RILEY LAWSON
Riley Lawson is a second-year PhD student in Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on developing a fertigation on demand system using distributed temperature sensing via fiber optic cables to determine soil nutrient content. Her passions and motivation lie in food equity and responsible natural resource management.
EDUCATION
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Doctor of Philosophy in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, expected 2024
GPA 3.49/4.0
The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, May 2020
GPA 3.50/4.0, cum laude
Honors College, STEM Path to MBA Program
WORK EXPERIENCE
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, August 2020 – present
- Member of NCSU’s GRIP4Psi interdisciplinary project
- Develop personal research objectives, methods, written material, and collaborative plans with fellow researchers
- Self-motivated student and learner in coursework, graduate research, and extracurricular activities
- Fulfill Teaching Assistant duties of grading coursework, assisting in developing lab materials and curriculum, answering student questions, and providing hands-on help during lab times
Burns & McDonnell, Roanoke, VA
Mechanical Engineering Intern, Aviation & Federal Department; May – August 2019
- ● Calculated and designed piping, utilities, and HVAC ductwork for large-scale commercial and federal buildings, dry docks, and testing facilities
- ● Sized, calculated, and selected HVAC and plumbing equipment
- ● Proofread and redlined proposals and submittals for engineering contracts
Southern Research, Birmingham, AL
Materials Engineering Co-Op, August – Dec 2017, May 2018 – August 2018, January 2019 – May 2019
- Responsible for hardware design, data analysis and packaging, laboratory experimentation, and specimen handling for thermo-mechanical composite, ceramic, and metal material testing
- Conducted a program to test C/epoxy specimens from start to finish
- Collated and analyzed fatigue data for AFRL hypersonic test program
- Designed and 3D printed optical support pieces for light beam testing
Q.E.D. Systems, Inc., Virginia Beach, VA
Engineering Intern, May – July 2016
- Prepared contract submissions for federal engineering and shipbuilding projects
- Worked with executives on strategy in resource planning to improve project efficiency
- Proficient in R, C++, MATLAB, Microsoft Excel/PowerPoint, SolidWorks, Revit, and Eiger Markforged 3D Print Software
- Ability to operate Nano-ITC instrumentation and analyze data with NanoAnalyze
- Graduate coursework in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Soil Fertility, Land and Water Engineering, Statistics, Heat Transfer, Polymer Rheology, Engineering Economy, and Irrigation & Drainage
- Excellent presentation development and delivery skills
LEADERSHIP, ACTIVITIES, AND SERVICE
- Graduate Student Association Executive Board, North Carolina State University, 2021-present
- Professional Development Co-Chair
- Graduate Writing Certificate, North Carolina State University, 2021-present
- eVTOL Senior Design Group at The University of Alabama, August 2019 – May 2020
- Team Lead
- Capstone Leadership Academy Mentor, The University of Alabama, 2017-2018
- SITE Camp Counselor, The University of Alabama, 2016-2017
- STEM Path to the MBA Ambassador, The University of Alabama, 2016-2019
- Alabama Astrobotics, The University of Alabama, 2016-2017
- Marketing Team, Communications Liaison
- Student Engineers in Action, The University of Alabama, 2015-2020
- Service Project Team