#SoCaltech: Annabel Gomez

Photo courtesy of Annabel Gomez

“As a first generation Mexican American and the first female in my family to pursue a degree in STEM, my dream has always been to work for NASA. When I got to Caltech and realized that JPL was offering SURF positions, I was determined to land one. This was a big accomplishment for me, and I feel very fortunate. My SURF experience allows me to use my skill set to contribute to the foundation and development of a project that will eventually impact the lives of many people around the world. My mentor [JPL senior research technologist Xiaoqing Pi] and I plan to use machine-learning to generate small-scale ionospheric irregularity predictions that will help improve the accuracy and integrity of navigation and communication signals. The exciting thing is that the impact of my SURF trickles down to everyone I interact with. It motivates my little brother, who wants to follow in my footsteps, and it inspires my cousins to pursue a college education, which up until recently they thought was impossible. Most importantly, it has changed my family’s perception of higher education; now they realize its importance, especially for women, and no longer see it as a waste of time. My SURF is more than just a summer internship. It’s propelled me one step closer to achieving my dream of working for NASA.”

Annabel Gomez is a rising sophomore at Caltech majoring in mechanical engineering (with a minor in aerospace engineering). This summer, she is participating in Caltech’s SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships) program, which, for the first time, is being held remotely. Gomez is the 2020 Northern California Associates SURF Fellow. 

#SoCaltech is an occasional series celebrating the diverse individuals who give Caltech its spirit of excellence, ambition, and ingenuity. Know someone we should profile? Send nominations to magazine@caltech.edu.