Skip to main content

Rebekah Austin

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

Graduate Student in Electrical Engineering Expected: Dec. 2019
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Advisor: Dr. Brian D. Sierawski

Master of Science, Electrical Engineering Aug. 2016
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical Engineering May 2014
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

RESEARCH AND WORK EXPERIENCE

Vanderbilt University, Electrical Engineering Department, Nashville, TN
Research Assistant Aug. 2014 – Present

 

  • Lead development of https://modelbasedassurance.org. Web-hosted tools enables modeling of reliability assurance cases, system models with fault propagation, functional decomposition of systems, and requirement models.
  • Designed and tested 16nm finFET SRAM single-event upset CubeSat science experiment board. One copy of the experiment board was part of the science payload along with 28nm SRAM experiment board previously designed. Led the integration and test of one engineering unit and 2 flight units. The CubeSat experiment was integrated with satellite bus and will fly as part of the ELaNa-20 launch opportunity.
  • Designed and tested 28nm SRAM single-event upset CubeSat science experiment board. Three copies of the experiment board were part of the science payload. Led the integration and test of one engineering unit and 2 flight units. The CubeSat experiment was integrated with satellite bus and has been operational for over 18 months.
  • Conducted TID testing using a Cs-137 source to screen candidate commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts for CubeSat science payloads.
  • Supported muon, mono-energetic electron, low-energy proton, and proton characterization tests of memories used on CubeSat science payload.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Nashville, TN
Pathways Intern, Ph.D. Sept. 2016 – Dec. 2016, June 2018 – Aug. 2018

 

  • Supported development efforts of the Goddard Modular Smallsat Architecture (GMSA) Command and Data Handling (C&DH) Board and Adapter Board. Activities included reviewing and updating schematics, reviewing and advising layout engineers, running power integrity and signal integrity simulations in HyperLynx, design and layout of test boards, SPICE simulations of circuit designs, and Co-60 radiation testing of sub-circuit designs.
  • Supported Advanced Memory Study which collected use cases and technology templates for memories and their applications to evaluate if future mission memory needs would be met by current memory technologies. Completed 2 use cases including one for planetary CubeSats and 2 memory technology templates.
  • Supported evaluation of single-event effects analysis of the SpaceCUBE for evaluation of use on future missions.

Pathways Intern, Master’s May 2014 – July 2014, May 2015 – Aug. 2015

 

  • Designed 4 different test boards to test SpaceFRAME Digital and Analog Cards. The testing included interfacing with 2 different FPGAs and power and load testing

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Vanderbilt University, Engineering Science Department, Nashville, TN
Teaching Assistant Aug. 2013 – Dec. 2013

 

  • Facilitated lab work in first-year Intro to Engineering Electrical Engineering module.
  • Graded and held office hours.

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • Small Satellite Conference Student Poster Award, First Place, 2019
  • Outstanding Conference Paper Award, Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference, 2015
  • Walter Criley Prize, Vanderbilt University top electrical engineering senior design project, 2014
  • Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society Member
  • Tau Beta Pi Honor Society Member

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Activities

  • Moderator, Accelerated Life Testing Methods, Reliability and Maintainability Symposium 2017
  • Committee Member, HKN PR Committee 2017
  • Committee Member, HKN Ritual Committee 2017
  • Committee Member, HKN Chapter Resource Development Ad-Hoc Committee 2017
  • Committee Member, HKN Product Development Ad-Hoc Group 2016
  • Committee Member, University Committee on Religious Activities, 2015-2016, 2018-2019

Memberships

  • Member, IEEE, Jan. 2012 – Present
  • Member, IEEE Young Professionals, Jan. 2014 – Present
  • Member, IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society, Jan. 2015 – Dec. 2018
  • Member, IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Science Society, Jan. 2015 – Present
  • Member, IEEE Reliability Society, Jan. 2017 – Present

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Vanderbilt University Amateur Radio Club
PresidentAug. 2016 – Apr. 2019

  • Facilitated VUARClipse project which launched a weather balloon with a radio repeater during the Great American Eclipse
  • Facilitate general body meetings, amateur radio license classes, and electronic kit building sessions through the club