I am a third year PhD student in aerospace engineering. My research interests include control systems, modeling and simulation, and sustainability. My current research aims to develop a closed-loop active flow control scheme for the mitigation of Tollmein-Schlichting waves over an airfoil.

Alvin Chen is a fifth year PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is affiliated with the Intelligent Structural Systems Laboratory (ISSL) and the Intelligent Systems, Automation and Control Laboratory (ISAaC) where he combines elements of non-destructive evaluation with advanced additive manufacturing processes to detect faults in-situ for metal AM. His current areas of interest are (metal) additive manufacturing and data-driven statistical fault detection. He holds a BS from Rutgers University in Mechanical Engineering.

I am Damsara Jayarathne, a 4th-year PhD student in Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering. My research focuses on developing advanced guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) strategies for autonomous helicopter aerial refueling by integrating model-based control techniques with data-driven approaches, such as reinforcement learning (RL). I am also keen on applying these methodologies to real-world unmanned aerial vehicles, particularly quadrotors. Additionally, I am working on creating an interactive optimization framework that incorporates a broader range of human knowledge into mixed-integer linear programming (MILPs). My core research interests revolve around control engineering and optimization. Outside of academia, I have a passion for flying machines and Formula 1 racing.

I am a 2nd year Ph.D. Student in Department of MANE. I did his Bachelor’s in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). My research interest includes energy optimization for buildings and developing robust control systems for that. The current project aims on developing a generalized intelligent RL agent that effectively use environmental resources to minimize energy consumption in buildings. My Hobbies are cricket and hiking, and of course fancy cuisines.

My primary research areas include the intelligent manufacturing of industrial robots, composite material manufacturing, wire-arc additive manufacturing, and the processing of sensor signals embedded manufacturing processes. I specialize in closed-loop control and sensing analysis. Additionally, I am keenly interested in smart home technology and possess extensive experience in robot programming, industrial robot applications, and machine learning.

John is a PhD student in mechanical engineering at RPI performing research related robotics and control for advanced manufacturing applications. He has received a MS in mechanical engineering from RPI, and a BS from WPI majoring in mechanical engineering & electrical and computer engineering. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and working on engineering related side projects.

I am a mechanical engineering PhD student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. I am also a Pathways intern at NASA’s Ames Research Center, where I work on the Digital Information Platform and the Human-Autonomy Teaming lab. For DIP, I work on algorithms and methods for fine-tuning large-language models for aviation. In the HAT lab, I am working on human modeling for future urban air mobility applications.

Although my research focuses on the most efficient methods for teams to accomplish goals, my professional path has been less direct. My undergraduate degree is in physics from Texas A&M University, and my juris doctor is from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Before RPI, I worked as a patent litigation attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Through my work at both firms, I discovered my true love of learning and controls engineering, which led me to leave my legal career and start my PhD.

Hello, my name is Brian Cooper, I am 22 years old, and I am pursuing my Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering. I graduated in May 2024 from Western New England University with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a concentration in Mechatronics and a minor in Mathematics. I grew up in Upstate New York and my interests outside of school are bodybuilding, boxing, and frisbee.

I am a coterminal Mechanical Engineering Masters student with an interest in vehicle controls. I currently work with Rene running tests and helping with some of the result analysis for her research improving autonomous algorithms by bringing the human back into the loop. I have an undergrad dual in Mechanical Engineering and Design Innovation and Society, so I often spend time thinking about how humans interact with control systems. Outside of research I am an active runner, hiker, and Disney world fan. I also spend time teaching robotics to young children.  After graduation I am headed to work in Global Product Development at General Motors.

I am a sophomore dual-majoring in aeronautical and mechanical engineering. I previously worked on the CRC-3 quadcopter biplane tailsitter and am now starting to work with Prof. Mishra and Prof. Djeumou on modifying and controlling a Can-Am Maverick to at the limit of its grip. Aside from research, I spend most of my free-time reading physics books and building an EV car as a part of Rensselaer Motorsport, RPI’s FSAE team.

I’m a Mechanical Engineering major with interests in Robotics and Control Systems. I’m in Student government, the robotics club, and RCA. Some of my hobbies are photography, robotics, and playing bass guitar. I’m from Brooklyn, NY.