Name: Anna Case
Research areas of interest: Microwave and millimeter wave materials characterization
Who or what inspired you to pursue your studies in NDE? As a sophomore in electrical engineering, I was hired by Dr. Zoughi to work in the Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing Lab. At the time, I was happy to have the opportunity but didn’t know if it would lead to a career. Several years later, I can say that everyone I work with, including my mentor, David Moore from Sandia National Labs, has continued to encourage me to stay in the field.
Briefly describe something you have learned or discovered during your time at CNDE that surprised you. What surprised me the most about coming to CNDE was the difference in work as an undergraduate and as a graduate research assistant. As an undergraduate student, you are given very specific tasks to accomplish, while as a graduate student, you have more open-ended questions to answer. It’s important to continue to state the tasks you perform so that you know what you have done – even if it doesn’t always answer the question at first.
What are your future career plans? I am joining the NDE team at Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, NM. I hope to expand my NDE experience with CT, ET, and UT. I plan to stay involved with the American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Anna is the recipient of the O.D. & O.U. Trapp Graduate Fellowship through CNDE.