CEAT students place at the AIAA 2023 Regional Student Paper Conference
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Media Contact: Jeff Hopper | Marketing Media Specialist | 405-744-2745 | jeff.hopper@okstate.edu
Several Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT) students ranked in the top three of their categories at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 2023 Regional Student Paper Conference.
AIAA is the largest aerospace professional society in the world. The organization hosts various conferences each year that focus on aerospace topics.
The 2023 Regional Student Paper Conference was held March 31 through April 1. Students presented their research, exchanged ideas and networked with other students in the region. Region IV included Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.
The following students ranked in the top three of their designated categories
- Josh Melvin placed first in the master’s degree category with work on a turboelectric aircraft ground test rig.
- Dawson Manning placed second in the undergraduate category with work on small-scale propeller flow controls.
- Austin Rouser and Drew Cooley placed third in the undergraduate category for work on small-scale propeller surface roughness.
- The undergraduate rocket-assisted take-off team placed second with Drew Cooley as the presenter.
Dr. Kurt Rouser, assistant professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, holds Associate Fellow membership with AIAA and works as an adviser for the students attending the competition.
“My contribution is mentorship, along with Dr. Ryan Paul,” Rouser said. “The propeller projects also align with a class lab exercise in my senior-level propulsion course. This is an intersection between research and academics that prepares our students for the workforce after graduation.”
Textron supported three undergraduate scholars through a donation that covered their expenses for attending the conference. Two students presented their wind tunnel research on a 16-inch diameter propeller leading edge roughness.
“The engineering team from Textron Aviation has had a productive relationship with OSU faculty and student groups over the last several years on various projects,” said Joe Phillips, director of engineering flight at Textron Aviation. “Partnerships on technical projects such as this (Effect of Propellor Roughness on Performance) are important for us not only from the technical perspective, but also in providing students with industry-relevant challenges that will better prepare them as engineering leaders of tomorrow.”
Textron is a multi-industry company recognized for its areas of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses. The company’s continuous support of CEAT is appreciated by the students and faculty of the college.
“Students are part of the CEAT Undergrad Research Scholar program that provides scholarship funding, but it takes a company like Textron to provide the students' gift funding to cover their conference expenses,” Rouser said.
Story By: Bailey Sisk | basisk@okstate.edu