Photo Credit: UIUC

Ruthvik Bommena LinkedIn ORCID

PhD Candidate

Research: Optimal Control Techniques for Multi-Agent In-space Servicing and Assembly
Education:
  • M.S. Aerospace Engineering, UIUC (2023)
  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago (2021)
Awards:
  • Associate Member, Sigma Xi - The Scientific Research Honor Society (elected 2025)
  • John V. Breakwell Student Award, American Astronautical Society (2025)
  • University Honors "Cum Laude," University of Illinois Chicago (2021)
  • Dean's List, University of Illinois Chicago (2019-2021)
Experience:
  • Flight Dynamics Intern, ISRO - Indian Space Research Organisation (Summer 2025)
  • Mechanical Design and Analysis Intern (Propulsion Systems), Skyroot Aerospace (Summer 2021)
  • Engineering Intern (Fabrication and Integration), Defence Research and Development Organisation (Summer 2019)

Bryan Cline LinkedIn ORCID

PhD Candidate

Research: Optimal Control Techniques for Multimode Propulsion Mission Design
Education:
  • B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Wichita State University (2020)
  • B.M. Instrumental Performance – Saxophone, Wichita State University (2020)
Awards:
  • AFOSR Student Travel Award, AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference (2025)
  • NASA JPL Heliophysics Mission Design School Participant (2024)
  • Kenneth Lee Herrick Memorial Award, Department of Aerospace Engineering, UIUC (2024)
  • Illinois Space Grant Consortium Fellowship (2023-2025)
  • Mavis Future Faculty Fellowship, Grainger College of Engineering, UIUC (2023-2024)
  • Space Phillips Outstanding Scholar Award, Air Force Research Lab (2020)
  • Tau Beta Pi Member (2020)
  • Bert L. Smith Outstanding Graduating Senior Student Award, Wichita State University (2019)
Experience:
  • AFRL Summer Phillips Scholar, Space Vehicles Directorate (2019, 2020)

Brandon Crane LinkedIn

MS Student

Research: Cislunar Trajectory Optimization
Education:
  • B.S. Aerospace Engineering, UIUC (2023)




Nitya Jagadam LinkedIn ORCID

MS Student

Research: Optimal Trajectory Reachability Set Modeling
Education:
  • B.Tech. Computers and Communication Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur (2022)
Awards:
  • Cornell SmallSat Mission Design School Participant (2024)
  • Panelist at the U.N. Space4Women Expert Meeting in Dubai (2021)
  • 1st Place in The Moon Society’s Moon Base Design Contest (2020)
Experience:
  • Education Intern, Society for Space Education Research and Development (2023)
  • Software Intern, Defence Research and Development Organization (Spring 2022)

Kristian Jamieson LinkedIn

PhD Student

Research: Trajectory Optimization in Cislunar Space
Education:
  • B.S. Physics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2025)
  • B.S. Mathematics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2025)
  • B.S. Astronomy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2025)
Awards:
  • Dean's List Award, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2021-2025)
  • Honors with Greatest Distinction, Commonwealth Honors College, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2025)
Experience:
  • Research Assistant, nEXO Lab, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2024-2025)

Himmat Panag LinkedIn ORCID

PhD Student

Research: Optimal Control Techniques for In-space Servicing and Assembly
Education:
  • M.S. Aerospace Engineering, UIUC (2023)
  • B.Eng. Aerospace Engineering, (Honours I), University of New South Wales, Australia (2017)
  • B.Sc. Mathematics, University of New South Wales, Australia (2017)
Awards:
  • John V. Breakwell Student Paper Award, AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialist Conference (2025)
  • H.S. Stillwell Fellowship, Department of Aerospace Engineering, UIUC, (2024-2025)
  • American Australian Association - Arthur Sinodinos Scholarship, (2023)
  • Fulbright Scholar, Fulbright Australia (2021-2022)
  • Student Exchange Scholarship, ETH, Zurich (2017)
  • Dean's Award in Engineering, UNSW, Australis (2016)
Experience:
  • Senior GNC Engineer, Hypersonix Launch Systems (2023-present)
  • Summer Internship, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA), Maritime and Multi-Agent Autonomy (347N), CA (2022)
  • GNC Engineer, BAE System Australia (2016-2021)

William Skamser LinkedIn

PhD Student

Research: Optimal Control Techniques for In-Space Servicing and Assembly
Education:
  • B.S. Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University (2023)
Awards:
  • H.S. Stillwell Fellowship, Department of Aerospace Engineering, UIUC (2025)
  • Boeing Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Iowa State University (2022-2023)
  • Tau Beta Pi Member (2022)
  • Dennis Muilenburg Scholarship, Iowa State University (2020-2021)
  • Dean’s List, Iowa State University (2019-2023)
Experience:
  • Design and Analysis Engineer, Leidos Dynetics (2023-2025)
  • Software Engineering Intern, Raytheon (2023)
  • Manufacturing Engineering Co-op, Collins Aerospace (2022)

David Stanley LinkedIn ORCID

PhD Candidate

Research: High-Fidelity Orbit Propagation
Education:
  • M.S. Aerospace Engineering, UIUC (2021)
  • B.S. Aerospace Science and Engineering, University of California, Davis (2015)
  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis (2015)
Awards:
  • NASA JPL Planetary Science Summer School Participant (2024)
Experience:
  • Summer & Fall Internship, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Remote (2025)
  • Spring, Summer, & Fall Internship, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Remote (2024)
  • Spring, Summer, & Fall Internship, Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Remote (2023)
  • Summer Internship, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA), Maritime and Multi-Agent Autonomy (347N), CA (2022)
  • Engineering Assistant, Texas Department of Transportation (2018-2019)