Alumni
Former Graduate Students:
Asim Qureshi (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)
Project: Finding Safe Landing Site on Mercury
I am from Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and started at Stevens as an Undergraduate in the Fall of 2018, and I have transitioned to a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering staring in the fall of 2022. I have experience at NASA with two internships at Headquarters and the Goddard Space Flight Center concerning their investments into technologies for astrophysics missions and technical specifications of the photon detectors within their invested portfolio. I have always been fascinated with the broader environment outside the boundaries of Earth’s atmosphere and have a strong passion for discovery. Over the years, I have developed a further interest into the design and development of missions to observe celestial objects and their interactions as well as the exploration of planets to further understand the intricacies of the universe. I think there is always something more to discover and find, even in the most unassuming of regions. I also enjoy video games, hiking, and exploring new hobbies.
Jonathan Scamardella (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023)
Project: Modeling the Enceladus Plume
I was raised in Middletown, New Jersey, and got started at Stevens in 2018, eventually receiving my Bachelors of Engineering from in May of 2022 in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Engineering Management. I am now a masters student at Stevens continuing my studies of Mechanical Engineering with an expected graduation in the spring of 2023. I am a huge sports fan and still compete as a decathlete for Stevens’ Track and Field team. In my free time I love being active, working out, and traveling especially with friends. I can not pinpoint when my fascination began with space; however, it is the mystery and uniquity of the field that draws me ever more interested.
Former Undergraduate Researchers:
Soleil Santana (Fall 2021 - Spring 2023)
Project: Plume Surface Interactions
I was born and raised in Weehawken, New Jersey and joined Stevens for my undergraduate degree in the Fall of 2019. I've developed an interest in the study of space exploration and understanding how exhaust plumes can affect planetary landing sites during powered descents. I've been a writer for the science column of the school's student run newspaper, The Stute, for the last two years and I currently operate as the Commuter Student Union's student government representative. In my free time, I love expressing myself artistically, playing video games, and geeking out over Star Wars.
B.E. Stevens Institute of Technology (2023)
Joshua Bernstein (Summer 2022, Pinnacle Scholars Program)
Project: Finding Safe Landing Sites on Mercury
I have lived in New Jersey my whole life, continuing that pattern by coming to Stevens in the Fall of 2021. Currently, I am a sophomore computer science student. I've always had a fascination with space, absorbing all the information I can about the latest news from NASA, or buying as many space-related books as possible at my elementary school's book fair. To actually get to work on a project with real-world (or rather, out-of-this-world) applications is a huge honor. Outside of space and computer science, I love spending time with my pets, playing video games, and swimming.
Rebecca Guerra (Summer 2022, Pinnacle Scholars Program)
Project: Finding Safe Landing Sites on Mercury
I am an undergraduate originally from Long Island, New York. While balancing my academics with sports I just finished my first year at Stevens. I am a representative of the Stevens Women's Lacrosse class of 2025 Top of the V Leadership Program and a Lawrence T. Babbio Pinnacle Scholar. I plan on studying Mechanical Engineering and over the course of these two semesters I have found an interest in the study of space. Outside of school and sports I like to stay active by going to the beach, hanging out with my friends or dogs, and watching marvel movies. I am very eager to get to work with others on this project and hope to learn a lot from this experience.
Benjamin Knobloch (Summer 2022, Pinnacle Scholars Program)
Project: Finding Safe Landing Sites on Mercury
I am from Middletown, New Jersey and joined Stevens for my undergraduate degree in the Fall of 2021. I am majoring in Software Engineering, and the project I am working on uses algorithmic analysis of images from the Messenger spacecraft to map Mercury's surface by suitability for a future landing. I first developed an interest in astronomy and space exploration after visiting the National Air and Space Museum and learning about the history of the early American space programs. I'm also a news and science writer for Stevens' student-run newspaper, The Stute, and am a member of the Stevens Honor Board. I enjoy using my free time to read, write, and work on personal coding projects.
Campbell Tedtsen (Summer 2022, Pinnacle Scholars Program)
Project: Finding Safe Landing Sites on Mercury
I was born and raised in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland and came Stevens in the fall of 2020 to pursue a B.S. in Computer Science and have since begun pursuing a minor in Astronomy because space exploration is just so interesting. I am a member of the executive board for Stevens A Capella as well as College Dems. In my free time I really enjoy singing, crocheting, and reading.
Kayleigh Bowler (ME SURP 2022, 2nd prize of the SURP Research Competition)
Project: Modeling the Enceladus Plume
I am from Morristown, New Jersey. I joined Stevens Institute of Technology in the Fall of 2020 to pursue a B.E. of Mechanical Engineering, with a concentration in aerospace engineering. I will be a junior in the fall of 2022, and I am also a current sister of the Gamma Chi chapter of the Theta Phi Alpha sorority.
Soleil Santana (ME SURP 2021)
Project: Reduced Kinetic Model for Hybrid Rocket Combustion Studies of MMA/GOx
I was born and raised in Weehawken, New Jersey and joined Stevens for my undergraduate degree in the Fall of 2019. I've developed an interest in the study of space exploration and understanding how exhaust plumes can affect planetary landing sites during powered descents. I've been a writer for the science column of the school's student run newspaper, The Stute, for the last two years and I currently operate as the Commuter Student Union's student government representative. In my free time, I love expressing myself artistically, playing video games, and geeking out over Star Wars.
B.E. Stevens Institute of Technology (2023)
Ava Steneck (ME SURP 2021)
Project: Methyl Methacrylate (MMA): Examination of a Hybrid Motor Fuel
I am from Morristown, NJ, and I am currently studying mechanical engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. I developed an interest in the field, specifically aerospace engineering, when my high school physics teacher invited me to join the school’s rocketry club. When I’m not at a rocket launch or studying, I enjoy collecting vintage vinyl and skateboarding.
B.E. Stevens Institute of Technology (2025)
Maria Ortiz (ME SURP 2021, 2nd prize of the SURP Research Competition)
Project: Image Processing Methods and Applications in Mars Perseverance Rover Data Collection
I am from Strafford, New Hampshire and am pursuing my undergraduate mechanical engineering degree at Stevens Institute of Technology. I developed an interest in space exploration and rocketry at a young age after reading The Rocket Boys and watching too much MythBusters. I find this field of work fascinating and enjoy learning about it whenever possible. In my free time, I love reading, swimming, and hiking with my dog.