Katerina (Katie) Howard

Mechanical engineering student eager to build a long-term career in the field of defense. Dedicated to academics, with an ongoing research project centered around materials science. Passionate about engineering field, as well as improving technologies. Well-rounded with extracurriculars in varying areas, as well as community service. Committed to learning and ready to contribute to projects with precision and creativity.

Undergraduate Composite Materials Researcher: University of San Diego, (2025- Present)

• Measuring the impacts of creating carbon-fiber samples using scraps on mechanical performance.
• Compare pristine samples to scrap samples by conducting Dynamic Machine Analysis (DMA).
• Conducting a temperature sweep on three different scrap size samples and a pristine sample to measure storage modulus, loss modulus, and tan delta.
• Exporting data from DMA machine to excel and importing to MatLab to create graphs for storage modulus, loss modulus, and tan delta.
• Using these values to find the glass transition temperature of each sample, and compare mechanical properties.
• Utilizing optical microscopy to investigate microstructure defects.
• Performed composite layup and fabricated CFRP laminates using carbon/epoxy pre-preg, stacking plies in three defined sequences:
  A: ( 02 / 902d / 0w )s , B: (02 / 904d / 0w )s , C: (06) to introduce controlled ply waviness defects and compare fiber alignments.
• Participating in weekly team meetings to communicate project updates and research progress, while preparing timely technical reports to document findings.

• Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity - Professional engineering fraternity that fosters professional development, community service opportunities, and brotherhood connections. Elected brotherhood chair to plan events to strengthen the brotherhood of the fraternity.
• Kappa Alpha Theta - Women's fraternity to create sisterhood and organize service and community events. Specifically aim philanthropic efforts towards the CASA organization. Raised $18,000 last spring for our philanthropy event, Thetas Got Talent.
• Society of Women Engineers - Creating a community of women in the engineering field, and strengthening professional development through workshops, networking events, and conferences.
• USD club softball (Present)
• American River College softball (2021-2023)
• Junior Olympic gymnastics (2005-2015)