Our People

Dr. Cesare Guariniello is a Principal Research Scholar in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Purdue University. He holds two master’s degrees, in Automation and Robotics Engineering, and in Astronautical Engineering, from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. In 2016, he earned a PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, with an award-winning dissertation on System-of-Systems methodologies to support space systems design. His research interests include System of Systems design and architecture –including various space applications–, space robotics, and defense. His research projects have been funded, among others, by NASA, the US Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the US Navy, and Lockheed Martin. He subsequently expanded his research in the field of Earth Sciences, with courses and research in a master’s program in Planetary Geology, studying remote sensing for In-Situ Resource Utilization on Mars. He is a senior member of IEEE and AIAA, chair of AIAA Space and Automation and Robotics Technical Committee (SARTC) tracks at AIAA Scitech, and member of INCOSE.

Research Areas: Systems Engineering, Structures and Materials, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Dalia is a Ph.D. Candidate in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, specializing in Aerospace Systems with a minor in Astrodynamics. Her research develops decision-theoretical frameworks to help mission managers evaluate commercial space technologies and architectures, including small satellite applications. She holds a Systems Engineering certificate with experience in Model-Based Systems Engineering and Digital Transformation. Dalia earned her MSc in Aerospace Engineering at Purdue with a minor in Computational Science and Engineering, and a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering with an Applied Math minor from the American University of Beirut.

Research Interests: Commercial Space Integration, Decision theory, Space Systems Architecture, System of Systems Engineering, Model-Based Systems Engineering, Digital Engineering, Digital Manufacturing Testbed

I work with problems related to multi agent teaming, specifically how trajectories can be optimized to avoid threats and maximize success. Outside of my research, I enjoy DIY projects ranging from woodworking to electronics and cars. I also have experience with CFD from courses and an internship.

Research Areas: Guidance, Control, Optimization

Somrick is a Graduate Aerospace Engineering student and enthusiast at Purdue University. His interests include Systems Design, Sustainable Aviation, Rocket and Aero Engine design, Mechanical design, Aeromodelling, Thermodynamics, FEA, CFD, and CAD. He also enjoys debating, and is always up for a debate.

Research Interests: Aircraft Design, Systems Engineering, Electrified Aircraft

Adler is an PhD at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, having obtained his B.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in 2023. He originates from Jakarta, Indonesia. His research work centers around advanced air mobility concept of operations, where he implements urban air mobility (UAM) ridesharing models to investigate economial and environmental limits to the deployment of large-scale ridesharing-enabled UAM operations across various urban areas in the US. He has previous experience in the analysis of remote sensing datasets from his undergraduate years.

Research interests: Urban air mobility, aviation sustainability, systems design & optimization, networks, fleet planning

Jonah is a PhD student at Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Jonah recently graduated from Purdue with his master's in AAE. Jonah primarily does research in the Advanced Air Mobility sector, specifically for passenger and cargo transport. His PhD work revolves around the UAM Airspace / Air Traffic Management domain.

Research Interests: Autonomy and Controls, Optimization , Advanced Air Mobility, Vehicle Routing Problems

Yinchien earned his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Taiwan University and his master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue University. His research focusese on the AI/LLM applications in system engineering, system-of-systems methodology, digital engineering and space system.

Research Interests: Space system, AI, SoS methodology, digital engineering

Winston Levin is a Ph.D. candidate and graduate research assistant at Purdue University in the Center for Integrated Systems in Aerospace. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue in 2020 and 2022, respectively. His research focuses on leveraging optimal control theory to benchmark optimal vehicle performance as well as applying various methods from graph theory, control theory and machine learning to approximate or solve the nonlinear optimal control for real-time applications.

Research Interests: Global Optimization, Graph Search, Optimal Control Theory, Pseudospectral Methods, Guidance Laws, Homotopy

Alex Shi is a PhD student at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. Her research involves developing methods and tools for addressing challenges in space sustainability, with a focus on the impact of large satellite constellations. She also has experience developing decision support tools and frameworks for tackling complex, multi-disciplinary problems. Alex obtained her Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cambridge, UK, on a Singapore Public Service Commission scholarship. Prior to joining Purdue University, she spent several years as policymaker in the Singapore government, where she worked in diverse fields including economics, finance, and infrastructure policies.

Research interests: Satellite Constellations, Agent-Based Modelling, Game Theory, Space Sustainability, Space Policy, Optimization, Decision Support Systems

Spruha is M.S. Student in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, specializing in Aerospace Systems with a minor in Autonomy and Controls. She is coadvised by Dr. Ran Dai and Dr. Dan DeLaurentis. Her research focuses on origami inspired space systems, most currently designing and optimizing a foldable antenna for space applications. She has been a part of the CISA lab for the past 3 years as an undergraduate research assistant supporting the NASA UAM OpLims project and is now continuing on in the lab to complete her thesis. She has completed 4 internships focuses on systems engineering and integration and test in the defense and commercial space industry. Spruha earned her B.S in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at Purdue with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Research Interests: Commercial Space Technology, Human Factors in Aerospace, Human Spaceflight Technology, Sustainable Aviation, Urban Air Mobility