Our People

Derek Carpenter is a graduate research assistant at Purdue University's Center for Integrated Systems in Aerospace. He has focused on integration of the Robust Portfolio Optimization (RPO) toolset with Purdue-developed rocket sizing, payload allocation, and complexity assessment tools. Additionally, Derek worked as a teaching assistant for a Purdue system-of-systems engineering (SoSE) course, titled AAE560, during the spring of 2022. He also assisted in generation of problem sets, solutions, and example content for a SoSE textbook.

Research Interests: System-of-Systems Simulation, Model-based Systems Engineering, Technical Writing, System Dynamics Modeling

Edward is a Ph.D. student at Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Edward holds a bachelor's and master's degree at National Cheng Kung University Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics with experience in the design of Stirling engine and aerospace heat exchangers.

Research Interests: System architectures of advanced aerial mobility and space structures.

Brian Melching received his Bachelor's in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy and has commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. His research interest included aircraft flight test and controls, and in general research with a military technology innovation application. Following Purdue, he will continue his career as a pilot in the USAF.

Research interests: Flight Test, Controls, Design, Hypersonics

Rod is an astrophysicist from Brazil with a M.Sc. in Space Engineering focused in Space Mechanics & Controls. Rod also specialized in AI by working as a programming teacher and data scientist, and co-founded SEARCH, the first organization at Purdue dedicated to astronaut-related initiatives. Currently, Rod is working on the development of space missions from a multi-level perspective. In the systems level, his research concentrates on exploring the design space of innovative space systems via graph representation and generative design. In the System-of-Systems level, multiple systems are simulated in different mission architecture configurations towards optimizing mission metrics. In his free time, he enjoys outdoors activities like hiking, as well as instrumental music and philosophical books.

Research interests: Space Mission Architectures; Generative Design; Deep Learning; Explainable AI; Space System Design; Optimization.