about me

Hi there! My name is Joalda Morancy (they & she), and I am currently a PhD student in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Washington. I also work as an Avionics Integration and Test Engineer at Blue Origin on their lunar lander programs. I graduated with my bachelor's degree in Astrophysics from the University of Chicago.

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I am interested in a ton of subjects, including control theory, spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), human spaceflight, computer engineering, planetary science, and astrophysics. In my research, I hope to cover topics spanning the field of position, navigation, and timing systems for lunar and martian applications!

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Even though I have always loved science as a young kid, space is something I became interested in as a sophomore in high school. It was this simple video of astronaut Chris Hadfield making a sandwich on the International Space Station that kick-started everything, and I have been hooked ever since.

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I am also passionate about communicating science to the general public, especially younger kids. Coming from a marginalized background has inspired me to support others with similar stories who are interested in STEM and to help them excel in this field.

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At the very least, the space industry has been traditionally homogenous when it comes to the people that make it up. Though that is slowly changing, I think it will take continued, effective effort to sustain that progress.