Planetary Environments Laboratory

Victoria Da Poian

(DATA SCIENTIST)

Victoria Da Poian's Contact Card & Information.
Email: victoria.dapoian@nasa.gov
Phone: 301.286.0946
Org Code: 699
Address:
NASA/GSFC
Mail Code 699
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Employer: MICROTEL LLC

Brief Bio


I obtained a master in Aerospace Engineering from ISAE-Supaero, top one French aerospace engineering university, in 2019 after having specialized on conception and operations of space systems. 

After several internships at ESA (Germany), CNES (Kourou) I wanted to focus on planetary exploration and joined 699 department at Goddard Space Flight Center. I am currently working on instruments for the Exomars mission (MOMA instrument that will explore Mars), Dragonfly mission (DraMS instrument going to explore Titan), some ocean worlds missions research project with 699, and took part to some field experiments with 698.

My main interest is to develop future space missions to explore our solar system (planets, moons, ocean worlds) from the idea to the design of the instruments and finally to the operations.

Current Projects


Machine Learning (ML) tools for MOMA data

Developing machine learning and data analysis tools for mass spectrometry data from Exomars MOMA (Mars Organic Mass Analyzer) mass spectrometer instrument.

 


MOMA Instrument Software Operator

Technology & Missions


Mass Spectrometry Science Autonomy for Ocean Worlds

This group (led by Dr. Theiling) is a new cooperative network spanning mass spectrometer instrument developers, ocean worlds laboratory analog experimentalists, and machine learning experts in an effort toward developing science autonomy for ocean worlds missions. We are working to: 1) develop flight instruments that can function autonomously in order to achieve established science goals and 2) develop consistent and streamlined methods for interpreting data from flight mass spectrometers. 


Use Transfer Learning on Limited Datasets (NASA@Work Award)

This NASA@Work award aims at developing transfer learning applications in planetary science missions. Indeed, flight instruments have limited data volumes, making it challenging to apply machine learning techniques.

https://nasa-at-work.nasa.gov/a/dtd/Using-NASA-Science-Data-and-Citizen-Science-to-Build-Open-Access-databases-through-Transfer-Learning/23232-51



DraMS Ground Software

Technology & Missions

Positions/Employment


NASA Visiting Scientist

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center - NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt

June 2019 - Present

  • Dragonfly mission: Laboratory work on Titan analog samples (preparation and measurements using laser desorption mass spectrometers: Thermo Scientific LTQ XL, Bruker Autoflex Max).
  • ExoMars mission: Development of machine learning and data analysis tools on MOMA (Mars Organics Molecular Analyzer) mass spectrometer data to assist the MOMA science team in their decision-making process during ExoMars mission surface operations.
  • Goddard Instrument Field Team: In charge of hXRF (handled XRay Fluorescence) spectrometer experiments in the San Francisco Volcanic Field during field campaign with Drs. Kelsey Young and Jacob Richardson.
  • Laboratory for Agnostic Biosignatures (LAB): Conduct research with Drs. Heather Graham and Paul Mahaffey focusing on MSMS data to categorize samples using different spectra analysis tools and machine learning process.
  • MOMA ETU analysis: Conduct research in collaboration with Drs. Xiang Li, Andrej Grubisic and other NASA and external collaborators on mass spectrometry analysis both on commercial instrument and in-flight spare ones.
  • Titan atmosphere chamber: Carry out GCMS analysis on gaseous samples to elucidate the aerosol formation in the carbon fractionation of Titan atmosphere.


CNES Aerospace Engineering Intern

CNES CSG (Centre Spatial Guyanais) - Kourou, French Guiana

March 2018 - August 2018

Five-month internship within Flight Safety department working on the development of a decision-making tool using Machine Learning and Data Science for the flight control department in charge of the security of people and environment during Ariane5, Vega or Soyouz launches


Exchange semester at Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU)

Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU) - Moscow

2019 - Present

  • Aerospace (propulsion, flight dynamics) and Russian language courses.
  • Scientific work on worldwide space agencies project: the Deep Space Gateway, research focusing on the proof of concept of a astronaut collaborative rover for Lunar missions


ESA Aerospace Engineering intern

ESA/EAC (European Space Agency / European Astronaut Center) - Koln, Germany

March 2017 - September 2017

Five-month internship, working on analog human-telerobotics simulations in the SpaceShip EAC Project:

  • development and teleoperation of a lunar analogue rover aiming at being astronaut’s buddy for Lunar exploration
  • modelling a Soyuz replica for modern simulation (architecture)

Education


2015-2019: MS, Aerospace Engineering, ISAE-SUPAERO Graduate School of Aerospace Engineering. Selective 3-year program, Toulouse, France
Major: Design and Operation of Space Systems , Earth Observation and Science of the Universe
Final year project: Lunar Transport design in collaboration with ArianeGroup company 
Master Thesis: Investigation of Machine Learning and Data Analysis tools for future Space Missions Operations (MOMA - ExoMars on Mars, DraMS - Dragonfly on Titan) and Support to Geological and Laboratory Work


2019: California Institute of Technology, Caltech Space Challenge 2019: participation in a week-long space mission design competition (in teams) under the mentorship of experts from industry, NASA and academia to design mission concept from scratch to final proposal, Pasadena, USA.

2017-2018: Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU)}, Exchange semester in Department SM3: Dynamics and control of piloted and automated spaceflights (ballistics, flight dynamics, spacecrafts theory) , Moscow, Russia

2012-2015: Preparation class in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Industrial Engineering for entrance exams to top French engineering schools, Lycée Pierre de Fermat, Toulouse, France

Awards


2019: ISAE-SUPAERO "Passion for Space" award 
2018: TOMATO (aerospace association) Aerospace Vocation grant
2018: CNES and SGAC Fellowship for IAC 2018 (Bremen)
2017: ESA and CNES Fellowshop for ISU SSP program (International Space University Summer Space Program)
2017: 2nd prize at Space Station Design Project
2017: Toulouse City Award to support an excellence program abroad

Selected Public Outreach


NASA volunteer

2019 - 2019

  • 50th Apollo anniversary : Support on the NASA event on the National Mall in Washington DC
  • NASA booth at the "Small words, big impacts" conference at the National Air and Space Museum
  • NASA booth animations at IAC 2019 in Washington DC