Doctoral candidate Paul Kovacic receives the AIAA's Graduate Student Award

Paul Kovacic, a doctoral candidate in aerospace engineering, was named the 2018 Graduate Student of the Year by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Greater Hunstville Section. The award recognizes graduate student members of AIAA for technical accomplishments, active engineering research, service to the organization and active STEM outreach in the community.

He was nominated for his academic performance, research contributions to acoustic instability theory, AIAA student leadership, STEM activities and active involvement in NASA-critical research.

Kovacic's research is on stability algorithms affecting solid and liquid rocket engines, with a primary focus on the development of mathematical models and numerical simulations to predict the character of instabilities in commercial rocket engines. 

His doctoral work centers on modeling instability energy and advancing Auburn's Vortico-Acoustic Triglobal Energy Code for liquid rocket engines. 

Kovacic's previous honors include the 2013 AIAA Fred Martin Award, the 2015 Best Aerospace Engineering Graduate Teaching Assistant and the 2017 and 2018 best aerospace engineering poster award. He was also a 2010-14 University Presidential Scholar and served as the 2013-14 AIAA Auburn Student Branch president.