Alia Wofford
Clemmons,United States
Summary
Hardworking and reliable PhD graduate student with a strong interest in helping students and program management. I am highly motivated with a desire to take on new challenges. Strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills. I am highly organized, proactive, and punctual with a team-oriented mentality.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
NAC XI Organizing Committee Co-Chair
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Charlottesville , VA
2023.07 - 2023.10
Served Consecutive Terms ( 2020 , 2021 , 2022, 2023)
- Managed logistics for the conference, including venue selection, guest speaker contract negotiation, and coordinating with vendors.
- Organized and coordinated the schedule of events for the conference.
- Designed conference website and event registration process for conference attendees and oversaw event registration process by collecting and tracking attendee information.
- Enhanced attendee satisfaction by creating immersive environments through thoughtful design elements and engaging activities.
- Adapted quickly to unforeseen circumstances or changes in the event landscape, implementing contingency plans as needed.
- Developed and distributed post-conference event surveys to gather feedback for future meetings.
Ham Radio Teacher Assistant Technical Level
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Charlottesville , VA
2023.06 - 2023.12
- Provide support to the class by serving as an additional or substitute facilitator for class and cohort-building sessions.
- Organized Zoom room logistics i.e. created breakout rooms, recorded class sessions, and tracked student attendance.
- Organized and scheduled guest speakers provided by the instructor.
- Documented class activities in a provided report template by the course instructor.
Graduate Research Assistant
George Mason University
Fairfax , VA
2022.08 - Current
- Utilized the Resolving Orbital and Climate Keys of Earth and Extraterrestrial Environments with Dynamics (ROCKE-3D) Global Climate Model (GCM) to model the Paleoproterozoic 'Hard' Snowball with CO2 concentrations ranging from 500ppm-300,000ppm
- Explored the critical CO2 levels needed to deglaciate the 'hard' Snowball Earth.
Graduate Research Assistant
Howard University
Washington DC , DC
2019.08 - 2021.08
- Utilized general circulation model (ROCKE-3D) to simulate the modern Martian atmosphere configuration at obliquities ranging from 0-35
- Analyzed how changes in obliquity influenced the dust transport and removal processes on Mars
- Analyzed how changes in obliquity impacted water exchange processes through Mars's polar ice caps.
Student Intern
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA)
Washington DC , DC
2020.05 - 2020.08
- Conducted statistical analysis for model validation with regards to a space weather event
- Conducted graphical analysis for magnetospheric models in the model validation study.
Contractor
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt , MD
2018.03 - 2019.08
- Utilized 1-D computational photochemical model (Atmos) to simulate photochemistry and climatic profiles of various methane fluxes in Early Earth's atmosphere
- Plotted various methane mixing ratios of abundant atmospheric molecules in Early Earth's atmosphere
- Utilized spectral generating radiative transfer model (SMART) to generate spectra from the Atmos simulation outputs to represent self-consistent synthesis of planetary processes from the biosphere to the atmosphere, to the telescope.
Student Intern
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Charlottesville , VA
2017.05 - 2017.08
- Utilized radio astronomy data processing software (CASA) to clean RFI in radio data of M-Dwarf star CNLeo in the 8-12(X-BAND) GHz frequency
- Utilized CASA to clean RFI in radio data of M-Dwarf star CNLeo in the 1-2(L-BAND) GHz frequency to investigate the detection of coronal mass ejections(CEMs) in radio data
- Plotted X-BAND and L-BAND radio circular polarizations and brightness temperature to determine space weather conditions the star could be producing i.e
- Non-thermal thermal gyrosyncrotron emission mechanisms, cyclotron maser emission or the detection of CEMs.
Education
Doctorate degree - Climate Dynamics
George Mason University
05.2025
Master's degree - Atmospheric Sciences
Howard University
07.2021
Bachelor's degree - Biology
Elizabeth City State University
12.2017
Skills
Office Skills
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. Ability to organize and deliver visual representations of ideas and results.
- Word Processing, MLA/APA Formatting – Word, Google Docs, Forms
- Conditional Formatting, VLookup, Pivot Table – Excel, Google Sheets
- Visual Design, Collaboration, Insert Media – PowerPoint, Google Slides
Coding and Modeling Skills
- Computer Languages: Python, Linux/MacOSX
- Radio Astronomy Software: CASA [Attended Tutorial]
- Community Earth System Model CESM [Attended Tutorial]
- Resolving Orbital and Climate Keys of Earth and Extraterrestrial Environments with Dynamics General Circulation Model: ROCKE-3D [Attended Tutorial]
- Atmospheric Modeling Software: ATMOS
- Planetary Spectrum Generator: PSG
- Spectral Mapping and Atmospheric Radiative Transfer model: SMART
- Strong Work Ethic
- Self-Directed and Motivated
Affiliations
- American Astronomical Society - Member
- American Meteorological Society - Member
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated - Member
- Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority Inc. - Member
Fellowships And Awards
- Shukla Doctoral Fellowship - College of Science, George Mason University (2022-2023)
- National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) Bridge Scholarship Award - AUI Board of Trustees, National Radio Astronomy Observatory (2021)
- NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M) Fellow - Graduate Studies Department, Howard University (2019-2021)
- AAS 233rd Meeting Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Graduate Honorable Mention - American Astronomical Society (AAS) 233rd meeting, Seattle, Washington (2019)
- AAS 231st Meeting Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Undergraduate Honorable Mention - American Astronomical Society (AAS) 231st meeting, Washington, D.C. (2018)
Accomplishments
Awards
- Shukla Doctoral Fellowship - College of Science, George Mason University (2022-2023)
- National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) Bridge Scholarship Award – AUI Board of Trustees, National Radio Astronomy Observatory (2021)
- NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M) Fellow – Graduate Studies Department, Howard University (2019-2021)
- AAS 233rd Meeting Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Graduate Honorable Mention - American Astronomical Society (AAS) 233rd meeting, Seattle, Washington (2019)
- AAS 231st Meeting Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Undergraduate Honorable Mention - American Astronomical Society (AAS) 231st meeting, Washington, D.C. (2018)
Leadership Activities
- Young Democrats of North Carolina Piedmont Regional Vice President 2023-2024
- Forsyth County Democratic Party Secretary 2021- 2023
- Young Democrats District 10 Chair 2020-2021
- Young Democrats of Forsyth County 2nd Vice-Chair 2020 - 2022
- George Mason Climate Consensus Chapter Secretary 2021- Present
Certification
- Ham Radio Technician License [Received] November 2023 Call Sign: KQ4HB
- Adult Mental Health First Aid Certification [Received] October 10, 2023
- International Summer School in Astrobiology: From Astrochemistry to the Origin of Life [Certificate Obtained] July 2018
Publications
- Comparative Analysis of Obliquity-Driven Changes in the Martian Atmosphere (thesis), 2021, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing
- Absolute prioritization of planetary protection, safety, and avoiding imperialism in all future science missions: A policy perspective, 2019, November 12, Space Policy, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0265964619300803
References
- Dr. Linda Sohl, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), 212-678-5644, les14@columbia.edu
- Dr. Shawn Domagal-Goldman, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 301-614-6245, shawn.goldman@nasa.gov
- Dr. Giada Arney, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 301-614-6627, giada.n.arney@nasa.gov
- Dr. Scott Guzewich, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 301-286-1542, scott.d.guzewich@nasa.gov
- Dr. Jacqueline Villadsen, Bucknell University, 240-676-1648, jrv012@bucknell.edu
- Mrs. Lyndele von Schill, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, 434-284-0078, lvonschi@nrao.edu
Timeline
NAC XI Organizing Committee Co-Chair
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
2023.07 - 2023.10
Ham Radio Teacher Assistant Technical Level
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
2023.06 - 2023.12
Graduate Research Assistant
George Mason University
2022.08 - Current
Student Intern
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA)
2020.05 - 2020.08
Graduate Research Assistant
Howard University
2019.08 - 2021.08
Contractor
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
2018.03 - 2019.08
Student Intern
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
2017.05 - 2017.08
Doctorate degree - Climate Dynamics
George Mason University
Master's degree - Atmospheric Sciences
Howard University
Bachelor's degree - Biology
Elizabeth City State University
- Ham Radio Technician License [Received] November 2023 Call Sign: KQ4HB
- Adult Mental Health First Aid Certification [Received] October 10, 2023
- International Summer School in Astrobiology: From Astrochemistry to the Origin of Life [Certificate Obtained] July 2018
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