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Julia M. O’Rourke <br /> · New Brighton, MN 55112 <br /> <br />EDUCATION <br />Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2017 GPA 3.95 <br /> Dissertation: ”A New Paradigm for Evaluating Environmental Sustainability in a Complex Systems <br />Context and Recommendations for Incorporating that Paradigm into Sustainable Design and LCA” <br /> Graduate Portfolio Program: Energy Studies <br /> <br />Master of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, 2013 GPA 3.87 <br />M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2013 <br /> Policy Research Project: “Clean Energy Technologies and Public Policy” <br /> M.S. Thesis: “Environmentally Sustainable Bioinspired Design: Critical Analysis and Trends” <br /> <br />B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 2009 GPA 3.85 <br />B.A. Majors: Philosophy and History and Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh, 2009 <br /> Fessenden Honors Engineering Program Certificate <br /> French minor and semester abroad in Pau, France <br /> <br />PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE <br />NSF Graduate Research Fellow and William Powers, Jr. Fellow Aug 2009 – Dec 2017 <br />Product, Process, and Materials Design Lab – Austin, Texas <br /> Published 2 peer-reviewed journal papers and 4 peer-reviewed conference papers <br /> Presented at 4 conferences and 2 symposiums, and gave 1 invited technical lecture <br /> Synthesized research on how contextual factors affect the environmental impact of products <br /> Analyzed environmentally sustainable bioinspired designs and uncovered trends <br /> Supervised two undergraduate student researchers on semester-long projects <br /> <br />Sandia National Laboratories Graduate Intern June 2014 – Aug 2015 <br />Policy and Decision Support Analytics Department – Albuquerque, New Mexico <br /> Updated refinery and capacity data for a model of US petroleum infrastructure <br /> Modeled disruptions in US liquid fuels supply and coauthored report <br /> <br />Co-Instructor of Spatial Visualization Course Aug 2010 – Aug 2012 <br />University of Texas at Austin Women in Engineering Program – Austin, Texas <br /> Developed pilot course and planned course content for freshman engineering students <br /> Trained lecturers for Fall 2012 and delivered 3/5 of lectures during Fall 2010, Spring 2011, and Fall 2011 <br /> <br />National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Intern Sept 2008 – Dec 2008 <br />Glenn Research Center – Cleveland, Ohio <br /> Wrote computer code to optimize centerbodies in supersonic engine inlets for energy efficiency <br /> Participated in NASA lectures and discussion groups on emerging energy technologies <br /> <br />COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK <br />Project Manager Aug 2012 – Dec 2012 <br />Projects for Underserved Communities – Austin, Texas <br /> Managed a 9-person team in preliminary phase of solar water pumping project in Papua New Guinea <br /> Applied for grants, led stakeholder and risk assessments, and directed concept generation activities <br /> <br />Curtis W. Meadows, Jr. Social Enterprise Fellow Nov 2011 – May 2012 <br />Water consultant for Mountain of Hope – Crève, Haiti and Austin, Texas <br /> Performed water quality testing, conducted surveys, and interviewed community leaders in Crève <br /> Provided recommendations to client, wrote report, and presented at UT’s Sustainability Symposium