Stefanus Harris Putra

For Stefanus Harris Putra, an aerospace engineering doctoral student, the sky is the limit and the future. Hailing from Bogor, Indonesia, Putra has spent several years at Auburn working for the Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory (VSDDL) to push the boundaries of what’s possible for aircraft.

Why Auburn

“I received a scholarship opportunity in high school, and one of the options was for Auburn. I knew I wanted to do engineering, and that Auburn had one of the best programs out there, so it was a good fit.”

Why engineering

“As a kid, I was always obsessed with cars, so that’s how it got started. I learned all about the technical aspects of building a car. I chose aerospace because I was looking to work in the automotive industry. But as I’ve gotten further into aerospace, I’ve my interest in aircraft has grown exponentially.”

Vehicle Systems, Dynamics and Design Laboratory (VSDDL)

“In my senior year, I decided to join the VSDDL. I had barely any experience with the practical side of engineering, but in the lab, I had the opportunity to work on numerous hands-on projects — from flight simulators to test flights of drones. I found myself enjoying it and wanting to continue. In the lab, we have flight simulators that allow us to build and test aircraft, and we even have our own flight control system. We’ve partnered with numerous small businesses, including Rune Aero, a company that aims to develop a conventional cargo aircraft, which we are currently flying. It is electric, but we are planning to turn it into a hybrid, which will make it more efficient. We’ve also been part of the Go Aero competition, where we were selected by NASA as one of eight universities that got funding to create a smaller-scale version of a drone that can help with disaster relief.”

Advice for future international students

“If you get the opportunity to come to the States and to a college like Auburn, I would say to go for it. What I’ve enjoyed the most about what I’ve done here is the practical knowledge that I’ve gained. Joining a research lab has been particularly helpful. I’ve learned a lot about the practical aspects of engineering, which is more than you can learn in any class.”

To learn more about Putra, check out his interview on the award-winning #Ginning Podcast