Joyce Dever

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I am a materials engineer working in the Power and On-Board Propulsion Technology Division at NASA Glenn Research Center. My college degrees are a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (Cleveland State University, 1987) and a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (Case Western Reserve University, 1992). I have worked for NASA since May 1989, and my primary projects have involved studying the effects of the space environment on materials. Using equipment which simulates radiation from the sun and which produces oxygen atoms as occurs in space, I work with others in my branch in subjecting materials to these effects and studying what happens to them. Radiation from the sun can make some polymers brittle and/or discolored, and oxygen atoms can cause erosion of polymers. Embrittlement and erosion can be measured using various techniques. Math, science and technology are very important to these experiments. I use simple calculus equations to calculate how much intensity is produced by the ultraviolet lamps in the simulation chambers as compared to the sun. Math and statistics are necessary when analyzing materials exposed to simulated space environments so that we can understand how significantly the materials are affected. An understanding of the science and technology involved in simulating the space environment is very important as we constantly try to improve our simulation techniques and to gear our experiments toward better understanding what happens to materials in space. 

I have evaluated materials for the International Space Station (ISS), the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Next Generation Space Telescope. I also currently have more than 2 dozen samples flying as part of a materials experiment on the exterior of the ISS which will be retrieved after over a year of exposure. These samlpes will be examined for changes in material properties due to exposure to the space environment.  In all of these efforts, I have had the priviledge of been part of teams comprised of many talented engineers and researchers from NASA Glenn, other NASA centers, and private companies.  

"A Day in the Life of Joyce Dever" 

A typical day for me starts at about 6:15 a.m. when I get up.  I get myself ready for work and then wake my daughter, Megan, who is in 1st grade.  We head out the door at about 7:20, and I drop her off at school and get to work by 8:00.  Once at work, I start my computer and check e-mail.  Checking and responding to e-mail sometimes takes as long as an hour.  For example, Each Monday, I write "highlights," or short summaries, of work I have done for the previous week.  Sometimes I get technical questions from other people I work with or people from other companies that relate to my work and I respond to them.  I am also involved with some "outreach" projects, like Women of NASA and MentorNet.  Through MentorNet, I correspond periodically with a university student in the field of Materials to provide her with my perspectives of working in this field and to share her thoughts on her educational experiences.  My typical day is a mix of desk work, lab work, and meetings.   Right now, I am in the process of writing a paper on work I have done evaluating the durability of candidate polymer films for the Next Generation Space Telescope sunshield.  I am also working with a grant student from Cleveland State University on a project involving measuring the ultraviolet intensity in an instrument called a plasma asher and exposing polymer films to this ultraviolet radiation.  Once the samples are exposed, she tests the films to see if they have become brittle or lost strength.  Together we analyze the data and make conclusions.  I am also working on some upgrades to another ultraviolet exposure facility which I use for testing.  I been meeting regularly with the team members working on this upgrade.  I typically leave work between 4:30 and 5:00.  Some days of the week I pick up my younger daugher, Sarah, from day care here at NASA (my husband drops her off there in the mornings).  

The most exciting thing about my job is the variety involved. I have a lot of "hands on" involvement in performing experiments. I write about the findings of these experiments in technical publications and give presentations to those who need this information. I have collaborated with researchers between the east coast and the west coast in solving problems. I have had opportunities to travel within and outside of the United States to present research results. I have also conducted research at specialized facilities outside of NASA Glenn when necessary.  

I never felt pressured NOT to go into science and engineering. My family and close friends were very encouraging of my pursuit of a technical career despite the fact that it was non-traditional for women to go into these fields. 

There were some obstacles to getting here. I did not have as strong a foundation in math as many other students who were entering engineering.  Calculus was especially difficult at first. I almost gave up the idea of an engineering degree during my first year of college because of this. With a lot of hard work and support, I got through. 

The most important and rewarding thing to me is not my career, but rather, my family. My husband Tim and I were married in 1990 and we greatly enjoy the time we spend with our two daughters, Sarah (now 3 1/2), and Megan (now 6 1/2).  I am also involved in the Home & School Association at Megan's school and in the music ministry at our church.  

I feel that I was given a great deal of advice while I was growing up and pursuing my education. The best advice I was given was to look for jobs that would provide me with experience in my chosen career. You may not know what you want to do when you grow up, but if you look for opportunities to learn about careers in a "hands on" manner, you will have experience and understanding which can help you make important career decisions and which can give you an edge in your future job searches. If you are interested in science and engineering, I know that NASA has many summer programs which allow students from high school through college to gain experience.  See your  

"That which cannot change, will not survive." My friend has had this plaque on display in her office. The plaque is a rock in which a fossil was embedded. I have thought about this quote often and concluded that as much as change is difficult and fearful at times, it is necessary and should be embraced. For me, graduation from school, starting a new degree at a new school, beginning a new job, marriage and having children all represented major life changes. There are also numerous day-to-day changes in our lives that can have significant effects on us. It is so important to be able and willing to accept changes for the benefit of our inner peace and our personal and professional success. 

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