Rachel Sampson

I take pride in being able to communicate my work and its significance in a way that is accessible to a wide audience.

What does your work at the Laboratory entail?

I’m lucky to get to work on both engineering and system analysis problems. I’m developing hardware for next-generation optical space communications and analyzing what capabilities and architectures are needed to enable future space data transport. Looking at both the details and the big picture is rewarding.

Which aspects of your work do you take the most pride in?

I take pride in being able to communicate my work and its significance in a way that is accessible to a wide audience. I’m a strong believer that the value of science is tied to how many people you can effectively communicate it to. One of my proudest accomplishments was presenting at the Space Warfighting Analysis Center’s Force Design Conference and seeing the ideas in that brief ripple into the broader space community.

When did you join the Laboratory, and what made you decide to pursue a career here?

I joined the Lab at the end of my optics PhD. The cutting-edge research, significant impact to national security, and kindness of the staff impressed me. It’s a great place to work from both a technical and culture perspective.

Who or what inspires you?

My coworkers are intelligent, friendly, and helpful. Seeing the work of my teammates motivates me to find the piece of the puzzle that I can contribute to. I really respect my colleagues and strive to have them say the same of me.

What are your favorite activities?

Going into the summer, my favorite activity is kayaking. I love being on the water and experiencing nature from a different perspective. I recently completed a kayak race with others from the Lab.