Why did you choose to study at Illinois?

During my senior year of high school, I applied to schools that were highly ranked in engineering and placed a heavy emphasis on space exploration programs. Close to the commitment deadline, I was considering U. of I. and Purdue. I committed to the aerospace program at Illinois for multiple reasons -- with the most important being the strong sense of community in Chambana campus town, the facilities and resources available to students in The Grainger College of Engineering and opportunities for extracurricular involvement. 

Why aerospace engineering?

I’ve enjoyed the intuitive nature of science from a young age. Some of my favorite memories are from elementary school science fairs, where my friends and I would build models to solve local challenges. One project I remember was designing a system to generate electricity from the torque of cars passing over speed bumps in our neighborhood. My favorite part was not only seeing how the inconvenience of a speed bump could potentially toast your bread but using household materials to visualize the idea—turning a concept into something physical. That process of building and imagining played a big role in my decision to pursue engineering.

Visualizing a solution is important to me because it gives shape to ideas and turns possibilities into something real. When I can visualize something, I feel like I’m seeing a part of the future—and for me, the future is aerospace. With innovation being so fundamental to aerospace engineering, I am excited by a major where I can continue building solutions—just like I did in science fairs— while meaningfully contributing to shaping the future.

Who helped you most?

Laura Gerhold and Audrey Cochran, our academic advisors, have always been available to answer my questions throughout all four years. They’ve helped me with deciding and preparing for grad school, courses, and also Illinois Space Society.

Academically, Professor Bretl’s courses have helped strengthen my fundamentals in Guidance Navigation and Controls and autonomous systems. AE353 and AE483 made me more confident in my concentration in avionics within the aerospace field.

 What projects helped you gain technical expertise?

Until my sophomore year, I focused almost entirely on the space side of aerospace engineering. That changed when I had the opportunity to intern at Boom Supersonic, where I supported the development of avionics systems of the Overture passenger airplane.

Through this experience, I strengthened my technical skills in electrical logic design and gained knowledge in hardware documentation, systems integration, and safety certification processes which I hadn’t yet.

More unexpectedly, I discovered that I also enjoy the aviation industry—particularly the challenges of working on advanced aircraft systems and a supersonic passenger airplane.

What are you particularly proud of?

I'm especially proud of the friendships I built during my time at Illinois. In college, it's easy to get consumed by academics, internships and extracurriculars. Midway through my college years, I found myself overwhelmed—juggling a co-op, challenging coursework and multiple club commitments. It was a stressful period, and it became difficult to find time for meaningful social connections. But the friends I made stood by me. Their support helped me manage everything and reminded me of the importance of having a strong personal network. Looking back, those relationships were just as valuable as any academic or professional achievement, and I’ve been able to carry that lesson into my career

Did you have any internships?

I’ve had three internship experiences that helped shape my technical skills and interests. My first internship was with Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. , where I worked as a power and performance engineering Intern over the summer and then a part time co-op during spring 2022 semester. It gave me my first exposure to industry experience in the semiconductors field and developed my interests in engineering simulations.

In my sophomore year, I interned at Boom Supersonic, where I worked on the avionics team for the Overture aircraft. This experience introduced me to the aviation industry and gave me a strong foundation in systems integration and flight deck design.

Most recently, I interned at SpaceX on the automation and controls team supporting Starship production. I worked on the full cycle of the development process from design to activation on the production line.  

 How did the pandemic affect you?

It affected my college application process and I was unable to visit the campus when I was admitted. I got lucky in that my freshman year was the occasional COVID test and following the safety guidelines.  

Describe a challenge you faced and how you resolved it? 

My family moved to the United States 10 years ago, and I’ve since grown up immersed in American culture. We were fortunate to gain permanent residency, but I became aware of the limitations faced by non-citizens in the aerospace field—particularly in the corporate space industry, where citizenship is often a requirement. By my sophomore year, it became clear that if I wanted to pursue my goals in this sector, I would need to become a U.S. citizen.

Throughout college, I experienced a small portion of the complexities of the naturalization process. I’m extremely grateful to now hold an American passport, and I remain mindful of the many students who continue to face barriers in an evolving immigration landscape.

Alongside the logistical hurdles of visits to the immigration offices, interviews and applications, the process brought up questions about identity. The questions often felt like I had to choose between my past Indian heritage and my dream in the aerospace industry. I don’t believe this is a challenge I’ve fully resolved. However, I’ve learned to be proud of being an American Indian.

What extracurricular experience stands out as memorable for you?

During my senior year, serving as the assistant director of Illinois Space Society has been a particularly memorable experience. In this role, I had the opportunity to represent our organization to industry sponsors and partners. I especially enjoyed speaking with company representatives about the incredible work our members do — from designing and launching rockets to conducting technical research and leading STEM outreach initiatives. Seeing the range and depth of our society’s accomplishments was genuinely inspiring, and I was glad to be able to share that enthusiasm with our sponsors.

How did you decide what to do after you graduate?

I will be going into the industry right after graduation. I want to explore more opportunities in the industry before returning for my masters in the future.

 Do you have any other career goals?

I want my career to make a sustainable impact on my community by pursuing graduate school to support innovation in industry.

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

1. Travel to new countries and learn about different cultures.
2. Continue building strong friendships
3. Go to the Monaco Grad Prix
4. Go to a The Weekend concert
5. Watch an Indian cricket match live