Paula do Vale Pereira, Ph.D.
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Hi, I'm Paula!
I'm an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering of the University of Central Florida (UCF). My research is focused on technology development for small satellites and probes for the exploration of Ocean Worlds, such as Europa and Enceladus.
I am passionate about engineering, space exploration, and hands-on learning.
Work Experience
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering
University of Central Florida
August 2024 - Ongoing Orlando, FL - USAContinuing research on small satellite technology and probes for the exploration of Ocean Worlds. Directing the Space Exploration and Spacecraft Engineering Laboratory.
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Florida Institute of Technology
August 2022 - August 2024 Melbourne, FL - USAPerformed research on small satellite technology and probes for the exploration of Ocean Worlds. Taught Space Flight Mechanics and Space Mission Engineering.
Visiting Researcher
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
August 2021 - April 2022 Pasadena, CA - USAWorking in section 394 (Mission Systems Engineering), developing probes for the exploration of Europa (moon of Jupiter).
Graduate Research Assistant
MIT Space Telecommunications Astronomy and Radiation Lab
May 2018 - May 2022 Cambridge, MA - USADeveloping, assembling, testing, and operating small spacecraft; modeling and experimentally studying probes for Europa (Jupiter).
Optical and Satellite Systems Intern
Facebook Connectivity Labs
May 2020 - August 2020 Northridge, CA - USAOptimized design of radio unit enclosures for thermal dissipation; designed efficient, low-cost radio mount for large-scale manufacturing.
Optical and Satellite Systems Intern
Facebook Connectivity Labs
August 2019 - October 2019 Northridge, CA - USATested and analyzed the thermal effects of laser beams on fast steering mirrors; improved and prototyped structure of Wi-Fi units.
Graduate Research Assistant
MIT Media Lab Space Exploration Initiative
January 2019 - May 2020 Cambridge, MA - USALed the technical side of the Climate CubeSat Co-build (C3), teaching satellite engineering to children from underrepresented minorities.
Graduate Researcher
Stone Aerospace
May 2018 - August 2018 Austin, TX - USAAdvanced the strategy of ice penetration; designed probe components; developed radiation hardening test strategies.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
MIT 2.00A - Fundamentals of Engineering Design
February 2018 - May 2018 Cambridge, MA - USALed laboratory sessions and notebook evaluations under Prof. Dan Frey. Teaching evaluation: 6.9 out of 7.0.
Graduate Research Assistant
MIT Laboratory for Aviation and the Environment
September 2017 - January 2018 Cambridge, MA - USAStudied the environmental impact of alternative fuels throughout their entire lifecycle, from crop production to fuel burn.
Graduate Research Assistant
Polo Research Laboratories
March 2014 - August 2017 Florianopolis, SC - BrazilModeled and experimentally studied the formation of frost on airplane windows. Developed mitigation strategies.
Refrigeration R&D Intern
Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances
August 2013 - February 2014 Giengen an der Brenz, GermanyOptimized the efficiency and minimized the power consumption of household refrigerators with parallel evaporators.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Polo Research Laboratories
June 2010 - August 2013 Florianopolis, SC - BrazilPerformed theoretical and experimental research on state-of-the-art refrigeration systems.
Visiting Research Student
Imperial College
January 2012 - July 2012 London - EnglandDeveloped new graphene-based nanocomposite materials; characterized and optimized the designed materials.
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Program of Tutored Education - Metrology and Automation
August 2009 - June 2010 Florianopolis, SC - BrazilModeled and experimented with novel techniques for measuring eye pressure and surface rugosity.
Education
Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
September 2019 - May 2022 GPA 5.0 / 5.0Thesis: An Experimental Approach to Melt Probes for Europan Cryogenic Ice.
Advisor: Prof. Kerri Cahoy
Planetary Science Summer School
NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, Team X
May 2020 - July 2020 Thermal Engineering LeadPh.D. students learn to develop hypothesis-driven space exploration missions with concurrent engineering.
Master's Degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
September 2017 - June 2019 GPA 5.0 / 5.0Thesis: Folded lightweight actuated position system for CubeSat deployables.
Advisor: Prof. Kerri Cahoy
Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering/Thermal Sciences
Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil)
March 2014 - March 2017 GPA 3.7 / 4.0Thesis: Theoretical and experimental analysis of the water vapor deposition process on aircraft windows.
Advisors: Prof. Claudio Melo and Prof. Jader Riso Barbosa Jr.
Bachelor's Degree in Business and Management
State University of Santa Catarina (Brazil)
March 2009 - August 2015 GPA 3.8 / 4.0Thesis: Investment Analysis for a Condominium Administration Company.
Advisor: Prof. Oswaldo Faria de Oliveira
Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil)
March 2019 - February 2014 GPA 3.7 / 4.0 (Summa cum laude)Thesis: Evaluation of Air Infiltration Rates in Refrigerated Compartments.
Advisor: Prof. Claudio Melo
Publications
Published Journal Papers
R. E. Morgan, E. S. Douglas, G. Allan, P. do Vale Pereira, J. N. Gubner, C. Haughwout, T. Murphy, J. Merk, M. Egan, G. Furesz, D. Roascio, Y. Xin, K. Cahoy. “Optical calibration and first light for the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission CubeSat (DeMi)”, Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, 2021, 7, 2.
E. S. Douglas, G. Alla, R. Morgan, B. G. Holden, J. Gubner, C. Haughwout, P. do Vale Pereira, Y. Xin, J. Merk, K. Cahoy. “Small Mirrors for Small Satellites: Design of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission CubeSat (DeMi) Payload”, Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences, 2021, 8, 126.
E. M. Spiers, J. M. Weber, C. Venigalla, A. M. Annex, C. P. Chen, C. Lerr, P. C. Gray, K. J. McIntyre, J. R. Berdis, S. R. Carberry Mgan, P. do Vale Pereira, S. Kumar, W. O’Neill, E. A. Czajka, P. E. Johnson, A. Pascuzzo, S. Tallapragada, D. Phillips, K. Mitchell, A. Nash, J. Scully, L. Lowes. “Tiger: Concept Study for a New Frontiers Enceladus Habitability Mission”, The Planetary Science Journal, 2021, 2, 195.
P. do Vale Pereira, M. T. Hunwardsen, and K. Cahoy. “Characterization of Laser Thermal Loading on Microelectromechanical Systems-Based Fast Steering Mirror in Vacuum”, Optical Engineering, 2020, 59, 5.
P. do Vale Pereira and C. Melo. “A Methodology to measure the rates of air infiltration into refrigerated compartments”, International Journal of Refrigeration, 2019, 97, 88-96.
R. E. Morgan, E. S. Douglas, G. Allan, P. Bierden, S. Chakrabarti, T. Cook, M. Egan, G. Furesz, J. N. Gubner, T. Groff, C. A. Haughwout, B. G. Holden, C. B. Mendillo, M. Ouellet, P. do Vale Pereira, A. J. Stein, S. Thibault, X. Wu, Y. Xin, and K. Cahoy. “MEMS Deformable Mirrors for Space-Based High-Contrast Imaging”, Micromachines, 2019, 10, 6.
S. Barg, F. M. Perez, N. Ni, P. do Vale Pereira, R. C. Maher, E. Garcia-Tuñon, S. Eslava, S. Agnoli, C. Mattevi, E. Saiz. “Mesoscale assembly of Chemically modified graphene into complex cellular networks”, Nature Communications, 2014, 5:4328.
L. L. C. Wong, S. Barg, A. Menner, P. do Vale Pereira, G. Eda, M. Chowalla, E. Saiz, A. Bismarck. “Macroporous polymer nanocomposites synthesised from high internal phase emulsion templates stabilised by reduced graphene oxide”, Polymer, 2014, 55, 395-402.
C. Melo, F. T. Knabben, P. do Vale Pereira. “An experimental study on defrost heaters applied to frost-free household refrigerators”, Applied Thermal Engineering, 2013, 51, 239-245.
Patent
K. Cahoy, C. Haughwout, J. Clark, P. do Vale Pereira. “Liquid-lens Based Optical Steering System for Free-Space Laser Communication”, Patent US10,826,609.
Journal Papers in Preparation
P. do Vale Pereira, M. Durka, B. P. Hogan, K. Richmond, M. W. Smith, D. P. Winebrenner, T. W. Elam, B. J. Hockman, A. Lopez, N. Tanner, J. Moor, J. Ralston, W. Zimmerman, N. Flannery, W. Kuhl, K. Cahoy, T. A. Cwik, W. C. Stone. “Demonstration and Model Validation of Melt Probes for Ocean Worlds”, to be submitted to The Planetary Science Journal.
M. W. Smith, P. do Vale Pereira, S. Howell. “Likelihood of Time to Reach the Ocean of Europa”, to be submitted to Acta Astronautica.
P. do Vale Pereira, K. G. Rosa, L. F. Back, J. R. BarbosaJr , C. Melo. “Frost formation on airplane windows – Part A: Numerical Approach”, to be submitted to the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer.
P. do Vale Pereira, L. F. Back, K. G. Rosa, J. R. Barbosa Jr, C. Melo. “Frost formation on airplane windows – Part B: Experimental Approach”, to be submitted to the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer.
Book Chapters
P. do Vale Pereira, K. Chun, M. Contreras, C. Lindsay, S. Kacker, C. Houghwout, K. Cahoy. “FLAPS”. “Into the Anthropocosmos: A Whole Space Catalog from the MIT Space Exploration Initiative”, edited by A. Ekblaw, The MIT Press, 2021.
A. Normandin, D. Najjar, P. do Vale Pereira, M. Sarang, S. Stickley, T. SabellShavit, F. Santos, R. Freedline, R. Kundargi, “Climate CubeSat Co-Build (C3)”. “Into the Anthropocosmos: A Whole Space Catalog from the MIT Space Exploration Initiative”, edited by A. Ekblaw, The MIT Press, 2021.
Conference Papers
P. C. Serra, H. Tomio, O. Cierny, W. Kammerer, P. Grenfell, G. Gunnison, J. Kusters, C. Payne, P. do Vale Pereira, D. Mayer, J. Stupl, J. Hanson, S. Barke, M. Clark, T. Ritz, D. Coogan, J. Conklin, K. Cahoy. “CubeSat laser infrared crosslink mission status”, International Conference on Space Optics, 2021.
E. M. Spiers, J. M. Weber, C. Venigalla, A. M. Annex, J. Berdis, C. P. Chen, C. Lee, A. C. Pascuzzo, E. Czajka, P. do Vale Pereira, P. Gray, S. Kumar, K. J. McIntyre, D. Phillips, S. Tallapragada, S. R. Carberry Mogan, P. Johnson, W. O'Neill, K. L. Mitchell, A. E. Nash, J. E. Scully. “TIGER: JPL PSSS Architecture and Feasibility Study for a New Frontiers 5 Mission Concept to Enceladus”, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 2021.
P. do Vale Pereira, B. Holden, R. Morgan, J. Gubner, T. J. Murphy, C. Haughwout, G. Allan, Y. Xin, W. Kammerer, K. Cahoy, E. Douglas, J. Merk, M. Egan, and G. Furesz. “Thermomechanical Design and Testing of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat”, 34th Small Satellite Annual Conference, 2020.
P. do Vale Pereira, M. Garcia, M. Schroeder, H. Caldelas, C. Lindsay, A. Choi, K. Pfrang, A. Gagnon, P. McKeen, J. Clark, T. J. Murphy, C. Haughwout, and K. Cahoy. “BeaverCube: Coastal Imaging with VIS/LWIR CubeSats”, 34th Small Satellite Annual Conference, 2020.
O. Cierny, P. Serra, W. Kammerer, P. Grenfell, G. Gunnison, J. Kusters, C. Payne, P. do Vale Pereira, K. Cahoy, T. Ritz, J. Conklin, D. Mayer, J. Stupl, and J. Hanson. “Testing of the CubeSat Laser Infrared Crosslink (CLICK-A) Payload”, 34th Small Satellite Annual Conference, 2020.
G. C. Lordos, C. Amy, B. Browder, M. Chan, C. Dawson, P. do Vale Pereira, S. I. Dolan, T. Hank, E. D. Hinterman, B. Martell, A. Miller, C. O’Neill, N. Stamler, J. Todd, N. Wang, M.-A. Begin, V. T. Padia, D. J. Newman, O. L. de Weck, J. Hoffman. “Autonomously Deployable Tower Infrastructure for Exploration and Communication in Lunar Permanently Shadowed Regions”, AIAA ASCEND Conference, 2020.
F. Fogle, O. Cierny, P. do Vale Pereira, W. Kammerer, and K. Cahoy. “Miniature Optical Steerable Antenna for Intersatellite Communications Liquid Lens Characterization”, IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2020.
M. T. Hunwardsen, P. do Vale Pereira, and K. Cahoy. “Characterization of Laser Thermal Loading on a MEMS FSM in Vacuum”, IEEE International Conference on Space Optical Systems and Applications, 2019.
P. do Vale Pereira, K. S. Chun, M. M. Contreras, C. Lindsay, S. Kacker, R. Huffman, C. Haughwout, and K. Cahoy. “Folded Lightweight Actuator Positioning System (FLAPS)”, 33rd Small Satellite Annual Conference, 2019.
B. Holden, R. Morgan, G. Allan, P. do Vale Pereira, W. Grunwald, J. Gubner, C. Haughwout, A. Stein, Y. Xin, K. Cahoy, E. Douglas, J. Merk, M. Egan, and G. Furesz. “Calibration and Testing of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload”, 33rd Small Satellite Annual Conference, 2019.
P. Serra, O. Cierny, R. Diez, P. Grenfell, G. Gunnison, W. Kammerer, J. Kusters, C. Payne, T. J. Murphy, T. Sevigny, P. do Vale Pereira, L. Yenchesky, and K. Cahoy. “Optical Communications Crosslink Payload Prototype Development for the CubeSat Laser Infrared Crosslink (CLICK) Mission”, 33rd Small Satellite Annual Conference, 2019.
L. Yenchesky, O. Cierny, P. Grenfell, W. Kammerer, P. do Vale Pereira, T. Sevigny, and K. Cahoy. “Optomechanical Design and Analysis for Nanosatellite Laser Communications”, 33rd Small Satellite Annual Conference, 2019.
R. Morgan, G. Allan, E. Douglas, P. do Vale Pereira, M. Egan, G. Furesz, J. Gubner, C. Haughwout, B. Holden, J. Merk, T. J. Murphy, A. Stein, Y. Xin, and K. Cahoy. “Optical Modeling and Testing of the Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat Payload”, Astronomical Optics Conference: Design, Manufacture, and Test of the Space and Ground Systems II, 2019.
G. Allan, E. S. Douglas, D. Barnes, M. Egan, G. Furesz, W. Grunwald, J. Gubner, C. Haughwout, B. G. Holden, P. do Vale Pereira, A. J. Stein, and K. Cahoy. “The Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat: Optomechanical Design Validation and Laboratory Calibration”, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation Conference: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 2018.
P. do Vale Pereira, A. Sgrott, L. F. Back, D. T. Kohara, and C. Melo. “A Methodology to measure the rates of air infiltration into refrigerated compartments”, International Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference, 2016.
Awarded NASA Proposals
NASA Early-Stage Innovations, 2018
I collaborated on the idea development and proposal writing of the “Miniature Optical Steered Antenna for Intersatellite Communication”.
NASA Scientific Exploration Subsurface Access Mechanism for Europa (SESAME), 2019
Grant number: 80NSSC19K0612
I collaborated on the proposal writing of “Prometheus” with Stone Aerospace. This award funds my Ph.D. research.
NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative, 2019 & 2020
I collaborated on the proposals of BeaverCube 1 (in 2019) and BeaverCube 2 (in 2020) and I am currently working on those projects.
NASA Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-changing Idea Challenge, 2020
I collaborated on the proposal of a multifunctional lunar tower, which is competing for a launch in the Artemis Program.
NASA Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage – Special Edition, 2020 & 2021
I collaborated on the proposal of a drill-heater rig for the extraction of water on Mars and currently working on the project.
Selected Honors and Awards
First Place & Most Water Collected, NASA, 2021
For extraction of water under regolith (RASC-AL SE Challenge).
AAS Molly K. Macauley Award, 2021
As a future space industry leader.
MIT OGE TVML Fellow, 2021/22
For strong academic, research, and community involvement.
Rising Star in Aerospace, 2021
Hosted at MIT, organized by UC Boulder, Stanford & MIT.
Best Path to Flight Award, NASA, 2020
For innovative tower for lunar infrastructure (BIG Idea).
Rising Star in Mechanical Engineering, 2020
Hosted at UC Berkeley, organized by UC B., Stanford, & MIT.
MIT AeroAstro Student Leadership Award, 2020
For commitment to student support during the pandemic.
AIAA/Aviation Week 20 Twenties, 2020
20 tomorrow’s technologies leaders, all STEM students.
Líderes Estudar Fellowship, 2019
Among the 40 finalists selected from over 50,000 applicants.
Amelia Earhart Fellow, 2019/20
30 women w/ superior academic record in aerospace.
MIT Graduate Woman of Excellence, 2019
For dedication to improvement in student experience.
AIAA Achievement Award, 2018
For designing and building a wind tunnel for outreach.
Summa cum Laude, 2014
Undergrad in Mechanical Eng., Fed. Univ. Santa Catarina.
SAE AeroDesign International Competition, 2013
Third place overall Micro Class, Best Payload Fraction.
SAE AeroDesign National Competition, 2012
First place overall Micro Class.
State Univ. Santa Catarina Entrance Exam, 2008
First place of 11,837 contestants.
Federal Univ. Santa Catarina Entrance Exam, 2008
First place of 30,854 contestants.
Summa cum Laude, 2008
High school: Curso e Colégio Energia.
Summa cum Laude & Valedictorian, 2005
Middle school: Educandário Imaculada Conceição.
Regional Math. Olympiad Gold Medal, 2005
First place of middle school students in the state.
Licenses & Certificates
Certificate in Aerospace Innovation, 2022
By MIT AeroAstro & MIT Innovation Initiative.
NASA Space Mission Operator, 2021
By Teaching Science and Technology, Inc.
Graduate Certificate in Technical Leadership, 2021
By MIT Gordon Engineering Leadership Program.
Amateur Radio Technician Operator License, 2018
By the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Spacecraft in Space
Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission
Designed, modelled, and iterated on payload structure;
Made detailed CAD models and drawings for fabrication;
Worked on satellite manufacturing, integration, and testing;
Launched on February 15th, 2020; deployed on July 13th, 2020;
Currently in the ground command team, uplinking commands and downlinking telemetry and data packets.
BeaverCube 1 & 2
Designed, modeled, and iterated on satellite structure;
Made detailed CAD models and drawings for fabrication;
Currently leading assembly, integration and testing;
To be launched in mid 2022.
CLICK A, B/C
Tested mirror thermomechanical integrity under heating;
Supported the mechanical design of the payload;
Worked on the optical fiber routing in the payload;
CLICK A to be launched in 2022, B/C to be launched in 2023.
Folded Lightweight Actuation Positioning System
Designed preliminary payload and guided final design;
To be launched in 2022 onboard Slingshot (Aerospace Corp).
Selected Service
AIAA Small Satellite Technical Committee
Subcommittee on Technical Affairs, Subcommittee on Communications.
MIT Institute Committees
Presidential Advisory Cabinet, Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Advising and Mentoring.
Conference and Journal Reviewer
Journal of Small Satellites, AIAA ASCEND Conference, AIAA SciTech Conference.
Technical Judge
NASA TechRise Future Engineers, Imperial College Aerospace Hackathon.
Student Groups
HYDRATION II & III – NASA RASC-AL SE Challenge
Drilling and water collection subsystem; Oct. 2019 – On-going
MELLTT – NASA BIG Idea Challenge
Ideation, payload mech. design, testing; Oct. 2019 – Jan 2021
MIT Maker Works Machine Shop
Mentor & 3D Printer Team Member, Jan. 2018 – On-going
Graduate Women of Aerospace Engineering
Mentoring and Outreach Director, Sept. 2017 – On-going
Céu Azul Aerodesign Competition Team
Leader of the aerodynamics team, Dec. 2011– Aug. 2013
Volunteer Work
The Innovation League: High-School Teacher
Teach space exploration to underprivileged students, 2018
English Debate Society Floripa: Co-founder
Help undergrads develop argumentation skills in English, 2017
NGO Brasil Cursinhos: Partnerships Coordinator
Help financially maintain the education-focused NGO, 2017
NGO Einstein Floripa: High-School Teacher
Teach mathematics to underprivileged students, 2015 & 2016
Skills and Languages
Space Systems, Thermomechanical Engineering, Satellite Engineering, Heat Transfer, Electromechanical Systems, Instrumentation, Design of Experiments, CAD, CAM, FEA, Matlab, STK, Python.
Portuguese (native), English (fluent), German (limited working proficiency), Spanish (limited working proficiency).