Group Members
Principal Investigator
Ping He
Assistant Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Michael and Denise Mack 2050 Challenge Scholar
Iowa State University
Graduate Students
Gage Harris
Ph.D. Student
B.S., Iowa State University
Research Topic:
Control co-Design Optimization of Space Systems
Heyecan Koyuncuoglu
Ph.D. Student
B.S., Middle East Technical University
Research Topic:
Wing-propeller Aerodynamic Optimization
Khanh Hoang
M.S. Student
B.S., Iowa State University
Research Topic:
Wing Aerostructural Optimization
Lean Fang
Ph.D. Student
B.S., University of Science and Technology of China
M.S., Lehigh University
Research Topic:
Unsteady Multidisciplinary Design Optimization
Seth Zoppelt
Ph.D. Student
B.S., College of Charleston
Research Topic:
Aerostructural Optimization of Aircraft Propellers
Sherly Hattasanjaya
M.S. Student
B.S., Iowa State University
Research Topic:
Data-driven Aerodynamic Optimization
Zilong Li
Ph.D. Student
B.S., Wuhan University of Science and Technology
M.S., Shanghai Jiao Tong University
M.S., Pennsylvania State University
Predictive Reduced-order Modeling
Undergraduate Students
Christian Psenica
Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.S., Iowa State University
Research Topic:
Conjugate Heat Transfer Optimization
Matthew Mehrtens
Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.S., Iowa State University
Research Topic:
Wing Aerodynamic Optimization
Nicholas Goeckner
Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.S., Iowa State University
Research Topic:
Spacecraft Trajectory Optimization
Emma Pautler
NSF LAUNCH-UAS program student (05/2023 to 08/2023)
Research topic - Coupled wing shape and planform optimization
First stop -
Usama Toman
MS Student (11/2022 to 08/2023)
Thesis - Aerostructural optimization of UAV propellers
First stop -
Benjamin Olsen
Undergraduate Research Assistant (05/2023 to 08/2023)
Wind Turbine Aerodynamic Optimization
First stop -
Andrew Thomas
Undergraduate Research Assistant (09/2020 to 05/2022)
Research topic - Building optimization GUI
First stop - Aerodynamics Engineer at Textron Aviation
Robert Santiago
Undergraduate Research Assistant (06/2021 to 05/2023)
Research topic - Wing aerodynamic optimization
First stop - Co-Op at Collins Aerospace
Helen Hu
NSF LAUNCH-UAS program student (05/2022 to 08/2022)
Research topic - Effect of mesh density on UAV optimization
First stop - Ph.D. at Georgia Tech
Priscilla Pak
NSF LAUNCH-UAS program student (05/2022 to 08/2022)
Research topic - Impact of planform variable on wing optimization
First stop -
Sharice Locke
Undergraduate Research Assistant (08/2021 to 12/2021)
Research topic - Airfoil aerodynamic optimization
First stop -
Kiet Tuong Tran
Undergraduate Research Assistant (09/2020 to 08/2021)
Research topic - Unsteady aerodynamic optimization
First stop - Ph.D. with Prof. Liming Xiong at ISU
Catherine Canfield
NSF LAUNCH-UAS program student (05/2021 to 08/2021)
Research topic - Impact of gradient accuracy on optimization
First stop - Education Associate at the Boston Museum of Science
Joaquin Matticoli
Undergraduate Research Assistant (08/2020 to 05/2021)
Research topic - Wind turbine aerodynamic optimization
First stop - M.S. at Georgia Tech
Kyle Neidermeier
Undergraduate Research Assistant (08/2020 to 05/2021)
Research topic - Compressor aerodynamic optimization
First stop - Heat Transfer Engineer at QuEST Defense
Tarith Samson
Undergraduate Research Assistant (08/2020 to 05/2021)
Research topic - Wing aerodynamic optimization
First stop - M.S. at Purdue
Adam Bodenham
Undergraduate Research Assistant (08/2020 to 12/2020)
Research topic - Structural design optimization
First stop - Structural Analysis Engineer at Spirit Aerosystems