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NASA Researcher

La Vida Cooper’s success is an example of the endless possibilities that can come when you won’t allow yourself to give up. 

Cooper is currently teaching an enrichment course in Middle Eastern music at John Hopkins University. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in computer engineering in the department of electrical and computer engineering there. 

All Cooper ever wanted was to join the NASA Academy, even though her goal seemed unattainable. While attending the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (www.ndm.edu), Cooper majored in physics and minored in math. At Johns Hopkins, she majored in electrical engineering. Even with two degrees, Cooper was not accepted into the NASA Academy the first time she tried.

Cooper said that the NASA Academy is a program geared towards cultivating the future leaders of NASA and the space industry. In addition to the program’s focus on academic standing for admission, there is a focus on leadership, teamwork and research.

Cooper didn’t let her first rejection from the program stop her from trying again and again. She kept working to get the research skills she needed. Every time Cooper filled out an application, she was able to see her growth academically and in her research experience. Cooper’s extensive amount of extracurricular activities, her participation in the dual-degree program and her research experience set her apart from others who applied to the NASA program. “This is important because the selection board tries to see you as a person, not a grade,” says Cooper.

Cooper’s persistence and hard work paid off when she was accepted into NASA’s optics branch. There, she worked on a project called “Image-Based Wavefront Sensing and Control for Space Telescopes” and a group project, “Precision Formation Flying.”

Working at NASA has always been a dream of Cooper’s. “I have always wanted to work for NASA because they are on the cutting edge of just about every technology you can think of, and the applications of these technologies are just wonderful and mind-blowing at times. Not only does the space industry benefit from these advances, but it directly affects the quality of life of all Americans, due to the vast applications of technologies developed by NASA. And most people don't realize or make this connection,” Cooper says.

Cooper’s connection with her summer optics project led her to a co-op position for the upcoming winter and summer in the microelectronics and signal processing branch at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“Never think that something is out of your reach,” Cooper says. “Don’t be afraid to talk to people, introduce yourself and network, even if the person is many years older than you. It pays to be assertive, and people will respect you more for being a self-starter. When you find yourself intimidated by a person, remember that they are a human being just like you. And lastly, don’t sacrifice being a healthy, well-rounded, happy individual for the sake of professional/academic success. Success and happiness can and must co-exist, and if you can’t make that happen you need to do some reflecting to reassess your goals and priorities.”

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