Catherine Franco
Published: Jan 28, 2026 4:00 PM
By Rachel Wingard
Catherine Franco, a junior in electrical and computer engineering, is researching the future of space flight. Whether she’s interning at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center or doing undergraduate research on the Plains, her confidence and perseverance have propelled her to success.
Why Auburn
“While working at my internship at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, I met a lot of alumni who encouraged me to consider Auburn. They told me about the supportive community here, and it really drew me in. Auburn’s connection to NASA, its research opportunities and its engineering legacy were also big deciding factors for me. Auburn’s atmosphere is electric, and I feel like I've found a home here."
Why engineering
“I started doing competitive robotics when I was very young and competed for about 10 years, which was when I first became interested in electrical engineering. I love the hardware and software aspects of it, but I’ve also always been passionate about space flight. Electrical engineering allows you to go into a lot of different industries because it’s very broad. I’ve been able to build a lot of skills in software engineering as well, which is how I got put into the liquid propulsion department at NASA.”
Undergraduate Research
“I’m working with Aerospace Engineering Chair Brian Thurow (W. Allen and Martha Reed professor of aerospace engineering) at the Advanced Flow Diagnostics Laboratory. I was interested in the research because it was very closely related to my internship at NASA. It’s been an amazing experience because everyone is very supportive and very bright. One thing that really pushed me for success was believing that I belonged in the room. It’s very easy to feel like you don’t belong when you’re just an undergraduate student. But having confidence and believing that you belong is key.”
Future plans
“I’m passionate about propulsion research, even as an electrical engineer. I think that aerospace engineering is a field that needs diverse perspectives. I want to get a master’s degree and potentially a doctorate as well. I want to continue with the research that I’ve already been doing, and ideally continue working with NASA.” Media Contact: , Dzd, 334-844-2326
Why Auburn
“While working at my internship at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, I met a lot of alumni who encouraged me to consider Auburn. They told me about the supportive community here, and it really drew me in. Auburn’s connection to NASA, its research opportunities and its engineering legacy were also big deciding factors for me. Auburn’s atmosphere is electric, and I feel like I've found a home here."
Why engineering
“I started doing competitive robotics when I was very young and competed for about 10 years, which was when I first became interested in electrical engineering. I love the hardware and software aspects of it, but I’ve also always been passionate about space flight. Electrical engineering allows you to go into a lot of different industries because it’s very broad. I’ve been able to build a lot of skills in software engineering as well, which is how I got put into the liquid propulsion department at NASA.”
Undergraduate Research
“I’m working with Aerospace Engineering Chair Brian Thurow (W. Allen and Martha Reed professor of aerospace engineering) at the Advanced Flow Diagnostics Laboratory. I was interested in the research because it was very closely related to my internship at NASA. It’s been an amazing experience because everyone is very supportive and very bright. One thing that really pushed me for success was believing that I belonged in the room. It’s very easy to feel like you don’t belong when you’re just an undergraduate student. But having confidence and believing that you belong is key.”
Future plans
“I’m passionate about propulsion research, even as an electrical engineer. I think that aerospace engineering is a field that needs diverse perspectives. I want to get a master’s degree and potentially a doctorate as well. I want to continue with the research that I’ve already been doing, and ideally continue working with NASA.” Media Contact: , Dzd, 334-844-2326
Catherine Franco