Cait Roufa

Experience

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  Illinois Department of Natural Resources

  May 2005 - Aug 2006

  Conservation Worker

  Worked spring and summers at Rock Cut State Park; assisted park rangers and conservation police officers in routine park maintenance, construction projects, security, and host duties

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  Carthage College

  Jan 2006 - May 2009

  * Prepared physics and astronomy labs* Ran weekly physics study sessions* Kept labs and planetarium clean and organized* Assisted physics professors with in class and out of class tasks* Rebuilt old lab equipment and physics demos Answered phones, manned the front desk, provided customer service, assisted administrators in the adult education office, assisted adult education students, put together mailers, performed business research, and proctored exams.

  • Physics Fellow

    May 2007 - May 2009

  • Office Assistant

    Jan 2006 - Dec 2008
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  Mercyhealth Wisconsin and Illinois

  Dec 2006 - Jan 2008

  File Clerk

  Worked during college breaks; filed patient data in medical records at various RHS clinics.

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  University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

  May 2007 - Aug 2007

  Intern

  Designed, built, and launched a science payload using a high altitude weather balloon to determine vertical aerosol distribution in Southern WisconsinPrimary report author

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  NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Oct 2007 - Jun 2008

  Project Manager

  Microgravity University Systems at NASA and Carthage College* Put together a team to conduct research on NASA’s “Weightless Wonder” (aka the “Vomit Comet”)* Worked with a NASA advisor to complete development of an inertial particulate filtration device, a Mission Critical project for future Moon exploration* Flew April 2-13 with the project on the C-9 Weightless Wonder to conduct research on cyclonic filtration of lunar dust, Outcome: proof of concept* Managed administrative: shipping, travel, after project talks and colloquia* Wrote and maintained team photo pages and blog: http://carthagevomit.wordpress.com* See NASA Education article: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/postsecondary/features/a-breath-of-fresh-air.html# Show less

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  University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

  Nov 2008 - Aug 2009

  Intern

  Instrument Development Program - Worked with a team to create a near-space multispectral atmospheric imager to be flown on a high altitude weather balloonDeveloped scientific parameters and analyzed data for the instrument

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  NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Dec 2008 - May 2009

  Scientist

  Conducted research using NASA’s “Weightless Wonder” (aka the “Vomit Comet”)Designed and built a rig to test the angles of repose of lunar regolith in a lunar gravity environment

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  Idaho National Laboratory

  Jun 2009 - Sept 2009

  Intern

  Explored pyroprocessing techniques for recycling spent nuclear fuel

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  University of Idaho

  Aug 2009 - May 2010

  Graduate Research Assistant

  Conducted research in spent nuclear fuel recycling and storage techniquesStudied nuclear and chemical engineering with a focus on ion exchange and pyroprocessing of nuclear waste

• 

  Mackay Joint School District

  Jan 2011 - Apr 2012

  Substitute Teacher

  Substitute taught grades K through 12 all subjects

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  Northern Illinois University

  Jan 2016 - Aug 2017

  Instructional Designer and Content Expert GRA

  Developed content for online gamesCreated lesson plansLead STEAM outreach workshops and events for students, teachers, and the publicConducted science and literacy education researchWrote grants to fund projectsDesigned lessons for and Taught STEM and STEM skills through art projects to American and Chinese middle school students at Laredo Taft Field Campus Summer Camps

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  Rockford Public Schools

  Sept 2016 - Apr 2017

  Student Teacher

  Student taught at RESA Middle School, 6th Grade Science - Chemistry, Climate, EnvironmentClinicals at Auburn High School - Physics

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  Harlem Consolidated School District #122

  Jul 2017 - Aug 2022

  Science Teacher

  High School Subjects Taught: AP Physics; Earth Science: Astronomy, Oceanography, and Meteorology, Geology; Honors Physics; STEAM Physics; Physical ScienceContent Leader - Physics and Earth SciencesDeveloped new courses and curriculum - STEAM Physics, AP Physics, Earth and Space Science - AOMKey Club AdvisorE-team (Equity) Member

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  Northern Illinois University

  Aug 2022 - now

  Graduate Teaching Assistant

  Teaching courses for the Department of Earth, Atmosphere, and Environment, including: MET 410/510, 411/511 Weather Dynamics 1 and 2; MET 421 Synoptic Meteorology Lab; EAE 102 Environmental Geography Lab; and EAE103 Planetary and Space ScienceNIU - Outstanding Graduate Student Award 2024