DEBORAH AMATO

My activities vary a great deal from day to day. A typical day might include using three-dimensional design software on my computer to develop and analyze telescope hardware. I might also meet with people who build my designs to discuss any concerns or design changes. Lately I have spent a lot of time doing environmental testing. I write test plans and make arrangements for tests such as thermal vacuum, vibration, and acoustics. I also spend many days working in a clean room assembling instrument hardware and doing optical alignment. I have been able to apply math and science, especially physics, to my daily work. The most exciting thing about my job at NASA is being able to have something I built or worked on fly in space. I also enjoy collaborating with other engineers and scientists to reach a common goal. In some cases building, testing, and launching an instrument may require the efforts a few hundred people. Another advantage of my job is I have been able to learn about astronomy and solar physics by working closely with scientists who study these things.

I went to college at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in astronautical engineering. I am currently going to graduate school part time for a master's degree in aerospace engineering. In school I did well in math and science. Math was my favorite subject. I became interested in the space program in junior high school. I had a personal goal of working for NASA and here I am! I never felt pressured not to go into a math and science based career. In fact, my parents and teachers all encouraged me to pursue my interests and achieve all that I could. I did at times feel intimidated by being only one of a few women in certain classes. More men than women were in my engineering program and I work with many more men than women. I think if you can demonstrate your abilities, you will gain people's respect whether you are a man or a woman.

I have had many opportunities to advance in school and in my career. It takes hard work though. I worked hard in school to get good grades and to get into good colleges. Then once in college I had to work really hard just to keep up with classes. I had the opportunity to work as a summer student at Goddard Space Flight Center. I took that opportunity which led to me being hired as a co-op student. After graduating and because of my co-op experience, NASA hired me permanently.

Outside of work and graduate school I stay fairly busy. I was married in 1996 to someone I met while working at NASA. My husband is an aerospace engineer too. We just bought a house, and I am hanging wall paper, painting, and starting to decorate. I am active in my church. I think it is important to nurture all aspects of one's life: intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical. I love music, and I sing and play the oboe as often as I can. I like to swim and play volleyball and flag football. I've always enjoyed sewing, but I haven't been doing much of it lately.

When I was younger, an older female friend of mine gave me this advice, "prepare now for opportunities that will come to you later." This has been good advice. Even when I do not know what my future will hold, by studying hard and continually learning I have prepared for opportunities like being able to work at NASA. In addition to this, we need to have goals in mind in order to achieve them. A quote I like from the Koran is "...If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."