AeroPathway Launch Pad
Welcome, AE faculty. This is the AeroPathway planning space — a working draft of our new undergraduate research engagement program before it launches. The page outlines the proposed annual structure, sample event formats, and open logistics questions. Items marked in red are where we need your input. Please review, leave comments, and share your thoughts with the committee.
Syracuse University · Aerospace Engineering
AeroPathway Program
An annual undergraduate research engagement program connecting students with faculty across aerospace engineering. In the fall, the AE Undergraduate Seminars introduce students to research through talks by AE professors. In the spring, the focus shifts to research skills development and showcases of junior and senior student research.
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General
AP Program — general notes
Student feedback survey
Requirement: provide students with survey access at the end of every event
Purpose: collect feedback to improve future events and track program engagement
Requirement: provide students with survey access at the end of every event
Purpose: collect feedback to improve future events and track program engagement
Duty assignment
In the last AE meeting of each semester, the next semester’s faculty duty should be assigned
In the last AE meeting of each semester, the next semester’s faculty duty should be assigned
Food budget — start small
Strategy: launch the program first, demonstrate outcomes, then revisit funding. For the first event (which doubles as the launch), consider asking for a modest ~$1,000 food budget. A larger ask (~$10,000 for 10 events shared with Michelle, ADR, and the MAE chair) can be revisited later once results are in hand.
Update — funding support in progress: several units are willing to consider contributing to refreshment costs: college units (some support pledged), SU SOURCE (confirmed for S4), and CFSA (conversation in progress). May reduce or replace the initial $1,000 ask.
Strategy: launch the program first, demonstrate outcomes, then revisit funding. For the first event (which doubles as the launch), consider asking for a modest ~$1,000 food budget. A larger ask (~$10,000 for 10 events shared with Michelle, ADR, and the MAE chair) can be revisited later once results are in hand.
Update — funding support in progress: several units are willing to consider contributing to refreshment costs: college units (some support pledged), SU SOURCE (confirmed for S4), and CFSA (conversation in progress). May reduce or replace the initial $1,000 ask.
Future consideration — ME faculty participation
Explore inviting ME faculty whose research aligns closely with AE-relevant areas (e.g., controls, robotics, materials, structural mechanics) to participate in future iterations of the seminar series.
Explore inviting ME faculty whose research aligns closely with AE-relevant areas (e.g., controls, robotics, materials, structural mechanics) to participate in future iterations of the seminar series.
Sample
AE Undergraduate Seminar — sample format
TODO Post-event survey — placeholder questions
Sample questions to seed survey design — will be refined and tailored per event.
- What is your current year?
- Are you currently doing research with an AE professor or any professor from another department? If yes, with whom?
- Are you interested in undergraduate research?
- How did you hear about today’s seminar?
Notes
Logistics
AE Undergraduate Seminar event
Target audience: freshman and sophomore (preferred); all AE UG welcome
Duration: ~60 min (30 + 30 split)
Time slot: Mondays, 11:00 AM – 12:35 PM
Location: Link Hall 369 (reserved for entire Fall 2026)
Target audience: freshman and sophomore (preferred); all AE UG welcome
Duration: ~60 min (30 + 30 split)
Time slot: Mondays, 11:00 AM – 12:35 PM
Location: Link Hall 369 (reserved for entire Fall 2026)
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Advertisement
Channel 1: course announcements — identify relevant courses and instructors
Channel 2: AE student listserv — Yoko to provide access
Channel 3: event flyers — designed by Melissa Yeung (MAE PhD student, SU AE BS alumna) and Sona Flask (AE undergraduate)
Channel 4: SU Calendar — submit each event to the university events calendar
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Channel 1: course announcements — identify relevant courses and instructors
Channel 2: AE student listserv — Yoko to provide access
Channel 3: event flyers — designed by Melissa Yeung (MAE PhD student, SU AE BS alumna) and Sona Flask (AE undergraduate)
Channel 4: SU Calendar — submit each event to the university events calendar
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Outcome
Students learn about AE research areas, connect with professors, and explore undergraduate research opportunities
Students learn about AE research areas, connect with professors, and explore undergraduate research opportunities
S1
✓ Confirmed
Seminar 1 — Faculty research overview (title to be confirmed by speaker) + AIAA Student Chapter introduction
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Kasey Laurent — Assistant Professor
Subtopic Contributor
AIAA Student Chapter at Syracuse University — chapter introduction
PoC: Sona Flask & Sam Roth
Advertising boost: AIAA Student Chapter will send the event invitation to their listserv members, in addition to the program’s standard channels.
Survey Post-event survey — sample questions
Placeholder questions, tailored to S1 — will be refined before the event.
- What is your current year?
- Are you currently doing research with an AE professor or any professor from another department? If yes, with whom?
- Are you interested in undergraduate research?
- How did you hear about today’s seminar?
- After today’s session, are you interested in joining the AIAA Student Chapter at SU?
S2
✓ Confirmed
Seminar 2 — Combustion science for propulsion and energy systems + ORBIT Club introduction
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Benjamin Akih-Kumgeh
Subtopic Contributor
ORBIT Club — club introduction
PoC: Owen Hedgelon
S3
✓ Faculty confirmed
Subtopic TBD
Seminar 3 — The Engineering Sketch Pad (ESP) + Subtopic (TBD)
Faculty Speaker
Dr. John Dannenhoffer — Aerospace Computational Methods Lab (ACML); ESP is the lab’s central focus
Subtopic Contributor
TBD (to be matched from the 3 remaining options in Block B below)
S4
✓ Confirmed
Seminar 4 — Guaranteeing Safe and Resilient Autonomy in Aerospace Vehicles + SOURCE grant session
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Amit K. Sanyal — Associate Professor
Subtopic Contributor
SU SOURCE — Syracuse University Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement; session on undergraduate research grant opportunities and applications
✓ Refreshments confirmed: SU SOURCE has agreed to sponsor S4 by providing refreshments for the event.
Coordination: AE faculty will share participation numbers from the first three events (S1, S2, S3) with SOURCE so they can best prepare for S4.
Survey Post-event survey — sample questions
Placeholder questions, tailored to S4 — will be refined before the event.
- What is your current year?
- Are you currently doing research with an AE professor or any professor from another department? If yes, with whom?
- Are you interested in undergraduate research?
- How did you hear about today’s seminar?
- After today’s session, are you interested in applying for a SOURCE grant for undergraduate research?
S5
✓ Confirmed
Seminar 5 — Faculty research overview (title to be confirmed by speaker) + AE student success story / panel
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Yeqing Wang — Associate Professor
Subtopic Contributor
AE student success story / panel — current AE undergraduates share their research, award, and scholarship experiences
Coordination: finalize the panel students.
S3,6,7
TBD
Remaining seminars — Faculty research overviews (titles to be confirmed) + Subtopic segment (matched from the 3 options below)
Faculty Speaker
All 7 faculty assigned — see individual blocks above (S3: J. Dannenhoffer; S6: F. Zigunov; S7: Y. Sun)
Subtopic Contributor
TBD — to be matched from the 3 remaining subtopic options:
Survey Post-event survey — sample questions
Placeholder questions, to be tailored once each event’s faculty & subtopic are matched.
- What is your current year?
- Are you currently doing research with an AE professor or any professor from another department? If yes, with whom?
- Are you interested in undergraduate research?
- How did you hear about today’s seminar?
- Subtopic-specific question — to be added based on the matched contributor (e.g., interest in joining a club, applying for a fellowship, pursuing an internship)
Event 1 · Jan
Skills workshop — “How to give scientific presentations”
Notes
Logistics
Skills workshop — scientific presentations
Participants: all AE UG and one AE professor
Duration: 1-hour time slot
Duty rotation: discussed by AE committee
Task: identify topic-owner faculty for Spring 2027
Date: TBD (January 2027)
Location: TBD
Participants: all AE UG and one AE professor
Duration: 1-hour time slot
Duty rotation: discussed by AE committee
Task: identify topic-owner faculty for Spring 2027
Date: TBD (January 2027)
Location: TBD
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Advertisement
Channel 1: course announcements — identify relevant courses and instructors
Channel 2: AE student listserv + event flyers — create and distribute
Channel 3: student newsletter — contact Sarah Mack
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Channel 1: course announcements — identify relevant courses and instructors
Channel 2: AE student listserv + event flyers — create and distribute
Channel 3: student newsletter — contact Sarah Mack
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Outcome
Students gain confidence and skills in presenting research
Students gain confidence and skills in presenting research
Event 2 · Feb
Skills workshop — “How to win awards and funding”
Notes
Logistics
Skills workshop — how to win awards and funding
Participants: all AE UG and one AE professor
Duration: 1-hour time slot
Duty rotation: discussed by AE committee
Panelists: invite past awardees (UG or grad)
Task 1: collect past awardees from AE
Date: TBD (February 2027)
Location: TBD
Participants: all AE UG and one AE professor
Duration: 1-hour time slot
Duty rotation: discussed by AE committee
Panelists: invite past awardees (UG or grad)
Task 1: collect past awardees from AE
Date: TBD (February 2027)
Location: TBD
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Advertisement
Channel 1: course announcements — identify relevant courses and instructors
Channel 2: AE student listserv + event flyers — create and distribute
Channel 3: student newsletter — contact Sarah Mack
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Channel 1: course announcements — identify relevant courses and instructors
Channel 2: AE student listserv + event flyers — create and distribute
Channel 3: student newsletter — contact Sarah Mack
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Outcome
Students learn to prepare competitive applications and know available opportunities
Students learn to prepare competitive applications and know available opportunities
Event 3 · Mar
AP Research Showcase — student presentations
Notes
Logistics
AP Research Showcase
Target audience: all AE undergraduates (largest AP event)
Presenters: representative UG student from each professor’s AP group
Duration: ~90 min (longer than other events)
Task: confirm venue, create flyers, coordinate with each faculty group
Date: TBD (March 2027)
Location: TBD
Target audience: all AE undergraduates (largest AP event)
Presenters: representative UG student from each professor’s AP group
Duration: ~90 min (longer than other events)
Task: confirm venue, create flyers, coordinate with each faculty group
Date: TBD (March 2027)
Location: TBD
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Advertisement
Channel 1: course announcements — identify relevant courses and instructors
Channel 2: AE student listserv + event flyers — create and distribute
Channel 3: student newsletter — contact Sarah Mack
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Channel 1: course announcements — identify relevant courses and instructors
Channel 2: AE student listserv + event flyers — create and distribute
Channel 3: student newsletter — contact Sarah Mack
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Outcome
Practice run for AIAA Student Conference; inspire other AE students to join research
Practice run for AIAA Student Conference; inspire other AE students to join research
Event 4 · Apr
AIAA Region I Student Conference
Notes
Logistics
AIAA Region I Student Conference
Participants: AP cohort students presenting research
Type: student-centered, faculty-supported
Coordinator needed: track abstract submission deadlines, identify participating students, confirm who will attend, handle all logistics (registration, travel, funding)
Date: TBD (April 2027)
Location: TBD (AIAA Region I venue)
Participants: AP cohort students presenting research
Type: student-centered, faculty-supported
Coordinator needed: track abstract submission deadlines, identify participating students, confirm who will attend, handle all logistics (registration, travel, funding)
Date: TBD (April 2027)
Location: TBD (AIAA Region I venue)
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
Advertisement
Channel 1: direct outreach to each faculty group
Channel 2: AE student listserv + event flyers — create and distribute
Channel 3: student newsletter — contact Sarah Mack
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Channel 1: direct outreach to each faculty group
Channel 2: AE student listserv + event flyers — create and distribute
Channel 3: student newsletter — contact Sarah Mack
Notifications sent by: program coordinator (to be designated by AE committee)
Outcome
Students gain real conference experience, build professional network, and develop presentation skills
Students gain real conference experience, build professional network, and develop presentation skills