Auburn Engineering honors student named as Goldwater Scholar
Published: Mar 31, 2026 8:00 AM
By Dustin Duncan
Eirik Mulder, an Auburn Engineering senior and Goldwater Scholar, studies aerospace engineering and computer science.
Eirik Mulder’s work at the intersection of aerospace engineering and computer science has earned him one of the nation’s top undergraduate research honors — the Goldwater Scholarship.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship supports outstanding undergraduate students pursuing research careers in mathematics, science and engineering. It awards up to $7,500 annually.
Mulder, a senior in the Honors College set to graduate in 2027, is pursuing a concurrent degree in aerospace engineering and computer science. The honor adds to a growing list of accolades, including designation as a University Space Research Association Distinguished Undergraduate, an Astronaut Scholar and a NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium recipient.
Mulder helped lead an Auburn team to a No. 1 finish in the United States and a top-10 global ranking in NASA’s Global Trajectory Optimization Competition, an international event typically dominated by graduate students and professional researchers.
Davide Guzzetti, associate professor of aerospace engineering and Mulder’s mentor, said the award reflects Mulder’s strength as an undergraduate researcher.
“Mulder’s recognition as a Goldwater Scholar reflects not only his exceptional technical ability across computer science and aerospace engineering, but also his intellectual curiosity and discipline as an undergraduate researcher,” Guzzetti said. “This honor is a well-earned milestone, and we are excited to see the impact he will continue to make.”
Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mulder developed an early interest in aviation through flight simulators and earned his pilot’s license at 17. His family moved to Alabama in 2021, when his father, Samuel Mulder, associate professor of computer science and software engineering, joined the Auburn Engineering faculty.
After arriving at Auburn, Mulder’s interests expanded from aviation to space. Through research and student organizations, he became focused on astrodynamics — how spacecraft move through complex gravitational environments.
“It ended up being a really complicated problem,” Mulder said. “And it’s something that really excited me, because it’s one of those unsolved areas in science.”
Working in Guzzetti’s Space Dynamics Lab, Mulder studies trajectory design, developing tools to make space mission planning more accessible. His work includes leading a research group that uses virtual reality to visualize spacecraft trajectories, allowing users to interact with orbital systems in new ways.
His goal is to lower the barrier to entry for space exploration.
“Working toward a future where anyone can contribute to space missions is one of the things I’m really excited about,” he said. “It would be really cool to see universities launching spacecraft not just to low orbit, but to the Moon and other planets.”
His background in computer science is essential, as much of his research depends on building computational tools — writing code, structuring software systems and developing simulations to solve complex trajectory problems.
He credits Auburn with helping him develop those skills early. Through the Undergraduate Research Fellowship program and coursework in research methods, he gained experience designing projects, writing proposals and presenting results — skills often reserved for graduate study.
“Everyone I’ve worked with has been very supportive of undergraduate research,” Mulder said. “The programs here have played a direct role in giving me that experience.”
Mulder said the Goldwater Scholarship aligns with his academic path and goal of pursuing a research career and contributing to scientific advancement.
He plans to pursue a doctorate in aerospace engineering, with an interest in continuing work in astrodynamics and solving challenges that will shape the future of space travel. After completing his education, he hopes to work in research, potentially as a professor or in a national lab or agency.
Brian Thurow, chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, said the department is proud of Mulder and his many well-deserved accolades, including prestigious scholarships from the University Space Research Association and the Astronaut Scholar Foundation.
“Eirik’s selection as a Goldwater Scholar continues along this remarkable trajectory and recognizes his dedication to academics not just in the classroom, but also in the laboratory and other endeavors such as participating in STEM outreach events,” Thurow said. “Eirik’s well-rounded approach toward his education is emblematic of Auburn Engineering and deserves to be celebrated.”
For information about applying to National Prestigious Scholarships like the Goldwater Scholarship, contact the Office of National Prestigious Scholarships.
Media Contact: , dzd0065@auburn.edu, 334-844-2326
