The 2022 Rising Stars in Aerospace Symposium will be hosted at the University of Colorado Boulder by the Ann and HJ Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, May 12-13, 2022.  CU Smead Aerospace, MIT AeroAstro, the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University, and the Department of Aerospace at Penn State University are pleased to partner in this event. The Symposium  offers doctoral candidates (within 2 years of receiving their PhD) and recent PhD recipients who are completing post-doctoral research or working in the aerospace field, with a focus on participants from underrepresented groups in aerospace engineering, an opportunity to showcase their work and network with colleagues, university faculty, industry and government partners.

The Symposium will provide participants a unique opportunity to:

  • present their research to their peers and faculty members for feedback
  • learn about careers and pathways for success in academic and research positions
  • discuss emerging trends in aerospace engineering
  • find out what to expect in the academic recruitment process
  • talk with diverse faculty members about career choices and work-life balance

Look for the detailed Symposium agenda to be published soon!

Supported by:

  • Brian Argrow
    Schaden Leadership Professor and Chair, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder
  • Daniel E. Hastings
    Cecil and Ida Green Education Professor, Department Head, Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Charbel Farhat
    Vivian Church Hoff Professor of Aircraft Structures, Chairman, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University
  • Amy Pritchett
    Professor and Department Head, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Penn State University

Eligibility

Q. May undergraduate students present at the symposium?
A. The Rising Stars in Aerospace Symposium is open to participants from underrepresented groups in aerospace engineering who are currently in a doctoral program and less than two years away from their defense and to those who have defended their PhD thesis less than two years ago. Because the program is explicitly targeted to participants at these career and degree stages, we will not consider applications from undergraduate students or students who are currently at earlier stages of their degree program. However, we strongly encourage you to apply when you reach this stage of your academic career.

Q. May International students apply?
A. International students are welcome, but you must currently be studying or working in the US.

Q. May I participate in this symposium if I have participated in previous years?
A. No. Because we are trying to reach the broadest pool possible, if you have participated in previous years, you are not eligible to participate again. 

Q: What expenses for participants are covered?
A: We will cover pre-approved costs of airfare for those selected as participants and provide shared lodging and all meals during the workshop.

Complete Application Below

Please complete this application to be considered for the 2022 Rising Stars in Aerospace Symposium. All asterisked fields are required. You will also need to upload a copy of your CV (up to two pages in length) and a document containing the title and a one page abstract for your research presentation.

We also ask that your advisor send an email to Dr. Hanspeter Schaub by Tuesday, April 19, listing your name in the subject line to provide details of your eligibility to participate. In particular, please have your advisor answer these three questions:

  • Do you recommend this person attend this workshop?
  • Is this candidate interested in academia?
  • Is this candidate within 2 years of receiving their PhD, or a recent graduate working as a post-doc or in the aerospace industry?

Applications are due by Apr. 15, 2022.

Please provide a short biography (300 words or less).
Briefly discuss your academic and research career goals (300 words or less).
(300 words or less).
(Up to two pages in length.)
Files must be less than 3 MB.
Allowed file types: rtf pdf doc docx odt.
Please upload a document with the title and one page abstract of your proposed research presentation.
Files must be less than 3 MB.
Allowed file types: rtf pdf doc docx odt ppt pptx odp.