.png)
Hello!
Meet our members:
Adiba Sajed
Officer
Adiba is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering at Cornell University. She is pursuing minors in Aerospace Engineering and Physics. Her research interests include spacecraft design and space exploration. Adiba currently conducts electrospray propulsion research at ASTRALab, intertwining her interests for engineering design and sustainable space exploration. She is also the team lead for the ChipSat Deployer project at the Cornell Space Systems Design Studio. Prior to joining the labs, she worked at a technology startup, and a nonprofit organization promoting STEM research in third-world countries. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and going to the gym.
Allie Voltaggio
Officer
Allie Voltaggio is a senior at Cornell University College of Engineering majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Aerospace. She is an integral member of the Design, Integration, and Test team of the Alpha CubeSat research group aiming to launch a satellite early next year. She was part of the inaugural class of Cornell's SmallSat Mission Design School where she contributed to the final presentation and paper presented at the 73rd International Astronautical Congress. Allie has loved dedicating her time for over 3 years to co-found and help run the Women of Aeronautics and Astronautics chapter at Cornell. She also enjoys volunteering to raise and train guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired with Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
Ameera Elgonemy
Officer
Ameera Elgonemy is a senior in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University. She is a member of the ZT Nano Heat Energy research group as well as the Kaltenegger research group within the Carl Sagan Institute. She was also a member of the Cornell Mars Rover Project Team where she worked on developing the rover's life detection system. She interned at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) during the summer of 2022 where she was able to pursue her interests in additive manufacturing and materials. She passionate about space science and engineering, with the goal is to applying the skills she has gained towards projects she is passionate about. Ameera enjoys playing piano, guitar, and stargazing.
Angela Zhang
Officer
Angela Zhang is a motivated sophomore at Cornell University's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She is pursuing a major in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with minors in Computer Science and Aerospace Engineering. Her passion for technology and its impact on the world has led her to become a member of the Cislunar Explorers CubeSat team and the Interplanetary Life Support System team within Engineers for a Sustainable World. Her goal is to use her education and expertise to drive ethical and sustainable advancements in the aerospace industry. In her free time, Angela enjoys biking, drawing, balisong flipping, and building mechanical keyboards.
Ashley Padres
Member
Ashley is a devoted freshman studying mechanical engineering with an interest in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Her passion for exploring the newest technological advancements in the aerospace industry has led her to become a member of the Cornell University Unmanned Air Systems, where she has worked with a 70-member team in the process of designing an autonomous aircraft for the SUAS international competition. In the future, she hopes to use her education to benefit mankind through her work developing air and space travel, and by expediting the process of space exploration. In her free time, Ashley loves reading and writing books, rock climbing, playing basketball, and volunteering at her church.
Hannah Epstein
Member
Hannah Epstein is a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University. She is pursuing a minor in Aerospace Engineering. She is currently conducting research in the Space Systems Design Studio as the team lead of the Breakthrough Starshot Power project. She is particularly interested in working on satellites, and hopes to use her education to create satellites to explore deeper into space and understand more about the universe. Outside of engineering, Hannah is on the Cornell Ski Team, Ultimate Frisbee Team, and plays bass guitar in the progressive rock band -- The Fuse.
Hannah Sherman
Officer
Hannah is a freshman majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a focus in Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University. Her passion for space exploration has led Hannah to become a member of the Space Systems Design Studio's Cislunar Explorers team, which is building a 12U cube satellite demonstrating water electrolysis propulsion and optical navigation in space. Hannah is on the outreach committee of Cornell's Society of Women Engineers and dances with Pandora Dance Troupe. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading novels, solving Rubik's Cubes, and spending time outdoors.
Jordan Sandell
Officer
Jordan is a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University. She is pursuing minors in Fashion Studies, Business, and Psychology. She is part of Cornell University Unmanned Air Systems, conducted research with ASTRAlab, and was a part of the SmallSat Mission Design School class of 2021. She interned at the Jewelry Design & Innovation Workshop at Tiffany and Co. during the summer of 2022 where she combined her interests in engineering, fashion, and business. Jordan is passionate about using her diverse set of interests to bring unique perspectives to various fields. In her free time, Jordan enjoys giving back to the community through philanthropic events, going to the gym, exploring new areas, and reading.
Lauren Greenhill
Officer
Lauren is an undergraduate student studying Computer Science in the College of Engineering. She is currently co-lead for the flight software team for Alpha CubeSat, which is part of the Space Systems Design Studio. She will be interning at NASA JPL this summer. Lauren loves hiking and is part of Cornell Rowing Club.
Maia Marshall
Member
Maia Marshall is a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in astrobiology at Cornell University. She is on the mechanical subteam of Cornell Design Build Fly and is a 3D-printer technician at the Cornell Rapid Prototyping Lab. She conducted research on the role of unmanned aerial vehicles in wildfire management at the NASA Ames Research Center in Fall 2022, where she got to explore real-world issues and the technologies that are developed to address them. Maia is passionate about past, present, and future space exploration and finding ways to contribute to upcoming missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. In her free time, Maia enjoys traveling, taking photos, watching sports, and visiting aerospace museums across the country.
Nidhi Sonwalker
Officer
Nidhi Sonwalkar is a sophomore studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University. At Cornell, Nidhi is Integration and Test lead for the Cislunar Explorers CubeSat research team in the Space Systems Design Studio, designing a CubeSat to demonstrate water electrolysis propulsion and optical navigation. She is also a member of the Cornell Mars Rover project team. Outside of Cornell, Nidhi interns at NASA Goddard's Direct Readout Laboratory. She received the 2023 Brooke Owens Fellowship through which she will intern at Northrop Grumman Space Systems, exploring her passion to advance human space exploration. In her free time, Nidhi enjoys rock climbing, dance/choreography, and is a member of the Cornell Aviation Club.
Nina Hunt
Member
Nina Hunt is a sophomore at Cornell University studying Mechanical Engineering. She is a part of the Baja SAE Racing Team at Cornell, where she helps design and build a custom off-road vehicle every year. She also works at the Cornell Rapid Prototyping Lab (RPL) and Emerson Machine Shop, and helps students and faculty across the Mechanical Engineering Department 3D print and machine their designs. In her free time, she also enjoys playing the guitar and painting.
Priya Abiram
Member
Priya is an aspiring astronaut and entrepreneur pursuing Mechanical Aerospace Engineering. She hopes to land on Mars and develop spin-offs from space life support technology to improve the human condition on Earth. Priya is currently in the Cornell Rocketry and Alpha Cubesat teams. She served as a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, Auxiliary of the US Air Force, and enjoyed serving her squadron as the Cadet Commander mentoring 100+ cadets in leadership, STEM, military traditions, and emergency services. She is pilot, scuba diver, IIAS citizen science researcher, and an innovator of multiple national and internationally awarded technologies. As a Boeing and NASA intern, she enjoys breaking the stereotype as a South Asian girl and being the inspiration to rise above social norms.
Verena Padres
Officer
Verena Padres is a freshman intending on majoring in Mechanical Engineering and minoring in Robotics at Cornell University. Her lifelong interest in playing a role in the exploration of space led her to joining the Space Systems Design Studio's Alpha Mission, where she is helping to complete the integration and testing of the components on their CubeSat. She hopes to take a leading role in expanding mankind's presence in our solar system as an astronaut herself, and hopes to one day step foot on Mars. In her free time, Verena enjoys collecting older US coins, working on older cars, building metal models, and reading the Bible.