Mike Lawson, Ph.D.

Mike Lawson, Ph.D. has extensive work experience in the field of electromechanical engineering and space-related research. Mike recently joined Outpost Space as a Senior Electromechanical Technician in December 2022. Prior to that, they worked at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a Senior Fabrication Supervisor from April 2022 to December 2022, where they provided consultancy on instrument fabrication techniques for NASA missions and supervised and trained technicians.

From 2019 to 2021, Mike served as an Associate Project Scientist at UCLA, specializing in the development, fabrication, and testing of space-based fluxgate magnetometers. Mike collaborated with engineering teams to generate fabrication documentation, tested production methods, and evaluated design modifications.

Before their time at UCLA, Mike worked as a Post Doctoral Research Associate at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory from April 2018 to September 2019, and as an Assistant Development Engineer at UCLA from November 2017 to April 2018.

Earlier in their career, Mike held the position of Electronics Technician at UCLA from 2006 to 2017, where they gained experience in fabricating ground-based and spacecraft-based magnetometers following NASA standards. Mike worked on various flight projects including ICEMAG, Europa Clipper, and InSight, as well as ground projects such as McMac Array and THEMIS. Mike also gained field experience through projects in Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, and Antarctica.

In addition to their hands-on experience, Mike also served as a Teaching Fellow at UCLA from January 2013 to December 2016.

Overall, Mike Lawson, Ph.D. has a diverse background in electromechanical engineering, instrument fabrication, and space-related research, with a focus on magnetometers and their application in space exploration.

Mike Lawson, Ph.D. completed their education in Geology at UCLA. Mike earned their B.S. degree in Geology from UCLA, completing their studies in 2008. Afterward, they pursued further education and obtained their Ph.D. in Geology from UCLA, completing their studies between 2010 and 2017. In addition to their academic degrees, Mike has obtained various certifications related to Electrostatic Discharge Control, Cleanroom fundamentals, Connector Cleaning, Connector Mate/Demate, IPC J-STD-001 Certification, Mechanical Hardware Assembly, NASA-STD-8739.1 Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies, and NASA-STD-8739.4 Crimp, Cable and Harness. The institutions providing these certifications include NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries. The specific details regarding the months and years of when these certifications were obtained are not provided.