Future Leaders in Aerospace Symposium 2025

Welcome!

This symposium is dedicated to fostering the professional development of  future leaders in Aerospace Engineering, specifically those demonstrating deep intellectual capability as evidenced by being close to earning — or having recently earned — a PhD in Aerospace Engineering or in a closely-related field on a topic focused on Aerospace Engineering. This event aims to provide opportunities for emerging scholars to connect, share ideas, and develop their careers, with a particular eye towards those coming from groups or backgrounds that are under-represented and would benefit from networking and from opportunities for frank discussions with mentors.

Hosted by the the Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering, the MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro), the Stanford Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Ann & H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, this year’s symposium will take place on May 14-16, 2025.

The event will feature keynote talks and faculty panels, covering topics including:

• The job search/interview process

• Pathways to academia and industry

• Tenure, promotion, and career progression

• Work-life integration

Participants will also have the opportunity to present their research, engage with mentors, and gain valuable career skills. They will connect with a community of peers and experts, participate in discussions about the latest trends in aerospace engineering, and leave with the tools to further their professional development.

Participation in the symposium will be determined through a competitive application process. Eligible applicants should be within 1-2 years of receiving their doctoral degree at the time of the event or should have obtained their PhD no earlier than 2022. Applicants must not hold a faculty position at the time of the event. We anticipate selecting approximately 40 participants based on academic excellence, a commitment to advancing research in aerospace or related fields, and demonstrated leadership potential. We strongly encourage applications from graduate students and postdocs from groups or backgrounds that are under-represented in Aerospace Engineering and would benefit from networking and from opportunities for frank discussions with mentors.

Tentative Schedule

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

4:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Welcome Reception

Location: Engineering Design and Innovation Building – 410 Rooftop

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Location: Engineering Collaborative Research and Education Building (ECoRE), Room 504

9:00 AM – 9:20 AM | Welcome and Introductory Remarks, Amy Pritchett

9:30-10:30 AM | Technical Session #1, Short research presentations by attendees

10:30-11:00 AM | Coffee Break

11:00 AM – 12 Noon | Panel #1: Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Successful Applications 

12:00-1:30 pm | Lunch with Mentors 

1:30-2:30 PM | Technical Session #2, Short research presentations by attendees

2:30-3:00 PM | Coffee Break

3:00-4:00 PM  | ‘Fireside Chat’ on Building a Thriving Career in Aerospace

4:00-5:30 PM | Distinguished Keynote

Location: Penn State UAS Research Lab, KUNV

6:00-8:30 PM | Reception

Friday, May 16, 2025

Location: Engineering Collaborative Research and Education Building (ECoRE), Room 504

9:00-10:00 AM | Panel #2: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Mentoring, Promotion & Tenure

10:00-10:30 AM | Coffee Break

10:30-11:30 AM | Technical Session #3, Short research presentations by attendees 

11:30 AM – 12 Noon  | Get food and get seated for lunch-time panel

12 Noon – 1:00 PM | Panel #3: Work-Life Balance

1:00-2:00 PM | Technical Session #4, Short research presentations by attendees\

2:00 PM Adjourn

Link to site: https://sites.psu.edu/futureleadersinaerospace2025/