Vanessa Van Decker

Experience

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  Toronto Metropolitan University

  Jul 2019 - Aug 2019

  Research Assistant

  Vanessa worked on a team doing Cardiac Catheter Robotics research under Dr. Farrokh Sharifi.-researched and implemented surgical grade protective coatings-coded a sinusoidal motion testing script for the robot in C++-wired a power supply and soldered to repair motors-edited research papers

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  Ryerson Rams Robotics (R3)

  Jul 2019 - Feb 2022

  Vanessa is the project manager overseeing Ryerson Rams Robotics' highest priority project for the 2021-2022 season, the science console. In this position she leads over 25 students, both graduate and undergraduate, in mechanical, controls, and life detection research sub teams to develop protocols, hardware and designs to perform soil and rock sample analysis to detect life. Vanessa is also managing the chassis team working with both electrical and mechanical students to bring forth an all weather chassis design with improved board management and environmental control. In addition to her technical work Vanessa volunteers with the Media and Outreach team which she founded to teach STEM principles in the community, interview diverse people working in the robotics industry, and support the business and diversity goals of the team. Show less Vanessa leads several teams of students to design competition robots for the Canadian International Rover Competition and the University Rover Competition in the Utah Desert. She founded the media and outreach team which grew to 50 students under her leadership accomplishing elementary, high school and university outreach including technical seminars, engineering outreach and Representation in Robotics where she interviewed diverse robotics professionals. In addition she machines and designs parts for the rover , managing multiple teams of mechanical students. Show less

  • Science Team Project Manager, Mechanical Chassis Lead

    Jul 2021 - Feb 2022

  • URC and CIRC Chassis Lead, Media and Outreach Lead and Mechanical Designer

    Jul 2019 - Jul 2021
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  Little Robot Friends Inc.

  Mar 2021 - Aug 2021

  Robotics & Coding Educator

  Vanessa taught coding, design, robotics, and STEAM principles to students.-designed a curriculum to teach coding and robotics to children aged 6-14 including weekly classes and a space robotics summer camp-instructed students in coding, electronics, mechanical CAD, and the design process

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  SEDS Canada

  May 2021 - May 2023

  The President presides over the Board of Directors and is responsible for ensuring continuous communication among directors, members, regional representatives, advisors, alumni, and outside organizations. As president Vanessa is responsible for setting near term and long-term goals for the organization. The president serves as the main spokesperson to represent the Corporation to the public, media and government and oversees top level staff as well as any staff not under the direct oversight of another director. The president is responsible for publishing the organization’s annual report and for ensuring the smooth functioning and success of SEDS Canada. Show less

  • President

    May 2022 - May 2023

  • Events Chair

    May 2021 - May 2022
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  Mission Control

  May 2022 - Feb 2023

  Mission Operations Engineering Intern

  Vanessa worked on mechanical design, space science research, mission operations, and systems engineering for space robotics applications. -created, revised, and manufactured systems level designs for robotics and analogue space environments-wrote the mission operations manual for the Emirates Lunar Mission payload, MoonNet, the soon-to-be first AI deployed on the moon-researched electrostatic lunar dust mitigation technologies and performed a comprehensive literature review and trade study-designed over 80 parts for lunar rovers and robotic arms-designed, built, and operated a laboratory for orbital autonomy robotics-performed operations, mechanical, and safety testing on lunar rover wheels, cameras, LIBS laser system, and robotic arms-worked on a database of geologic LIBS spectroscopy, and designed a rover mount for LIBS use in the ESA Space Resources Challenge Show less

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  Zipline

  May 2023 - Aug 2024

  Mechanical Engineering Intern - Structures Mechanisms and Hardware Integration Test Team

  Mechanical Engineering Intern on the Structures, Mechanisms, and Integration Test Team. Owner of the flight and ground test campaigns for new package design, test design and execution for FAA rain testing, and coupon testing of carbon fiber primary structure among other projects.