cv

General Information

Full Name Paulina Rodriguez
Date of Birth 5th November 1988
Languages English, Spanish

Education

  • 2025
    Ph.D. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
    The George Washington University
    School of Engineering & Applied Science
    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • 2012
    M.S. Mathematics
    Claremont Graduate University
    Institute of Mathematical Sciences
  • 2010
    B.A. Mathematics
    University of California Santa Cruz
    Mathematics Department

Relevant Research

  • 2023 - Current
    Year-Round Intern
    Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico
    • Implementing a Multi-Metric Validation Approach with a Focus on Small Samples.
  • 2022
    Visiting Scientist, Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
    Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico
    • Training on and Implementing UQ, Validation Metrics, and NGW/IWF Process to an Ablation Dataset.
  • 2021 - Current
    Graduate Student, Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
    The George Washington University (GWU), Washington, DC
    • Developing a Computational Model of an Electronic Drug Delivery System Using Open Source Software and Integrating Reproducibility into Credibility Activities. Conduct Verification of Computational Model.
  • 2021 - 2024
    Guest Researcher, ABioM Project
    US Food and Drugs Administration (US FDA), Silver Spring, MD
    • Conducted Verification and Validation studies.
  • 2017 - 2021
    Regulatory Science Researcher, ABioM Project
    US Food and Drugs Administration (US FDA), Silver Spring, MD
    • Developed a Computational Model of a Medical Device Using ANSYS CFX and Integrated Validation, Risk Assessment, and Applicability to Demonstrate How to Build Credibility into the Model.
  • 2020
    Regulatory Science Researcher, SimSight Project
    US Food and Drugs Administration (US FDA), Silver Spring, MD
    • Developed a Python Script with a Jupyter Notebook to Search Publicly Available 510(k) and Premarket Application Submissions for Modeling Relevant Content.
  • 2012
    Graduate Student, Coffee Ring Effect Analysis
    Claremont Graduate University (CGU), Claremont, CA
    • Verified Numerical Solutions of a Drying Droplet Containing Moving Particles with Analytic Methods.
  • 2011
    Graduate Student, Allergens Microarray Data Analysis
    Claremont Graduate University (CGU), Claremont, CA
    • Analyzed a Small Sample of Dust Mite Allergens Microarray Genetic Data Using Bayesian Statistics and R.
  • 2011
    Graduate Student, Solar Chimney Optimization
    Claremont Graduate University (CGU), Claremont, CA
    • Developed a Solar Chimney Model Using Matlab for the Environmental Design Group as an Alternative HVAC.
  • 2011
    Graduate Researcher, Neurocysticercosis Data Analysis
    National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), Mexico City, Mexico
    • Analyzed Small Sample Neurocysticercosis Microarray Genetic Data Using Bayesian Statistics and R for Geneticists. Trained an Undergraduate Student, Delegated Workload, and Presented Results (Spanish/English).
  • 2009
    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Orbit Transfer Optimization
    Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
    • As a Research in Industrial Projects for Students (RIPS) Summer Student, Collaborated with 4 Students and The Aerospace Corporation to Optimize Orbit Transfers Through Simulations Programmed in C.
  • 2008 - 2009
    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Hamiltonian Systems Analysis
    University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), Santa Cruz, CA
    • Assessed Analytical Methods for Hamiltonian System Applications.

Work

  • 2017 - 2021
    Research Scientist
    US FDA, Silver Spring, MD
    • Developed regulatory science research tools for building modeling and simulation (M&S) credibility for medical devices. Reviewed grant proposals, shadowed the regulatory review process, and participated in the M&S working groups and programs. Managed a team of 6 and a team of 4 research scientists using an Agile framework and project management tools.
  • 2015 - 2017
    Senior Web Developer
    Search Influence, New Orleans, LA
    • Improved data collection accuracy for 20-30 Google Analytics and Tag Manager accounts. Search engine optimized 40-50 websites on 10 website editors with custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
  • 2014
    Tutor Coordinator
    Learning Support Services at UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA
    • Daily maintained tutor database and website. Analyzed utilization data to identify 158 courses requiring tutors. Hired, trained, and assessed 250 tutors. Managed 12 student assistant workers and tutored math.
  • 2013 - 2014, 2015
    Program Assistant and Student Advisor
    California Teach Program at UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA
    • Made payments, organized events, advised undergraduates, and developed a relational database for 7 years of survey data. Electronically streamlined paper applications and screening. The remodeled website increased new visits by 18.5%, pages visited/session by 65%, and the average session duration by 375%.
  • 2013
    Contract Tutor
    Youth Policy Institute, Los Angeles, CA
    • Taught 11 students, grades 1-7, in a 5 month period on English Language Arts and Mathematics. Using a self-prepared curriculum, 95% of the students improved test scores. (Los Angeles Unified District)
  • 2009
    Mathematics Department Tutor
    Learning Support Services at UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA
    • Self-prepared one-on-one tutoring sessions for 8 undergraduate mathematics courses. Students (100%) who came in for tutoring passed their math course. (Average 10-15 students/ 3hr session)
  • 2007 - 2010
    Co-Leader & Tutor
    Academic Excellence Program (ACE), Santa Cruz, CA
    • Taught precalculus and calculus to 15-20 STEM students. On average 95% passed their math course.

Teaching and Volunteering

  • 2022
    Annual STEM Day at Annapolis Middle School
    • Presenter
  • 2020
    Subject Matter Expert at US FDA
    • Subject Matter Expert in OCR Search Capabilities
  • 2019
    US FDA CDRH's Experiential Learning Program at Dassault Systèmes
    • Participant
  • 2018
    USA Science & Engineering Festival - US FDA Booth in Washington, DC
    • Interactive Session Volunteer
  • 2018
    DC SACNAS Chapter in Washington, DC
    • Founder and Secretary
  • 2018
    UNIDOS US Hands-On Science Booth in Washington, DC
    • Volunteer
  • 2016
    Tech Talent South New Orleans - Kids Code New Orleans in New Orleans, LA
    • Teacher and Project Lead
  • 2012
    SACNAS at the Claremont Colleges Chapter in Claremont, CA
    • Founder and President
  • 2011-2012
    Graduate Student Council in Claremont, CA
    • Council Member
  • 2010
    Harbor High School in Santa Cruz, CA
    • Tutor and Teaching Assistant
  • 2008-2009
    California Teach (Cal Teach) Program UCSC in Santa Cruz, CA
    • Intern
  • 2007-2008
    Expanding Your Horizons Conference in Santa Cruz, CA
    • Mentor and Assistant Presenter

Conferences, Awards, and Associations

  • 2022
    Super Computing (SC 2022) Conference
    • Attended
  • 2022
    DOE CSG Annual Program Review
    • Presented
  • 2021 - Current
    DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF)
    • Awarded
  • 2022 - Current
    ASME
    • Student Member
  • 2019, 2020
    7th & 8th Annual FDA Scientific Computing Days
    • Attended
  • 2019
    US FDA Outstanding Service Award
    • Awarded
  • 2018, 2019, 2020
    ASME, V&V Symposium
    • Attended, Presented
  • 2017, 2019
    BMES/FDA Frontiers in Medical Devices Conference
    • Attended
  • 2016
    Collision
    • Attended
  • 2012
    MSRI, Spring Opportunities
    • Attended
  • 2011
    Infinite Possibilities Conference
    • Attended, Presented
  • 2010 - 2015
    Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
    • Member
  • 2008 - 2010
    Claremont Graduate University Math Tuition Fellowship
    • Awarded
  • 2008 - 2010
    Koret UC LEADS Symposium
    • Attended, Presented
  • 2009 - 2010
    CAMP
    • Attended, Presented
  • 2009 - 2010
    UCSC Undergraduate Symposium
    • Presented
  • 2009 - 2015
    American Mathematical Society (AMS)
    • Member
  • 2009 - 2015
    Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM)
    • Member
  • 2009
    SACNAS Video Presentation for Student Tutorial
    • Presented
  • 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
    SACNAS Travel Scholarship for National Conference
    • Attended, Presented
  • 2008 - Current
    SACNAS
    • Member
  • 2007 - 2010
    Academic Excellence Program (ACE)
    • Participant
  • 2006 - 2010
    Educational Opportunity program (EOP)
    • Participant

Technology

  • Programming Languages: Python, R, C++, C, Octave, PHP, JavaScript, Markdown, CSS, HTML, RubyonRails
  • Numerical Solvers: ANSYS CFX, OpenFOAM
  • Software: Git, MATLAB, LaTeX, Jupyter Notebooks
  • Operating Systems: Windows, Linux, MacOS, UNIX
  • Parallelization Methods: MPI, OpenMP
  • Text Editors: Vim, Nano, Sublime, Emacs, VSCode
  • Database Management: Postgres, MySQL