Aerospace 101

Hi guys! In this episode, I talk to Lorenzo Piu, a PhD researcher at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium. He completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Aerospace Engineering at Politecnico di Torino in Italy. We get into his work on sustainable combustion and Computational Fluid Dynamics, especially his experience using OpenFOAM. Listen to the full episode to learn more about his research and his passion for building a sustainable engineering podcast!

Hey guys! In this episode I talk to Hari B, a mechanical engineer currently working at CapCO2 Solutions, a company focused on sustainable engineering. He has worked on several research projects revolving around astronomy and aerospace, including one where he explored using plasma, the fourth state of matter, to improve rocket thrusters. Listen to the full episode to learn more! This episode is extremely informative.

Hey guys! In this episode we revisit Malek Abu-Shawish after his internship at Boeing. He worked on extremely cool projects such as deigning the interior of planes! Listen to the full episode to find out more.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Andrea Giusti, Associate Professor of Thermofluids at Imperial College London. We follow his journey from an early fascination with Ferrari’s Formula 1 cars, to his work in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in Florence, Italy, to his research on combustion at the University of Cambridge, and ultimately to his current role in London. Dr. Giusti also shares what drew him to research in the first place, offering valuable insights into the mindset of a scientist. This episode is packed with perspectives for anyone interested in aircraft engines, aerodynamics, and Formula 1!

In this episode, I sit down with Hiren Kumar, an engineer from India who has built an incredible career journey, starting with race cars in India, moving through grad school in Texas, to Tesla, and now at Zipline, where he’s shaping the future of drones. Hiren reflects on the lessons he’s learned along the way, including the unique energy of working alongside highly motivated people—an experience he believes everyone should have at least once. Tune in to hear his story and insights!

Hey guys! We made it to episode 10!! In this episode, I share my experiences doing research as a high school student. I’ve written four papers and picked up a lot of valuable lessons along the way that I want to share with you. If you’re interested in research, exploring your passions, pursuing academia, or just curious about how to get started, this is THE episode for you!

Programs I discuss in the episode:

AirShaper, a free online CFD tool: https://airshaper.com/

Onshape, a free online CAD software: https://www.onshape.com/en/

You can get a free trial if you are a student!

Solidworks, a powerful CAD software that also has CFD capabilities: https://www.solidworks.com/

Hey everyone! In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Lee, a PhD student at MIT and recent Caltech graduate. We talk about how she first got interested in research, the complex engineering tools she’s mastered, like MATLAB, and her decision to double major in business and mechanical engineering. Nicole also shares why she chose Caltech and what inspired her current path at MIT. This episode is full of fascinating insights and is perfect for anyone curious about getting more involved in aerospace research.

In this episode, I interview Manny Ishola, a junior studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University. We trace his journey from working on his high schools FIRST Robotics Competition team (link below) to doing research in his first year at Princeton, to building firewalls on race cars! Listen to the episode to learn more!

https://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc

In this episode, I chat with Alina Santander as we trace her journey from Bolivia to Vaughn College, Zipline and Stanford. She shares insights from being the first Bolivian to participate in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (link attached below) and her experience at Zipline, the world's largest drone delivery system. If you're interested in engineering or want to learn about the real-world challenges facing drones and autonomous vehicles, this episode is a must-listen.

*I mean to say Vaughn College instead of Vaught College in the episode haha

https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-human-exploration-rover-challenge/

https://www.zipline.com/

In my most interesting episode yet, I interview Malik A, a senior at Stanford University and a member of the Stanford Flight Club. He has worked on their solar plane project and is currently interning at Boeing. Tune in to hear about his fascinating experiences and his advice to younger aspiring aerospace engineers!