Our People

Dr. Karen Marais' research focuses on developing ways to deliver value through reliability, safety, and sustainability. She is the author or co-author of several technical publications, including 24 journal papers, two reports for the National Academies, and two book chapters. She received an NSF CAREER award in 2014. Dr. Karen Marais has worked in engineering for two decades. Dr. Marais holds a B. Eng. in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Stellenbosch and a B.Sc.in mathematics from the University of South Africa. She also holds a master's degree in space-based radar from MIT. She received her Ph.D.from the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT in 2005. Prior to graduate school, she worked in South Africa as an electronic engineer.

Google Scholar Profile

Ali is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. He received his M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University. Prior to that, Ali held different roles with the National Satellite Technology Center, starting as a Thermal Engineer and then Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) Engineer. He also worked as a Research Associate with the Center of Excellence for Aeronautics and Astronautics. Ali's research focuses on the Safety Design of Spaceports. In his free time, Ali likes to play tennis and watch NBA games.

Jessica is a master's student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University, specializing in Aerospace Systems and Space Applications. She received her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida in 2024. During her undergraduate career, she founded and led the CubeSat mission for the Space System Design Club and was a teaching assistant due to her passion for leadership and mentoring. In her free time, Jessica enjoys hiking, rock-climbing, snowboarding, and baking.

Takaharu is a PhD candidate in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. He received his Bachelor and Master of Engineering in Architecture from the University of Tokyo in 2017 and 2019, respectively. He is majoring in Aerospace Sytems and his research focuses on establishing planning and design framework that can ensure system safety of construction in space. Takaharu's lifelong passion is contributing to the realization of architecture and human presence in space. He enjoys spending his free time watching TV shows and movies, playng tennis and basketball, cycling, surfing, skiing and snowboarding.

Takaharu in the news:

Wall Street Journal (Dec 2020): How to Build a Home on the Moon

INCOSE (July 2022): Best Student Paper Award
More about the award

Purdue Make Your Story Podcast (Oct 2022): Season 2 Episode 1

The Lunar Dispatch (by Will Dowd, Aug 2023): Super Blue Moon

Rashi is a Ph.D. student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. At Purdue, her research is under the Resilient Extra-Terrestrial Habitat Institute (RETHi) with a focus on the development and validation of a resilience power framework. She received her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, exploring, and hiking new nature spots, swimming, and trying to get on the rings.

Sanidhya is a Master’s student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. He is originally from India and received his Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University in December 2022. He is researching system acceptance testing and human factors design in military aviation. During his undergraduate studies, Sanidhya was a Teaching Assistant for First-Year Engineering courses for 3 years due to his passion for guiding and mentoring aspiring engineers. Outside of academics, Sanidhya follows Formula One and likes to work out, take long walks, and cook.

Javid is a PhD student, studying Risk-Informed UAS Performance Requirements. He is originally from Baku, Azerbaijan, and received his Bachelor’s Degree in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University in May 2020.He has worked on multiple projects in multiple organizations throughout his career, including IEEE Aerial Robotics, AIAA DBF and Azercosmos (Azerbaijani State Space Agency). In his free time, he likes to watch and play soccer, work out, read and travel around the world.

Lipi is a Master’s student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, India, back in 2019. For a few years after that, she worked as a scientist in the Indian Space Research Organization where she contributed to crew module systems for the upcoming human space mission of India. She is passionate about building safe and optimal extra-terrestrial systems. Outside work, Lipi enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing music.

Megan is an undergraduate senior majoring in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering specializing in Aerospace Systems. She is from Orlando, Florida. She is graduating in December 2023 and will be starting her master’s degree in January 2024. Megan began her work with the Resilient Extra-Terrestrial Habitat Institute (RETHi) in the Purdue SURF Program in 2022 focusing on quantifying and calculating resilience metrics and continues to work with the Resilience Thrust. In her free time, Megan enjoys reading, exercising, and baking.

Aishwarya is a PhD student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Arizona State University and the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign respectively. She works full-time in Indianapolis. Outside of school and work, she loves classical music and is an ardent DIY’er.

Zosia is an MS student majoring in Aerospace Systems. She is originally from Poland, but has spent most of her life in the Chicago area. She graduated with her BSAAE in May 2024 and continuing her education through Purdue's BSAAE/MSAA program. Zosia is beginning her work on No Fault Found Failures and other aircraft and rotorcraft reliability issues to further explore topics she encountered during her internship at NAVAIR. Outside work and school, Zosia loves to cook, ski, and kiteboard.

Yu-Kai is a Ph.D. student in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. He holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. His journey into space exploration began in college. As a graduate researcher at the Advanced Rocket Research Center, Yu-Kai honed skills in rocket propulsion and contributed to pioneering the world's first autonomous GNC hybrid rocket, HTTP-3A. Previously, he worked as a systems engineer at the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), contributing to satellite and launch vehicle projects. Yu-Kai's research centers on enhancing space system resilience and safety. Outside work, he enjoys swimming, traveling, and cooking.

Noah is an undergraduate sophomore majoring in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering planning to specialize in Astrodynamics and Space Applications. He is working as an undergraduate research assistant for the Resilient Extraterrestrial Habitat institute (RETHi) to develop habitat functionality models and integrate them into a dynamics, performance based, and predictive computational model. Outside work, he enjoys weightlifting, rock climbing, and playing hockey.

Zosia is an MS student majoring in Aerospace Systems. She is originally from Poland, but has spent most of her life in the Chicago area. She graduated with her BSAAE in May 2024 and continuing her education through Purdue's BSAAE/MSAA program. Zosia is beginning her work on No Fault Found Failures and other aircraft and rotorcraft reliability issues to further explore topics she encountered during her internship at NAVAIR. Outside work and school, Zosia loves to cook, ski, and kiteboard.