Why did you choose to study at Illinois?

Having done my schooling in India, I honestly did not know of UIUC before my senior year. When applying for aerospace programs, I ended up applying to UIUC along with the rest of the top aerospace programs just based on rankings. Once all the decisions were in, I evaluated all my options based on the cost of attendance and the quality of the program. I chose UIUC because of the exciting research, expansive technical electives offered, and the financial aid offered which made this degree attainable.

Why aerospace engineering?

My fascination with space started when I was very little, with 5-year-old me wanting to become an astronaut. Over the next 10 years, exciting advances in the space industry like the Falcon 9 reusable rockets, the Parker Solar Probe, and India’s Mars Orbiter Mission kept that flame growing. So, when I had to decide what I wanted a career in, it was a relatively simple decision as marrying my interest in science and engineering with my passion for space led to aerospace engineering as my major of choice.

What course or professor helped you choose your specialty?

I came to UIUC knowing that I wanted to do research for a career. As for a special interest, I had a vague interest in electric space propulsion. In the Fall semester of my second year, I joined Dr. Joshua Rovey’s group, the UIUC EP Lab. I immediately fell in love with the field and the work; it was everything I had imagined and more. I took AE435 Electric Space Propulsion as a technical elective the following semester and loved the class. I continued with research in the group through the rest of my time here at Illinois and I feel joining the EP Lab was pivotal in terms of me finding my passion within aerospace.

 What's projects stand out for you?

My first experience in hands-on engineering was as a part of the Illinois Space Society’s large rocketry team Spaceshot. I remember my first semester here, I worked with another freshman to design the battery bay for our rocket Endurance. Looking back, we were both out of our depth, but with the help of upperclassmen, we somehow designed and manufactured the part. That battery bay was not an exemplary piece of engineering by any stretch of the imagination, but it was the first time I had meaningfully contributed to an engineering team effort. The success of that rocket launch made me realize that I do indeed belong here.

 

I went on to design and build large sections of the payload for both the 2022 and 2023 Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition  rockets. I went from designing just structural components to also designing electronics and printed circuit boards. From being in charge of just a single component, I started being responsible for most of the components as well as the interfaces between said components.

The growth I underwent from the beginning of freshman year to the end of sophomore year, on the technical front and otherwise, is something that I am really proud of. Illinois Space Society is probably the best thing that could have happened to me; I grew tremendously as an engineer and I found a group of people who I still call my closest friends.

 

What are you particularly proud of?

I am proud of the fact that I was able to make the most of my experience here at Illinois. Due to my financial situation, I had to complete my degree in three years. This could easily mean that I would just complete my accelerated coursework and do nothing else, but I did not let this be the case. During my first four semesters in Illinois, I ended up taking 18+ credits, which was academically extremely challenging. Despite this, I was involved with undergraduate research in two different groups through it all, while also being an integral part of my registered student organization.

Looking back at my undergraduate experience, I was able to achieve my primary goal of graduating in three years with a high GPA, while also setting myself up for graduate school successfully by co-authoring two published conference papers in two different research groups. I was also able to contribute substantially to the Illinois Space Society, building my technical and interpersonal skills while also making friends for life.

Did you have any internships?

I had an internship in the summer after my freshman year at Woodward Inc., where I was hired as an operations engineering Intern, working on developing a manufacturing and testing instruction set for technicians to follow. I also had other responsibilities such as improving the shop floor efficiency and evaluating the need for all inventory items.

Although I learned a lot from my internship regarding manufacturing processes and how design and manufacturing teams collaborate, I never really felt excited about the job. I felt that the new challenges that arise with trying to do something that nobody has done before, which are the challenges that arise inherently in academic research, resonated with me more.

The next summer, I worked as an undergraduate researcher in the UIUC EP Lab developing a code to predict ion beamlet trajectories for gridded ion thrusters operating on alternative propellants. Even though the work was difficult and often slow and frustrating, I loved the experience, solidifying my intent to pursue research in electric space propulsion after graduation.

 

 How did the pandemic affect you and your education?

I joined UIUC in the fall of 2021 near the tail end of the pandemic, so even though this question does not directly apply to me, I did feel some effects of the pandemic. The entirety of my senior year was online due to the pandemic, so coming to university in person was a big personal change for me, albeit a welcome one. I also got COVID-19 in the spring semester and was in isolation, adding to my academic challenges.

Navigating international travel from India to the US in the middle of the pandemic with different requirements was another challenge altogether. Despite these roadblocks, my first year at Illinois year was mostly smooth with fully in-person classes and RSO activities.

What extracurricular experience stands out as memorable for you?

In my last year here, I started a new project with another undergraduate student, designing a water-propelled Hall Effect Thruster. Over the last semester, I have had the opportunity to teach underclassmen the basics of plasma physics, electricity and magnetism, and how Hall Effect Thrusters work. It has been a joy seeing other students get excited over what I am passionate about. This experience has also made me a better researcher and helped me learn more about a topic I am especially interested in: Hall Effect Thruster operation using alternative propellants.

 

What's next for you?

I knew coming into UIUC that I wanted to have a career in research, so getting into graduate school was always on the horizon. Having had an overwhelmingly positive research experience in the UIUC EP Lab, I decided to pursue a PhD in the field of electric space propulsion.

I'll be at Georgia Tech under Dr. Mitchell Walker II. I will be working on electric space propulsion technologies at the High-Power Electric Propulsion Laboratory. It is not yet decided which project I will be contributing to, but the lab has broad research thrusts in alternative propellant research in Hall Effect Thrusters and near-field non-invasive plasma plume diagnostics.

As of now, my long-term career goal is to become a professor, mainly because of my passion for teaching and conducting independent research. However, I do think that as my PhD. experience molds me, that goal might change. My career is just beginning, and I am excited to see where it leads me.

 

What's on your bucket list for the next five years?

I love traveling, so I would love to explore more of the American southeast over my time in Georgia. I am an avid soccer fan, so I am also planning on attending a few games at the FIFA World Cup in the US in 2026. 

On the career side of things, I am targeting to graduate in five years, hopefully being an upcoming researcher of repute in the field of electric propulsion.