Lead Engineer at NASA’s Virtual Reality Lab Inspires Women in STEM While Keeping Ahead in VR Software Development

Ana Guzman, ideaXme space ambassador, interviews Evelyn Miralles, Lead Principal Engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center’s Virtual Reality Lab.

During Women’s History Month, I was lucky to sit down and chat with Evelyn Miralles, Lead Principal Engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center’s Virtual Reality Lab. I say lucky, because she was able to squeeze in time for this interview between busy schedules of training astronauts for spacewalks in current and future missions!

Evelyn’s path to success is a perfect example of what we call an American dream. Immigrating to the United States from Venezuela as a teenager, she had already developed an interest in computers and technology. This interest took her through the collegiate path of obtaining a Bachelors in Computer Graphics at Lamar University and a Bachelors in Computer Sciences at the University of Houston – Clear Lake campus. She later obtained a Masters in Business Administration with a specialty in Management of Technologies at the University of Houston – Clear Lake.

Since the start of her NASA career in 1992, she has always served as part of an integral team that astronauts heavily depend on for training and mission success. The team she currently leads, specializes in the development of VR software required to be periodically updated and tailored to specific spacewalks or robotics maneuvers the astronauts have been tasked to complete during their stay on the International Space Station. Evelyn and her team are also at the initial stages of development in training software that will prepare astronauts for Outer Earth Orbit and Mars related missions in the future.

As seen through the accomplishments during her career and her volunteer efforts in working with young women in STEM, Evelyn is truly an inspiring individual. She was recently named as one of CNET’s International Women’s Day Inspiring Women for 2018. Amongst many other acknowledgements, she was also named one of BBC’s 100 Women of 2016 and CNET’s Top 20 Most Influential Latinos in Technology of 2016.

Through her speaking at science and technology industry conferences, and academic events at universities, she inspires and educates young students aspiring to a career in STEM. In our interview, you will be able to hear her advice and tips for career advancement derived from her own experiences.

When asked which inspiring individual she would like to meet. She responded, Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer at Facebook. She has found her writings and speeches to be very inspiring and believes she serves as a positive role model to aspiring career women in all career fields.

Watch the video interview here.

Follow Evelyn on Twitter: @vrevelyn

Follow NASA’s VR Lab on Twitter: @vr_Doug

Evelyn’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelynmiralles/

Credit:

By Ana Guzman, ideaXme Space Ambassador. Follow on Twitter: @mupwa

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Ana comes to ideaXme with nine years experience working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center serving different roles in their communications and multimedia teams. As part of the ideaXme team, she wishes to continue working in outreach and educating the public on different topics regarding all things space. Ana is currently working as a freelancer providing affordable video production and social media marketing services to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Houston area. She also provides imagery research, organization and curating services assisting retired NASA personnel in preparing speech presentations and publications.

ideaXme is currently looking for ambassador interviewers in the fields of Human Rights, Law, STEM, Entertainment and Health just to name a few. Not everyone can become an ideaXme ambassador. You need to apply. Send your inquiries [email protected]. You can also follow ideaXme on YouTube, iTunes and at radioideaxme.com.