Rukmini Roy

• Brooke Owens Fellow, Class of 2019

• Georgia Institute of Technology, Aerospace Engineering, '20

• Host Institution: Bryce Space and Technology

• Mentor: Sirisha Bandla

Rukmini (Rikhi) Roy is a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, currently majoring in Aerospace Engineering. As a third culture kid, Rukmini’s immersive educational experiences in Asia, Europe, and the United States cultivated her appetite in broadening her exposure. Curious as ever, she has become a big believer in asking 'Why? Why do we do what we do? Why do we care?'

Her big 'why' is the MH370 disappearance as it revealed profound vulnerabilities in air travel. She felt a compulsion to learn more about the mechanics and operation of an aircraft and assumed the role of a Non-Destructive Testing intern. Here, she implemented new setup strategies to inspect aircraft components and conducted radiographic testing. A mixture of curiosity and excitement is now what drives her to contribute meaningfully to the field of aerospace.

Besides having been the captain of Georgia Tech’s nationally acclaimed Indian classical dance team, Rukmini remains involved in the Design Build Fly club, School of Aerospace Student Advisory Council and research at the Experimental Aerodynamics and Concepts Lab. Her project involved prototyping and testing a long-endurance high-altitude solar radiation reflector to fight climate change. Besides her love for aviation, she enjoys curating content for her wellness blog, attending lectures held by AIAA and volunteering for UN Women Singapore.

As a Brooke Owens Fellow, she worked at Bryce Space and Technology on Aerospace Analytics.