Aerospace engineering student earns Department of Defense fellowship
Published: Jul 11, 2024 12:00 PM
By Dustin Duncan
Matthew Hooks, a master's student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, was recently awarded a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship sponsored by the Department of Defense (DOD).
Hooks earned his bachelor's degree in engineering physics from Murray State University. His proposal, which landed him the NDSEG fellowship, investigates how birds use surface textures on their feathers — such as converging-diverging riblets — to improve aerodynamic performance during flapping flight.
"Birds use their wings to make mid-flight adjustments effortlessly," he said. "However, we're trying to understand if the surface texture on the wings improves aerodynamic performance."
Hooks' academic mentor, Vrishank Raghav, associate professor in aerospace engineering, handpicked the NDSEG scholar after learning of his academic aspirations in a personal statement to Auburn. Hooks said he was interested in investigating birds' flight patterns and developing software solutions for physical problems.
"Matthew has demonstrated that he is passionate about Bird flight and has previously conducted research in physics," Raghav said. "As such, we explored avenues for him to get involved with fluid physics and aerodynamics of bird flight by using resources available at Auburn University. The NDSEG fellowship is a testament to his perseverance and hard work. I look forward to working with him on this exciting project."
Raghav also has an interest in birds' flight patterns. He partnered with the Auburn University Raptor Center, a division of the College of Veterinary Medicine, to learn how birds can quickly adapt to adverse aerodynamic environments due to changing weather conditions — where traditional aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles seem to struggle.
The Raptor Center is a rehabilitation and education facility providing critical education and conservation efforts for raptors.
Hooks also volunteers at the Raptor Center, which is a big reason why he's staying at Auburn to pursue his doctoral degree after finishing his master's degree.
"I am consciously choosing to stay because of the Raptor Center and Dr. Raghav's research interests," Hooks said. "Auburn is giving me the graduate experience I imagined during my undergraduate education."
"When I first started at Auburn, fluid physics was foreign to me, but the aerospace engineering department has helped ramp up my understanding of physics in the context of bird flight. I wouldn't have been able to write the narrative and make sense of my proposed research without the help of Dr. Raghav, multiple faculty members at Auburn and my fellow lab members in the Applied Fluids Research Group."
In an effort to increase the number of U.S. citizens and nationals trained in science and engineering disciplines of military importance, the DOD offers these fellowships to individuals who have demonstrated the ability and special aptitude for advanced training in science and engineering.
The NSDEG's three-year fellowship allows all recipients to attend whichever U.S. institution they choose, paying for full tuition and all mandatory fees. Hooks was the only awardee from Auburn this year. Out of 3,392 applicants, 162 awards were handed out this year, placing the acceptance rate at less than 5%. Since the program's inception in 1989, more than 4,400 fellowships have been awarded.
Media Contact: , dzd0065@auburn.edu, 334-844-2326
Matthew Hooks, a master's student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering poses for a photo outside of Shelby Hall on Auburn's campus.
