Alexandra Uy

About Alexandra Uy

Undergraduate research was the first opportunity I experienced where I had the opportunity to pursue my curiosity and find the limits of my understanding, and with every step along my career path, I hope to maintain those elements. My passion for research stems from my insatiable interest in the world around me. This desire to learn led me to the Advanced High Temperature Materials research laboratory at the University of Virginia. I originally was handed a project relating to environmental barrier coatings (EBC) degradation and with that, a procedure. The procedure seemed like a set of arbitrary parameters, so I dove into the literature. I brought what I had learned to the PI of the lab, and we both concluded that, yes, some of the parameters were arbitrary and a standard across the materials science community needed to be established. This one question about procedure led me down the rabbit-hole of prior art, inspired my first personal experimentation, and earned me first place in a research poster competition, as well as an award for a research art contest. More than that, it taught me that experimental research is where I will build my career. I have further built upon my research experience at UVA from that one EBC experiment to include exposure and familiarity with: mineral characterization, steam jet vapor degradation of EBCs, ceramic synthesis. During my time at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, my projects revolved around the thermochemical and thermomechanical optimization through experimentation, characterization, and modification of Ultra-high temperature ceramics. While there, I developed my skills in: JADE Rietveld refinement, spark plasma sintering, oxidation experimentation, ImageJ, and pycnometry density method.

Experience

1. Research Scientist

   Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

   Dec 2022 — Present · Laurel, MD, US

   As a winter intern at APL, I worked under Dr. Yo-Rhin Rhim in an effort to advance hypersonic application materials by optimizing synthesis and chemistry. I will remain on the team throughout the school semester and pick back up in person in the summer!

Education

• Lake Braddock Secondary

  Advanced Diploma

  2016 — 2020

• University of Virginia

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Materials Science

  2020 — 2024