5 Questions With Maureen Namukasa

The Aviation Sciences Ph.D. Student Shares Her Career Goals and Experiences at Florida Tech and in the ATLAS Lab.

Mary-Lou Watkinson March 11, 2024

Maureen Namukasa ’21 M.S., an aviation sciences Ph.D. student and graduate research assistant in the Advancing Technology-interaction & Learning in Aviation Systems (ATLAS) Lab, is passionate about aviation human factors, which looks at the human element in aviation and how humans interface with
machines. We sat down to talk with her about her career goals, her favorite experience at Florida Tech and her spirit animal.

1. What is your goal for the future?

I plan to graduate and pursue a career as a human factors scientist. I want to conduct impactful human performance research in emerging technologies. I currently work with the ATLAS Lab, an applied research lab that has offered me incredible opportunities to collaborate on related projects, such as advanced air mobility, and interact with leaders in the field of aviation.

2. Why Florida Tech?

Florida Tech is a leading STEM education hub for students with goals to advance personally and professionally in similar domains. When I first moved here, I was amazed by the smaller size of graduate classes that help students connect, network and build lasting relationships with their classmates and their professors. Besides that, Florida Tech is strategically located on the Space Coast in a quieter city that is five minutes from the beach, with world tech companies in its backyard and within driving distance to bigger cities!

3. What has been your favorite experience at Florida Tech?

I thoroughly enjoy how culturally diverse our student community is! You will not complete the day without interacting with a fellow student of a different nationality than yours. It is like a little global village: It allows us to learn about the rest of the world, various foods, social norms, languages, etc.

4. When you’re not studying, what do you like to do?

I enjoy volunteering with activities at my local church and the Phi Kappa Phi Florida Tech Chapter. You might also catch me outside hiking, at the beach, walking down the causeway/park or catching up on some nonschool-related reading.