Department of Aerospace Engineering

Two students receive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

04/24/25

Two Auburn students have won National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships (GRFP) for graduate study.

Ayden Kemp, a senior in aerospace engineering and an honors student, swept the 2025 Sigma Gamma Tau (SGT) Undergraduate Awards, winning the South Central regional and the Harry H. Hilton national award.

Aerospace engineering senior sweeps 2025 Sigma Gamma Tau undergraduate awards

Caitlyn Griffin | 04/22/25

Ayden Kemp, a senior in aerospace engineering and an honors student, swept the 2025 Sigma Gamma Tau (SGT) Undergraduate Awards, winning the South Central regional and the Harry H. Hilton national award.

From left to right, Katherine Clemmons, Ayden Kemp, Chris Raj and Kai Gutjahr pose for a photo when finishing second in Samuel Ginn College of Engineering Capstone Design Showcase in April. Dean Hendrix, associate dean for undergraduate studies and program assessment, is to the far right.

Aerospace engineering students named finalist at NASA RASC-AL Competition

Caitlyn Griffin | 04/16/25

A team of Auburn aerospace engineers was named a finalist at the 2025 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems – Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) competition among 13 teams from other institutions.

Auburn University Provost Vini Nathan announced the names of faculty awarded promotion, tenure or both for 2025.

Eight Auburn Engineering faculty members named to 2025 promotion, tenure list

Joe McAdory | 04/15/25

Auburn University Provost Vini Nathan announced the names of faculty awarded promotion and tenure for 2025.

Graduate Engineering Research Showcase winner Tori Phillips, left, with Maria Auad, the college's associate dean for graduate studies and faculty development.

Chemical engineering student wins Graduate Engineering Research Showcase with study on hydraulic redistribution

Joe McAdory | 04/08/25

More than 150 students participated in the 12th Graduate Engineering Research Showcase, held April 3 in the Brown-Kopel Center.

Auburn Engineering’s graduate programs were ranked No. 6 overall in the Southeastern Conference and, once again, No. 1 in the state.

Auburn Engineering graduate programs earn high marks in recent U.S. News and World Report rankings

Joe McAdory | 04/08/25

U.S. News and World Report, which ranks graduate programs nationally each spring, designated Auburn Engineering No. 33 among public institutions when its annual list was released Tuesday, April 8.

To compete, students were given 40 minutes to plan, sketch and build a contraption that would, hopefully, protect the egg inside once it’s dropped from a stadium ramp.

Elementary school students learn basics of prototyping through Auburn Engineering egg drop

Austin Phillips | 04/02/25

More than 50 kindergartners through fifth-graders recently descended upon Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium for this year’s egg Drop event, hosted by the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

The Auburn University Rocketry Association visited Children's of Alabama in Birmingham for the third consecutive year to spend time with patients an afternoon of heartwarming smiles and lifelong memories.

Auburn rocketry club brings hands-on fun to young patients at Children’s of Alabama

Dustin Duncan | 04/01/25

Returning to Children's of Alabama in Birmingham for the third consecutive year, the Auburn University Rocketry Association (AURA) arrived in their signature orange, blue and white floral-patterned shirts for a more interactive event with patients at the hospital.

Ari Goldman, aerospace engineering doctoral student (left) and David Scarbrough, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering (right) stand in front of the MARLEN engine, the third generation of subscale RDREs.

Aerospace engineering doctoral student works to advance rotating detonation rocket engines

Dustin Duncan | 03/24/25

An aerospace engineering doctoral student is focused on improving wave dynamics in rotating detonation rocket engines (RDREs), a compact and high-efficiency propulsion system that could reduce the size, weight and cost of future launch vehicles in space.

#GINNing Podcast: There's Something About Mary

Jeremy D Henderson | 03/17/25

A word of advice to the Louisiana State University: Make your campus a little more walk-able, or continue losing out to the best student-centered — and pedestrian-centered — engineering education experience in America, like you did with aerospace engineering undergraduate researcher extraordinaire Mary Ferguson.

External NewFueled by curiosity: Auburn engineering student uses Makerspace to design, test jet engines

02/18/25

Brandon Barnett, a senior in aerospace engineering, used his skills and classroom knowledge to build a functional jet engine in the Makerspace on campus.

New Engineering Global Programs opportunity takes students to New Zealand

Dustin Duncan | 02/17/25

A new study abroad program through Engineering Global Programs will take Auburn Engineering students to the South Pacific, immersing them in the environmental landscapes of New Zealand.

Members of the The Auburn University Rocketry Association (AURA) talk with NASA Astronaut Jessica Wittner at an airshow in Pensacola, Florida.

The Auburn University Rocketry Association prepares competition rocket for success

Olivia Ballard | 02/13/25

The Auburn University Rocketry Association (AURA) aims for new heights this year as it launches into competition season with newly designed rockets.

#GINNing Podcast: Korac on the Track

Jeremy D Henderson | 02/06/25

Auburn Creed? More like Auburn Speed.

Jonathan Pettus has been named executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute. [Credit: UAH]

Pettus named executive director of Auburn University Applied Research Institute in Huntsville

Jeremy D Henderson | 01/28/25

Auburn University’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development has hired Jonathan Pettus as executive director of the Auburn University Applied Research Institute (AUARI) in Huntsville, effective February 1.

The new rankings mark five consecutive years in the Top 20 and nine consecutive years in the Top 25.

Auburn Engineering ranks No. 20 in U.S. News online graduate program rankings, online computer science program moves up 10 spots

Karen Hunley | 01/21/25

The new rankings mark five consecutive years in the Top 20 and nine consecutive years in the Top 25.

David Scarborough, an associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University (middle) stands with graduate students Daniel Stubbs (left) and Trevor Crane (right).

Auburn rocket plume research to aid future spacecraft landings

Mike Jernigan | 01/15/25

David Scarborough, an associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University is working to reduce stress of spacecraft landings by studying thruster-induced plume-surface interactions (PSI) to better predict their outcomes.

Ruha Tacey, a 2012 Auburn chemical engineering graduate who has gone viral on social media as a STEM advocating influencer, served as the keynote speaker for this year's MADE@AU event.

Auburn MADE event prepares students for an engineering experience

Austin Phillips | 12/06/24

Auburn MADE event prepares students for an engineering experience

Cutline: Auburn University’s Advanced Propulsion research team stands near a cryogenic RL10 liquid rocket engine. The team is tasked with developing analytical models for cyclonic flows, constructing computational models and studying the stability of different vortex engines. Pictured from left to right are Roy Hartfield, Daniel Little, Emma Signor, Anthony Marcello and Joe Majdalani.

Auburn’s Advanced Propulsion Research Lab and Altair acquire $1.25M AFWERX contract to advance vortex rocket engines

Dustin Duncan | 11/25/24

Auburn’s Advanced Propulsion Research Lab is teaming up with Research in Flight to improve the performance of cyclonic vortex engines that are being developed for use by the U.S. Air Force and commercial space companies such as Sierra Space.

Joe Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, receives a commemorative plaque as part of his induction as an AIAA Fellow on May 14 in Washington, D.C.

Aerospace engineering professor named AIAA Fellow

Dustin Duncan | 11/22/24

Joseph C. (“Joe”) Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University, was named an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Fellow.

Auburn Engineering has now increased its annual new research awards and contracts by more than 300% since 2018, when the college brought in $29 million.

Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has set a college record for new research awards and contracts for a fiscal year, closing FY24 with $117.7 million.

Austin Phillips | 11/11/24

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has set a college record for new research awards and contracts for a fiscal year, closing FY24 with $117.7 million.

JD McFarlan, ’84, mechanical engineering (left) and Mark Miller, ’84 and ’85 aerospace engineering (right).

Auburn alumni shine at AIAA Gala

Dustin Duncan | 11/06/24

Two alumni from Auburn Engineering were recognized earlier this year by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

#GINNing Podcast: Boom

Jeremy Henderson | 10/18/24

Word to your moms — Ben Bauldree came to drop bombs. Check out an explosive interview with the Auburn aerospace engineering alumnus and pickle pro on the latest episode of the best podcast in higher education.

Auburn Makersfest 2024 is offering $2,000 in prize money to any Auburn student who has developed a product, written a song, or composed a poem – anything that was created – during a competition meant to stimulate creative thinking.

Auburn Makersfest submissions due Oct. 18

Dustin Duncan | 10/08/24

Auburn Makersfest 2024 is offering $2,000 in prize money to any Auburn student who has developed a product, written a song, or composed a poem – anything that was created – during a competition meant to stimulate creative thinking.