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.

AeroPathway – UG Research Engagement Program
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.

Fall 2026 · Seminar timeline Aug 1 → Nov 23
KL · S1
Aug 31
BA · S2
Sep 14
JD · S3
Sep 21
AS · S4
Sep 28
YW · S5
Oct 19
FZ · S6
Nov 2
YS · S7
Nov 16
Fall 2026 Spring 2027 Summer Break Winter Break AeroPathway ANNUAL RESEARCH ENGAGEMENT S1 K. Laurent August 31 + Student Voice S2 B. Akih-Kumgeh September 14 + Club Showcase S3 J. Dannenhoffer September 21 + Invent@SU S4 A. Sanyal September 28 + SOURCE S5 Y. Wang October 19 + Success Panel S6 F. Zigunov November 2 + Career advising S7 Y. Sun November 16 + CFSA E1 Scientific presentations Jan 2027 E2 Awards & funding Feb 2027 E3 Research showcase Mar 2027 E4 AIAA Student Conference Apr 2027
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General

AP Program — general notes

Student feedback survey — led by Karen Soto
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
Administrative panel meeting — Megan Claxton, AE faculty representatives, and student club leaders convene to finalize the consolidated budget request from MAE, ECS, and SU-level sources.
Food budget — per-event sponsorship plan
Refreshment funding requested per event from college and partner units instead of one centralized ask, with an estimated ~$1,000 budget per event. All 7 seminars fully sponsored — see sponsor matrix.
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.
Experiential learning linkage
The program directly links to the experiential learning requirement. Shared with Michelle, who is fully supportive.
Next-year funding — student clubs
Student club leaders (AIAA, ORBIT, Citrus Racing) will pursue SU funding to support future iterations of the AeroPathway seminar series.
Incentives

Student Incentives

ECS 101 announcement
Credit/recognition offered to students who participate in the AeroPathway series. Participation data shared with the ECS 101 instructor.
Digital badge — micro-credential program
Level 1: complete 5 of 11 events
Level 2: complete 8 of 11 events
Level 3: complete 11 of 11 events
Badge data shared with Sarah Mack’s team to support student applications for conference participation and funding.
Formalization to be discussed with the College of Professional Studies.
Sponsors

Refreshment sponsors

Refreshment sponsors — per-event matrix
Estimated ~$1,000 per event. All 7 seminars fully sponsored: ECS (S1, S2, S3), SU SOURCE (S4), MAE (S5), ECS Career Service (S6), and CFSA (S7).
Seminar Sponsor Status
S1 · Aug 31ECS✓ Committed
S2 · Sep 14ECS✓ Committed
S3 · Sep 21ECS✓ Committed
S4 · Sep 28SU SOURCE✓ Committed
S5 · Oct 19MAE✓ Committed
S6 · Nov 2ECS Career Service✓ Committed
S7 · Nov 16CFSA✓ Committed
Shared resources
Links to program documents & data
UG Researcher Data Tracker → Survey — Karen Soto → AeroPathway intro slides →
Fall 2026
AE Undergraduate Seminars
Faculty-led introduction to research · Mondays, 11:30 AM – 12:35 PM at Link Hall 369. Dates vary based on faculty availability and the university calendar.
Sample

AE Undergraduate Seminar — sample format

0 min 30 min 65 min Part 1 — Faculty research introduction 30 min Flexible — up to each professor. Suggested topics: Research overview Openings for undergraduates and requirements Advising philosophy and mentoring strategy Q & A session Part 2 — Subtopic segment 35 min Subtopic contributor delivers a focused session. Student club introduction, awards/scholarship advising, success panel, or career topic — varies by week Total: ~65 min · 30 + 35
In progress Post-event survey — placeholder questions
Survey design led by Karen Soto (AE teaching faculty). Sample questions below to seed design; final versions will be refined and tailored per event.
  1. What is your current year? (Freshman / Sophomore / Junior / Senior)
  2. Are you currently doing research with an AE professor or any professor from another department? If yes, with whom?
  3. Are you interested in undergraduate research? (Yes / Maybe / No)
  4. How did you hear about today’s seminar? (course announcement / listserv / flyer / friend / other)
Notes

Logistics

AE Undergraduate Seminar event
Target audience: freshman and sophomore (preferred); all AE UG welcome
Duration: ~65 min (30 + 35 split)
Time slot: Mondays, 11:30 AM – 12:35 PM
Location: Link Hall 369 (reserved for entire Fall 2026)
Capacity: 72 students
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
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Course announcements: identify relevant courses and instructors (faculty shared responsibility)
Yoko: AE student listserv · MAE Instagram · SU Calendar · MAE Calendar (event invites on each MAE faculty’s calendar)
Sarah Mack: LifeInECS Instagram · ECS newsletter
Alex Dunbar: ECS Instagram
Outcome
Students learn about AE research areas, connect with professors, and explore undergraduate research opportunities
S1
✓ Confirmed 🚀 Kick-off event

Seminar 1 — Bio-Inspired Motion in Moving Fluids + Student Voice: Inside Undergraduate Research

Mon, Aug 31, 2026 · Link Hall 369 · 11:30 AM – 12:35 PM
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Kasey Laurent
Subtopic Contributor
Student Voice: Inside Undergraduate Research
Speakers: Joshua Varkey (Sophomore), Sona Flask (Senior), Rudy Adkins (Senior)
Refreshments
ECS — ✓ Committed
🎓 Special guest: J. Michael Haynie, Syracuse University Chancellor (availability being confirmed for 8/31).
S2
✓ Confirmed

Seminar 2 — Combustion science for propulsion and energy systems + Andrea Shen’s club showcase

Mon, Sep 14, 2026 · Link Hall 369 · 11:30 AM – 12:35 PM
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Benjamin Akih-Kumgeh
Subtopic Contributor
Andrea Shen’s club showcase
Refreshments
ECS — ✓ Committed
S3
✓ Confirmed

Seminar 3 — The Engineering Sketch Pad (ESP) + Alex Deyhim’s Invent@SU

Mon, Sep 21, 2026 · Link Hall 369 · 11:30 AM – 12:35 PM
Faculty Speaker
Dr. John Dannenhoffer
Subtopic Contributor
Alex Deyhim’s Invent@SU
Refreshments
ECS — ✓ Committed
S4
✓ Confirmed

Seminar 4 — Guaranteeing Safe and Resilient Autonomy in Aerospace Vehicles + SOURCE grant session

Mon, Sep 28, 2026 · Link Hall 369 · 11:30 AM – 12:35 PM
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Amit K. Sanyal
Subtopic Contributor
SU SOURCE
Refreshments
SU SOURCE — ✓ Committed
Coordination: AE faculty will share participation numbers from the first three events (S1, S2, S3) with SOURCE so they can best prepare for S4.
S5
✓ Confirmed

Seminar 5 — Faculty research overview (title to be confirmed by speaker) + AE student success story / panel

Mon, Oct 19, 2026 · Link Hall 369 · 11:30 AM – 12:35 PM
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Yeqing Wang
Subtopic Contributor
AE student success story / panel
Refreshments
MAE — ✓ Committed
Coordination: finalize the panel students.
S6
✓ Confirmed

Seminar 6 — Faculty research overview (title to be confirmed by speaker) + Career advising

Mon, Nov 2, 2026 · Link Hall 369 · 11:30 AM – 12:35 PM
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Fernando Zigunov
Subtopic Contributor
Shelby Bergen
Refreshments
ECS Career Service — ✓ Committed
Coordination: Shelby Bergen will serve as the PoC when the AE faculty committee builds the career network / pipeline connecting current students with SU alumni.
S7
✓ Confirmed

Seminar 7 — Shaping airflow with CFD + CFSA at SU

Mon, Nov 16, 2026 · Link Hall 369 · 11:30 AM – 12:35 PM
Faculty Speaker
Dr. Yiyang Sun
Subtopic Contributor
CFSA at SU
PoC: Melissa Welshans
Refreshments
CFSA — ✓ Committed
Spring 2027
Student-Centered: Skills, Showcase & Conference
4 AP cohort events — topic-driven workshops, research showcase, and AIAA Student Conference
Event 1 · Jan

Skills workshop — “How to give scientific presentations”

0 min ~20 min ~45 min 60 min Part 1 — Mini lecture ~20 min Faculty or senior student delivers focused instruction. Structure and storytelling in research talks Slide design, figures, and visual communication Handling Q&A and audience engagement Part 2 — Practice, case study, feedback ~25 min Invite graduate students to present as a case study UG students comment on strengths and areas for improvement based on the mini lecture Part 3 — Wrap-up and announcements ~15 min Recap, resources, and time-sensitive announcements.
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
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
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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
Event 2 · Feb

Skills workshop — “How to win awards and funding”

0 min ~20 min ~45 min 60 min Part 1 — Overview and tips ~20 min CFSA or senior students cover key elements of applications. Types: SOURCE, fellowships, scholarships, travel grants Typical application procedures of most AE related awards Part 2 — Past awardee panel ~25 min Past awardees share experience and walk through applications. Part 3 — Wrap-up and announcements ~15 min Upcoming deadlines, resources, and announcements.
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
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
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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
Event 3 · Mar

AP Research Showcase — student presentations

0 min ~10 min ~90 min Part 1 — Opening and context ~10 min Faculty advisor welcomes students and introduces presenters. Part 2 — Student research presentations ~60 min Representative UG from each professor’s group presents research. ~8 min per presenter + 2 min Q&A (~7 presenters) Practice run for AIAA Student Conference Presenter receive questions and feedback after each talk Part 3 — Closing and announcements ~20 min Awards or recognition, AIAA conference preview, announcements.
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
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
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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
Event 4 · Apr

AIAA Region I Student Conference

Pre-conference Conference day(s) Post-conference AIAA Region I Student Conference AP cohort attends and presents. Student-centered. Students present research developed through AP program Faculty mentors accompany and support students Networking with students from other universities Post-conference debrief and reflection
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)
Event staffing
Required: 1 faculty rep + 1 student rep per event
Student rep responsibility: photo/video documentation
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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
Research Overview
Keywords

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