Noël Bakhtian facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Noël Bakhtian
Bakhtian in 2017
Born	Noël Bakhtian
Alma mater	Duke University Stanford University University of Cambridge
Scientific career
Institutions	United States Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory
Thesis	Drag Augmentation via Supersonic Retropropulsion for Atmospheric Deceleration (2012)

Noël Bakhtian is an amazing scientist and leader. She used to be in charge of the Energy Storage Center at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She also led the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at Idaho National Laboratory and advised the White House on science!

Early Life and Education

Noël Bakhtian loved science and space from a young age. She was inspired by characters like Han Solo and books like The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet. She went to school in Fort Myers, Florida.

She studied mechanical engineering and physics at Duke University. She graduated in 2005. Later, she earned master's degrees from Stanford University and the University of Cambridge. At Cambridge, she studied unmanned aerial vehicles, which are like drones. She used a special wind tunnel for her research.

Studying Space Travel

Noël earned her doctorate degree at Stanford University. She studied Aeronautical and Astronautical engineering. Her research focused on something called supersonic retropropulsion. This is a way to slow down objects moving faster than the speed of sound.

Imagine a spacecraft trying to land on Mars. It needs to slow down a lot! Noël explored using special thrusters to create drag. This drag would help slow down very heavy objects. This technology could help us land bigger things on planets with thin atmospheres, like Mars.

Science and Government

While at Stanford University, Noël became interested in how science and government work together. She was awarded a special fellowship from Zonta International in 2011. She also spoke often for the NASA speakers bureau.

She finished her important research paper, called Drag Augmentation via Supersonic Retropropulsion for Atmospheric Deceleration, in 2012. While studying, she also helped teach younger students. She took part in Stanford Splash!, a program for students in grades 8 to 12. She even won an award from the Society of Women Engineers! Boeing also named her their Engineering Student of the Year.

Career and Research

After getting her PhD, Noël became a fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She joined the United States Department of Energy. There, she worked on projects involving wind and water power.

She also worked on international projects. These projects involved countries like China, Israel, and Brazil. They focused on important topics like water and energy policy. She helped create a big research center for clean energy with China. She also led a project for wave energy, which uses ocean waves to create power.

White House Advisor

From 2015 to 2016, Noël was a senior advisor for the Office of Science and Technology Policy. This office is part of the White House. She helped guide important decisions about science for the country. She was even called one of the "Unsung Heroes" by the government in 2015.

Leading Energy Research

In 2017, she became the head of the Centre for Advanced Energy Studies. This center is at Idaho National Laboratory. She is also part of a council that helps new businesses in Idaho.

Noël is also a strong supporter of women in science. She took part in the 2017 Women's March. She is also a member of the Women's Council on Energy and the Environment. In 2018, Business Insider magazine called her one of the "most powerful female engineers in the world." She also advises the Energy Policy institute at Boise State University.

In October 2020, Noël Bakhtian was chosen to lead a brand new center. This is the Energy Storage Center at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. This center focuses on new ways to store energy, which is super important for our future!