Sarah is a fourth-year PhD student in the MLDS Lab and Dr. Xu’s X-Lab. Her research sits at the intersection of astrodynamics and machine learning, with a focus on learning and modeling spacecraft dynamics using neural ordinary differential equations (Neural ODEs) and latent ODE frameworks. Through this work, she aims to develop data-driven methods for capturing unknown or unmodeled physical effects to support more accurate prediction, autonomy, and mission design in space systems. Outside of the lab, Sarah enjoys reading, crocheting, cuddling with her cats, and trying to improve her mini golf game by mini golfing around the country (she has currently played in 15 states).

Awards

• NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2024)
• MRC Graduate Research Fellow (2024)