Research & Work Experience

NOAA Ocean Exploration (May 2023 - August 2023)

Analyzed split-beam EK60/80 acoustic backscatter data in Echoview
Used dB differencing to broadly categorize sound-scattering organisms in the water column
Annotated and QA/QC’d water column ROV dive footage from past NOAA Okeanos expeditions in ONC SeaTube
Wrote a research report and presented at two national conferences (AGU 2023, OSM 2024)

alt text

Helped develop a compact acoustic transceiver for aquatic mobile platforms with underwater wireless communications (FSK) and ranging capabilities using open-source electronics (Raspberry Pi Zero)
Wrote a script using the UnetStack/UnetSocket Python API to automate acoustic transmissions from a Subnero modem integrated with an Iver3 Ecomapper AUV, in support of the mu-Net infrastructure project, supported by the NSF CCRI program
Used icListen hydrophones to validate and monitor acoustic transmissions
Designed custom Printed Circuit Boards, passive/active signal filters, buck-boost converters, and pre/post-amplification circuits
Used C and Matlab to analyze and process acoustic signals

alt text

Helped develop an instrument to measure the fracture toughness of marine sediments on the scales of burrowing animals: https://github.com/Anika-C/BubbleInjector
Designed and constructed circuits for pressure sensor and stepper motor control systems
Wrote Arduino and Matlab code to collect/visualize data and interpreted results to better understand how burrowing organisms interact with their physical environment
Published a first-author paper describing the new method/instrument developed

alt text

Worked with a local aerospace technologies company (RadioBro) to manage tracking and communications preparations for a student-built research satellite, Bama-1, selected for launch through NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative
Helped construct a satellite ground station with a SatNOGS antenna rotator and software-defined radio}
Note: Satellite was lost during failed Astra launch in February 2022

alt text

Developed and documented testing procedures for wireless audio speaker circuit boards on audio precision, radio connectivity, and voltage regulation
Helped streamline company hardware testing processes by implementing a working Kanban system
Performed FFT spectrum analysis and gained experience with digital multimeters, oscilloscopes, and signal generators

alt text