2024-2025 Perspectives of women in engineering seminar

blueprints for bravery
​Speaker Line-up

ENGR311A
​Winter Quarter
In-Person | 4:30 - 5:20pm | Thursdays | Y2E2 111
​

Jan 9
Natalie larson

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University 
Natalie M. Larson is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. Her research group develops hybrid manufacturing methods (e.g., multimaterial 3D printing with subvoxel control) and applies in-situ characterization techniques (e.g., 4D X-ray computed tomography) to investigate new classes of hierarchical architected materials. Her lab aims to enable sustainable fabrication of multimaterial and composite systems with enhanced properties, including efficiency and multifunctionality, for applications in aerospace, transportation, soft robotics, and healthcare.

She received her BS degree from the University of Washington in 2013 and her PhD degree from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2018. From 2019-2023, she was a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University. She has received numerous awards and honors including the MRS Bulletin Postdoctoral Publication Prize, the Advanced Light Source Doctoral Fellowship in Residence, and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

She enjoys spending time with friends and family, exploring the outdoors, hiking, weightlifting, and hanging out with her cat Data.

Jan 16
Ali Guarneros Luna

Senior Space Architect, Lockheed Martin

Jan 23
SHILPA VIJAY

CTR Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University

Jan 30
Steffi paepcke

Manager, Robotics User Experience (UX), Toyota Research Institute
Steffi feels fortunate to work at the intersection of people, design, and robotics. As manager of the Robotics User Experience (UX) Team at Toyota Research Institute (TRI), she is responsible for bridging the gap between the engineers who build TRI’s robots and the people who ultimately use them. Customers are as varied as older adults, and active factory workers. Steffi's team conducts the UX research and design required to build intuitive, practical, and impactful robots that meet genuine user needs.

With a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Steffi has spent her career integrating the human-centered design process with the field of robotics. She first discovered the vast UX opportunity within this highly technical space during her time at Willow Garage, a former robotics research laboratory. From there -- before joining TRI -- she co-founded the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF) which maintained open-source robotics software such as Robot Operating System (ROS) and Gazebo, a 3D simulator. 

Outside of work and adventuring with her young son, Steffi’s creative pursuits extend to dance and handicrafts. She teaches 5Rhythms -- a dance meditation practice that fosters embodiment, self-expression, and connection -- and is on a painstakingly slow and bumpy mission to sew her own wardrobe. If you want Steffi to talk your ear off, use any of the following phrases: “The existential shift of motherhood”; “Tell me about your sewing lair”; “Why should I consider a career in robotics UX?”; “How do I darn this hole in my sock?”.

Feb 6
Lucinda Shih

Water Resources Manager, Contra Costa Water District

Feb 13
Kristen Matsuno

Aerospace Engineer, NASA Ames Research Center

Feb 20
Prof. Vivian Feig

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University

Feb 27
Johanna Kleingeld

Chief of Staff, Ion Business Unit, Intuitive Surgical

Mar 6
Prof. Grace O'Connell

Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence, College of Engineering, UC Berkeley

Mar 13
Negar FehEr

Space Executive & Public Speaker
Feher's professional career in the space industry spans more than 20 years, and includes business and technical leadership roles at Momentus, Maxar, and Lockheed Martin Space Systems.

Negar currently serves as the CEO of Orbital Outpost X - a company focused on creating connections in space and enabling autonomous operations and interconnectivity. Orbital Outpost X is developing software enabled interfaces to help customers streamline development schedules, seamlessly integrate payloads, and monitor operations in space autonomously.

As VP of Business Development at Momentus (NASDAQ: MNTS), Feher built up product development, sales and marketing from the early days when Momentus was a seed-stage startup and led revenue growth through Momentus’ IPO.

At Maxar, she co-founded a Strategic Ventures business unit to diversify offerings and bridge products and services to emerging markets.
​
Feher is a board member of SSPI, serving as the Co-Chair of the Elevating Women Committee. She remains an active advocate for diversity and inclusion, collaboration, and team building. Feher earned an MS in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University.