual reality and doing visualization of geographic information systems (GIS). \u201cI\u2019ve realized that mapping apps are so integral to society today,\u201d said Tyler. \u201cWorking with these mapping systems gives me more appreciation and I\u2019ve come to learn that mapping tech is actually really interesting.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeing where I am today now, I am so glad I decided to go down the graduate certificate to master\u2019s degree path,\u201d said Tyler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

足彩app哪个是正规的 master\u2019s program was very challenging for Tyler, and at one point he didn\u2019t think he could finish, but he persevered and is so grateful he embarked on this journey. He wants others to know that \u201cyou might be full of fear and anxiety, but you just have to go for it. Be honest and diligent. Don\u2019t try to take unnecessary short cuts and good things may come.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler hopes to inspire any students who are remotely interested in the stars, the Moon, and space, and who want to experience an enthusiastic and fun working environment, to look up NASA and give it a shot.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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