Alumni: Out of this World

(CLASS OF 2018)

My parents wanted to experience Southeast Asia— beaches! jungles!—while raising my brothers and me in a multicultural environment that is also home to a large Indian diaspora. My dad received a job offer from a Singaporean research institute, so off we went in 1993 from Dallas, Texas to Singapore. I attended Singapore American School from first through tenth grade, and in 2006 my family relocated back to Plano, Texas. I wished I could graduate with my friends in SAS, since I had been there my whole childhood, but my dad’s job had shifted once again—such is the life of an expat!

I pursued a bachelor’s degree at Cornell University (where I reconnected with many former SAS classmates) and then a master’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of California, Irvine. While pursuing my master’s degree, I decided I wanted a job that would include extensive travel—something I sorely missed. Upon graduation, I accepted a job as an automation engineer in the pharmaceutical industry, which took me all over the US and eventually to Denmark. After four years, I was ready for a new career experience and shifted gears to pursue my childhood dream of working in the space industry. I became a contractor working on the Space Launch System at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)—which meant relocating from Copenhagen to Huntsville, Alabama!

After getting my foot in the door of the space industry, I quickly realized I was in the wrong position and started networking within NASA to determine where my chemical engineering background could best be used. Great friends

I made at MSFC taught me how to apply and interview for a federal government job, and off I went on my next adventure. I currently work at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. My official title is something along the lines of “Fluidics Engineer”—so officially, I work with a lot of fluids. In reality, I get to do cool things like develop instruments to detect life on Mars and to diagnose disease in astronauts. Sometimes I wonder how on earth I got here, but luckily we aren’t always dealing with “earthly” matters in my job—no excuses for the pun!

I love my job because space poses a unique set of engineering and science challenges. I work on projects that require principles of chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, geology, astrobiology, biology, and more to develop instruments. I definitely do not have experience in all of the above, so it has been a welcome challenge to learn on the job. Luckily I have plenty of people I can ask for help, as my colleagues are some of the smartest people in the world!

On my career journey I have learned that while there are advantages to sticking to one thing and becoming an expert in your field, there are also companies that value a diversity of experiences, technical and otherwise. It’s okay to take a circuitous path! And if you want to work for NASA specifically, one route to break in can be to apply for a contractor position at one of the bigger centers and then network from there.

Attending SAS was a challenging, fun period in my life. I found the classes difficult and competition from classmates fierce—but I wouldn’t give up my experiences there for anything. The amazing teachers, variety of classes, cultural experiences,

exposure to a fantastic music and arts community, and sheer magnitude of opportunities are unparalleled. The school made me more adaptable and open to new experiences, and gave me the courage to take chances. Definitely, my experiences as a third culture kid at SAS have greatly influenced my life decisions.

SAS left me with many fond memories: playing in the pit orchestra for musicals (a total blast!); traveling to Thailand and China for Interim Semester; Halloween in the Woodlands (especially that family who gave out the great umbrellas!); cultural holiday parties in elementary school; Mr. Hoe’s delicious noodle lunches; intramural softball; volunteering for the Metta Home; attending Dr. Jane Goodall’s presentation (and witnessing her do a primate call!); and making lifelong friends. The teachers at SAS were some of the best I have experienced throughout my academic career, especially Mr. Juric, Mrs. Dodge, and Mrs. Mitchell in elementary school, Mr. Donahue and Dr. Browning for eighth grade math and science, and Mr. Cox, my high school chemistry teacher.

My time in Singapore and at SAS taught me to try my best to ignore temporary discomfort, to believe in myself, and to take chances! I miss Singapore greatly, and while I live far away now, I will take those lessons and experiences with me wherever I go and whatever I do in the future.