Alumni Spotlight: Julia Cline

Notes from Julia Cline

Tell us about yourself/family and your free time!

I've been married to my husband, a fellow aerospace engineer who I met while he did his post-doc at UTA, for 7 years. We are expecting our first child in November 2023. We live in Yorktown, Va., and have two dogs (Teddy and Bruce) and a cat (Fibs). In my free time, I do yoga, read, travel, and attempt not to kill my tropical plants in my greenhouse. I volunteer with my sorority as the chair of our Academic Development committee and do a lot of STEM outreach with students of all ages.

What was your major? What attracted you to the Aerospace Engineering field?

I have a bachelor's degree in Astrophysics from the University of Alberta and a Masters and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from UTA. I knew from a young age that I wanted to work for NASA and that aerospace engineers work for NASA, so it was always my goal to become an aerospace engineer. Aerospace engineering wasn't offered at my hometown university, so I studied astrophysics instead, but made the choice to pursue graduate studies as an engineer. I've loved space since I was young - my Dad would take me outside to stargaze at night and really encouraged my path to NASA my entire life.

Why did you choose to attend UTA?

UTA hit many of my top criteria for grad school. I loved the campus, the people; it was close to my family, and it was in a significantly warmer climate than where I currently lived (Canada). My Dad liked that there were a high percentage of graduate students on campus. My choice was cemented after a meeting with Wen Chan, the aerospace engineering graduate advisor at the time. He was very encouraging and welcoming, and made me feel like UTA was the place for me. I originally started just as a Masters student but ended up staying through a Ph.D..

Where do you currently work? Please describe your current job responsibilities.

I work at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., as a Research Aerospace Engineer. I lead two research projects focused on in-space assembly of large space structures and lunar surface construction, as well as space nuclear propulsion. I also support an agency-wide team focused on defining the strategic vision for the NASA of 2040. My job functions include managing the technical direction of my projects as well as the budgets and schedules, meeting with stakeholders, and proposal development.

Describe your path to your current position. What have you learned along the way?

Each step of my journey led me to where I am today, even though the path to get to NASA may not have always been space related. My Ph.D. research, completed under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Makeev in the Advanced Materials and Structures Laboratory, gave me foundational expertise in material characterization techniques. Following my Ph.D. graduation, I completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at the Army Research Laboratory in Aberdeen, MD. I applied my materials expertise to experimentally characterize materials used for soldier body armor and head protection applications. I became a civil servant at ARL, and shortly thereafter was offered my current position at NASA.

I have learned many lessons including the value of hard work and integrity, the type of leader that I want to be, and to say “yes” to opportunities that help you grow - even if the timing might seem off. I learned the path to your dream job is not always linear, but you can always learn something from an experience. I've also learned how important it is to be your authentic self and bring them to the work you do, and as well, how important it is to create a space where others feel comfortable to be their authentic selves.

What do you enjoy the most about your work/project?

I enjoy the people most of all. I get to work with the most enthusiastic group of space geeks every single day. They are excited to come to work daily and do inspiring work focused on getting humans back to the Moon and on to Mars. I also get to think about space every single day, which is pretty neat. We recently hosted an open house at LaRC, which was attended by over 40,000 members of the public. It's inspiring to see the looks of awe on people's faces when they see what we get to work on each day. Getting to interact with people and talk to them about space is also a huge highlight.

What is a professional highlight of your career? Or What are the keys to your career success?

In 2021, I was honored to receive the Space Technology Mission Directorate Early Career Award for service to the Mission, the Agency, and the USA in the first 10 years of my professional career. I received this award 2 years after joining NASA. It was a humbling experience that really cemented that the journey I took from undergraduate work to Masters to Ph.D. to Post Doc to NASA had all come together into a successful career. I think the keys to my success have been perseverance, belief in myself, and reliance on mentors who build me up, and encourage me to take on new challenges.

Describe your UTA, The College of Engineering experience. How did UTA help prepare for your career achievement?

I spent nearly 9 years at UTA. I started as a Masters student, and ended as an adjunct professor and post-doc. I grew up a lot at UTA, both personally as well as professionally. I learned not only the technical research skills I needed to be an aerospace engineer and make sound technical decisions, but also about the type of leader I wanted to be. The path to my graduation was not always easy. At times I wanted to quit (I very nearly did once) and just go get a job, but the support from the professors and department chair in MAE as well as my family propelled me to keep going. UTA gave me a network of colleagues who work in the aerospace field that I now connect with as a professional. Overall, I have very fond memories of UTA and enjoy visiting the campus to reconnect with professors and friends whenever I am in Texas. UTA has also invited me back several times to present on the work I am doing to current students which is always a treat!

Your career is a dream job. What advice would you give current students interested in pursuing a career in your field?

Don't give up! My journey wasn't easy. Yours won't be either but it is worth it. Do your best to meet people that are working in the field already, or where you want to work one day and talk to them about their job. Most people are very willing to talk about their job. If you connect with someone, ask them to mentor you. I meet with several university students on a recurring basis to mentor them through their studies, answer questions they have about being an engineer and provide guidance based on my experiences. I didn't do this while I was a student because I was too scared to put my big dream out there - don't be like me!! Take a chance - the worst someone can say is no. But likely they will say yes.

I'd also really learn about yourself and your own strengths, what you like to do, what you want to do for a job. Don't try to fit into the mold of someone else's path or job. Be yourself and find the position that fits you the best. Sometimes it takes a few tries.

What message do you have for the next generation of UTA graduates? Anything else you would like to share?

Work hard but find things that fulfill you outside school and work. Find what brings you joy and motivates you because that will sustain you when things get difficult. Be the type of person that encourages others to pursue their dreams as you pursue yours.