[3] Her thesis was in the field of supersonic retropropulsion, that is using thrusters to slow objects moving faster than the speed of sound.

Bakhtian explored using such thrusters to change the shape of the leading bow shock so as to increase the decelerative drag force.

[8] Whilst at Stanford University she attended a course on science policy and became interested in the intersection of government and academia.

[9] She was awarded a Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship in 2011 and spoke regularly on behalf of the NASA speakers bureau.

[9][16] She joined the United States Department of Energy and worked in the wind and water power office.

[9] She joined the office for international affairs, managing projects with China, Israel, Brazil, the UAE and the EU that involved water and energy policy.

[28] Berkeley Lab Names Noël Bakhtian to Lead New Energy Storage Center in October 2020.