After earning two undergraduate degrees in physics and electrical engineering in 2003, La Vida Cooper continued at Johns Hopkins University in pursuit of a master’s in electrical and computer engineering. At the time, she wondered where her passions would lead her in life.
Cooper accepted a summer opportunity with the NASA Academy, followed by a co-op position, and knew immediately that NASA would be a good fit. In 2005, Cooper became a full-time employee with Goddard’s Microelectronics and Signal Processing Branch. She says her work is living up to her expectations: “First and foremost, I like the fact that there is always a challenging problem to solve or an unanswered question to ponder. Even if a solution exists, there is always room for improvement. It’s great to be surrounded by people who are willing to embrace new ideas, and are not easily discouraged in the face of temporary obstacles or setbacks.”
Photo Credit: Chris Gunn