Elizabeth BARRIOS

Blue Origin • Electronic Materials Engineer, Space Systems Department

Dr. Elizabeth Barrios is a Materials Engineer at Blue Origin's Engine Factory in Huntsville, Alabama. With expertise in failure analysis, Elizabeth supports and conducts investigations for Blue Origin's engines portfolio. Her work also encompasses multiple development efforts, including vertical integration of various engine production processes, advanced high temperature materials, and ceramic matrix composites. Previously, Elizabeth was an engineer at NASA, where she spent 9 years as a failure analyst supporting both avionics and non-metallic structures for programs including SLS, ISS, the DoD, and the FAA. She has a R&D background in energy conversion and energy storage materials, including thermoelectrics, Peltier cooling, and solid-state Li-ion batteries.

With a passion for advancing the technical capabilities of space exploration through material selection and development, she completed her PhD (December 2020) in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Central Florida. With support from a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship, Elizabeth focused her PhD studies on exploring the development and feasibility of utilizing polymer and ceramic composites for lightweight, non-toxic thermoelectric materials.

Elizabeth found the IAF and Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) in 2017 at the IAC in Adelaide, Australia. She currently serves as the Chair for the IAF Workforce Development and Young-Professionals Programme Committee and Vice Chair of Honors and Awards for the Space Education and Outreach Committee. Prior to these new leadership roles, she was the founder and Chair of the IAF Launchpad Mentorship Program (2020-2024), a Regional Coordinator for SGAC, an organizing member for the IMPC YP Workshop (2018, 2019), and an organizing member of the SGAC Space Generation Congress (2019). Elizabeth has also spoken in the Next Generation Plenary (2020), where she spoke on public-private partnerships as they relate to the next generation of aerospace professionals. Beyond her involvement with the IAF, Elizabeth also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Chemical and Materials Engineering Department at University of Alabama, Huntsville and teaches part time in the same department.

Elizabeth's work ethic and leadership skills have led her to receive many awards such as the NASA Space Flight Readiness Team Award (2018) for her work on the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), the IAF Emerging Space Leader Grant (2018, the Luigi G. Napolitano Award (2020) for her work on thermoelectric material development, the IAF’s Young Space Leader Award (2021), and the SGAC’s Space Generation Leadership Award (2021).

Events

International Astronautical Congress 2020

12-14 October 2020

Cyberspace edition

Participation:

Participation