Auñón holds a B.S in Electrical Engineering from, a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston, Texas (2001), and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in 2006.
Auñón was hired by National Aeronautics and Space Administration as a flight surgeon and spent over nine months in Russia supporting medical operations for International Space Station astronauts. She served as the deputy crew surgeon for STS-127 and Expedition 22. She also serves as the deputy lead for Orion – Medical Operations.
Auñón was selected as an astronaut candidate in June 2009.
She completed the astronaut candidacy training program in 2011. In June 2012, Auñón piloted a DeepWorker 2000 submersible as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration NEEMO 16 underwater exploration mission off Key Largo, Florida.
In July 2015, Auñón participated as an aquanaut in the NEEMO 20 crew.
