Kahryn Buchanan
Fairbanks,AK
Summary
Motivated graduate student proficient in engineering and applied mathematics who is eager to contribute her expertise to solving practical problems in a permanent role.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
PSCA Range Safety Telemtry Systems Summer Intern
Department of Defense
Kodiak, AK
05.2024 - 08.2024
- Built a link analysis tool that characterizes the radiofrequency communications link that exists between a moving rocket transmitting to a stationary ground antenna.
- Developed a Python script that would accept a user's input information (rocket trajectory file, antenna gains, etc.) and output relevant signal parameters such as received power and elevation angle.
- Used Python's built-in GUI development library, Tkinter, to develop a GUI for my script, which incorporated the ability to output plots or download output data, radiobuttons, and data format checks.
Engineering/Mathematics Teaching Assistant
University Of Alaska Fairbanks, CFOS-Shared Travel Services
Fairbanks, AK
08.2023 - 05.2024
- Assisted in teaching engineering-focused mathematics and programming to first-year engineering students.
- Led weekly group work sessions with students and walked them through programming assignments.
- Graded assignments, created solutions, and held weekly office hours for students.
SCaN Summer Intern
NASA Glenn Research Center
Cleveland, OH
06.2023 - 08.2023
- Explored potential methods of network decomposition that would decrease the computation time of future simulations.
- Researched Groebner Bases, a mathematical tool from abstract algebra, for the decomposition of networks represented by sets of polynomials.
- Developed the basic theory behind decomposition of Nevada semirings, a network analysis tool created by intern William Bernadoni in the summer of 2022.
SCaN Summer Intern
NASA Glenn Research Center
Cleveland, OH
06.2022 - 09.2022
- Improved the fidelity of the available terrain data for the lunar South pole, which was collected by the LRO.
- Wrote a Python script that interpolated between the data points to create a smoother terrain mapping for simulations.
- Supported the LunarLiTEs project by improving the accuracy of future simulations and preventing unrealistic blockage losses.
REU Summer Intern
University Of Alaska Fairbanks, CFOS-Shared Travel Services
Fairbanks, AK
06.2022 - 08.2022
- Assisted in the mathematical modeling of tsunami waves using second and third-order partial differential equations.
- Reviewed the computations of Noah Palmer, a graduate student working on the project.
- Researched various ways to simplify computations using the guiding principles of fluid mechanics.
SCaN Summer Intern
NASA Glenn Research Center
Cleveland, OH
06.2021 - 09.2021
- Developed flight simulations for several real-world scenarios using the GRC Communications Analysis Suite (GCAS), an in-house GUI run through Matlab.
- Integrated and validated parameters such as GPS coordinates, antenna patterns, atmospheric attenuation, circuit losses, and terrain in an effort to match the conditions of the original flight data.
- Matched my simulations' outputs to the test data with a 5 dB margin of error.
SCaN Summer Intern
NASA Glenn Research Center
Cleveland, OH
06.2020 - 09.2020
- Worked in Python on the mathematical modeling of radiofrequency wave propagation and orbital mechanics for a lunar satellite.
- Accounted for factors such as Doppler shift, free-space path loss, and multipath interference.
- Configured my script outputs to be compatible with the Multiple Asset Testbed for Research in Innovative Communications Systems (MATRICS) channel emulator.
Education
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK05-2026
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks05-2024
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, AK05-2024
Skills
- Proficient in Python, Matlab and C
- Mathematical modelling
- Heat transfer
- Data Analysis
- Microsoft Office Suite
Certification
- Passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam for Mechanical Engineers.
Timeline
PSCA Range Safety Telemtry Systems Summer Intern
Department of Defense
05.2024 - 08.2024
Engineering/Mathematics Teaching Assistant
University Of Alaska Fairbanks, CFOS-Shared Travel Services
08.2023 - 05.2024
SCaN Summer Intern
NASA Glenn Research Center
06.2023 - 08.2023
SCaN Summer Intern
NASA Glenn Research Center
06.2022 - 09.2022
REU Summer Intern
University Of Alaska Fairbanks, CFOS-Shared Travel Services
06.2022 - 08.2022
SCaN Summer Intern
NASA Glenn Research Center
06.2021 - 09.2021
SCaN Summer Intern
NASA Glenn Research Center
06.2020 - 09.2020
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics
University of Alaska Fairbanks
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