United States Army Lieutenant Madeline Lenkart, a master’s student in the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering and a Purdue Military Institute Research Fellow

Space is the new frontier — for sustainability. As we ramp up our explorations, we’re leaving a “footprint” of materials and debris that compromises the extraterrestrial environment and jeopardizes further voyaging and the space economy. United States Army Lieutenant Madeline Lenkart — a master’s student in the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering and a Purdue Military Institute Research Fellow — is working on creating a circular space economy.

What is your research focus, and its desired impact?

My research focuses on space sustainability, particularly evaluating processes to enhance the creation of a circular economy in space. Through this research, I aim to quantify the rate of materials accumulating in space as space debris and develop practical strategies that could facilitate the reuse and recycling of materials in extraterrestrial environments. By addressing challenges like limited resources, high costs of resupply and environmental impacts, I believe this work could significantly advance the sustainability of long-term space exploration.

What spurred your interest in this?

My interest in space sustainability comes from its current state being a largely unexplored field with significant opportunities to address challenges. These challenges are critical to enabling long-term space exploration and developing a functional space economy. I am motivated by the potential to design practical solutions that ensure efficient resource use in space while supporting recycling and material sourcing options.

Why did you pick Purdue for graduate study?

I chose to continue my education at Purdue because of the opportunity to work with other students and faculty across a wide range of disciplines. I was excited to conduct research in an environment that collaborated with commercial organizations and participated in conferences that invited conversations about modern challenges. The Purdue Military Research Institute (PMRI) partners with all United States military branches to provide an opportunity for officers to earn an advanced degree and complete research within a wide range of disciplines. I was fortunate to receive a fellowship offer from the PMRI program upon my graduation from West Point, so I could continue to focus on supply chain and similar systems engineering challenges. My advisor, Stephan Biller, the Harold T. Amrine Distinguished Professor in the School of Industrial Engineering and the Mitch Daniels School of Business, graciously offered to be my research advisor, and he guided me in identifying a research topic that I was passionate about and believed could be beneficial in my future military career. I chose space sustainability not only because I knew there are many opportunities for problem-solving, but because my findings could be beneficial to our national security. Understanding the dynamics of supply chains and sustainability systems in space has direct applications to military logistics, particularly in strengthening operational capabilities for deployments in remote environments on Earth.

When did you first get interested in engineering and science?

I had a great interest in math and science growing up but it was not until high school that I discovered my real interest in the mix of engineering and science. During my junior and senior years, I took a research class that taught me how to conduct research and required a research paper as the final project. The paper topic was open-ended, allowing me to choose any subject and use data to extract valuable insights. These initial attempts at research helped me discover my academic interests and the areas of study I wanted to pursue in the future.

What’s it like studying at Purdue?

Although I am just starting my second semester of graduate school, studying at Purdue thus far has been a wonderful experience, due to the number of professors and peers truly invested in my work. An area that specifically stands out to me is my research group. Dr. Biller meets with each of us every week to offer guidance and help wherever necessary. Our research group also gets together to present research updates and provide feedback that promotes collaboration and enables all of us to benefit from each other’s input. The Purdue research environment is, to put it simply, exciting. When you look around, you quickly realize that there is an unbelievable amount of research occurring across an extensive range of disciplines. Students and faculty are passionate about their research, and they are more than willing to assist others. In the early stages of determining a research question for my thesis, I quickly realized that the only limiting factor would be my own capabilities, being that I was surrounded by faculty with extensive areas of expertise and had access to resources with all the information I could need.

Beyond subject matter, what else have you learned as a Purdue graduate student?

I have learned the importance of not only acquiring knowledge in a classroom setting but also applying that knowledge to real-world challenges. Through this application, I can extract meaningful insights and work toward developing practical solutions that address complex problems. This concept of learning to apply rather than learning to memorize has already helped me tremendously in narrowing down my research focus.

What advice might you give to other students deciding where to attend graduate school?

Make sure you talk to a current student at your schools of interest and ask about the academic and research environment. I think this aspect is at times overlooked, as people are primarily concerned with national rankings and the strength of academic programs. Regarding Purdue, I would tell them that the great news is that Purdue has all the above. Not only is it a highly ranked university, especially in the STEM disciplines, but it also provides an inclusive and supportive environment where faculty and other students will be invested in your work.

What about the future? What are your goals and what are you looking to accomplish?

After graduate school I will serve a minimum of six years in the U.S. Army as both a Field Artillery and Military Intelligence officer. I want to utilize findings and skills learned from my space sustainability research and my classes to help address challenges faced by the military. I also hope to take what I have learned from fellow students regarding their perspectives and new ways of approaching challenges and faculty to make me a more effective problem solver. Overall, I want to apply all that I have learned from my various academic and life experiences to make my future units stronger and be as good of a leader as I can be for my soldiers.

What’s going on outside of your studies?

I enjoy spending time with friends and family, running or hiking outside along new trails, and playing or watching sports. Outside of school, I spend lots of time calling relatives and friends, as well as planning trips to meet them in new places that we can explore together. I love to hike and run, especially in beautiful places where I can view the surrounding environment. I grew up playing and watching sports of all kinds, but my favorite was lacrosse. My hope is to help coach a local youth lacrosse team and share this passion with the next generation.