Federico Benazzo

Federico is a Ph.D. student in the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories at Caltech, working in the Space Structures Lab with Professor S. Pellegrino. He received his BSE in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan in 2021 and his MS in space engineering from Caltech in 2023. 

His research interests include self-healing and ultra-light deployable fiber reinforced composites, as well as finite element modeling of deployable shells and thermal induced deformations in composite materials. He is currently working on the development of continuously manufactured thermoplastic composites for large deployable space applications. 

Federico is an aerospace enthusiast, with interests in both rocketry and flight systems, which he developed by being a member of rocketry teams at his undergraduate and graduate institutions and his internships at Italian firm Leonardo, respectively. He also enjoys sports, such as water-polo, as well as exploring the outdoors and visiting different countries. 

Jennifer Berry

Jennifer is a Ph.D. student in Controls and Dynamical Systems at Caltech, interested in the development of autonomous systems for space exploration. 

She received a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue her Master of Science in Space Engineering from Caltech after completing her Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Jennifer was selected as a Brooke Owens Fellow in 2022, and before starting her Ph.D, she worked at Rocket Lab as a space systems engineer. Outside of work, Jennifer is working towards her private pilots license and learning how to kite surf.

Theresa Tsaggaris

Theresa is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Caltech, specializing in solid and continuum mechanics. Her research focuses on modeling adhesion in liquid crystal elastomers. She is a GEM Fellow and an NSF GRFP Fellow.

Theresa earned her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Caltech in 2024 and her B.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022.

Beyond research, Theresa serves as Co-President of the Black Scientists and Engineers of Caltech (BSEC), a graduate student-led organization that plans and hosts the annual Conference for Emerging Black Academics in STEM (CEBAS). In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, practicing hot yoga, hiking, traveling, painting, and attending live music events.

Seijiro Yoshihara

Seiji is a Ph.D. Student in the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories at Caltech, working in the Space Structures Lab with Professor Sergio Pellegrino. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2023 and his MS in space engineering from Caltech in 2024. His primary research focus at Caltech is on the development of novel sensing architectures for nonintrusive embedded sensors in thin deployable composite structures. He is a presidential fellow.

Seiji is passionate about stem outreach and accessibility. On campus, he volunteers in many capacities such as being a peer mentor in the Graduate Summer Research Institute at Caltech and a mentor for the Aerospace Mentorship Program. Outside of work, you can find him tending to his aquarium and keeping up with the Boston Red Sox.

Afonso Mesquita

Afonso Mesquita is a Ph.D. student in Caltech’s Space Structures Laboratory, focusing on ultra-thin composite materials. He earned his B.Sc. in Aerospace Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon (2023), and his M.Sc. in Space Engineering from Caltech (2024).

Throughout his academic path, Afonso participated in national and international science Olympiads, research programs, and innovative product development programs. While at Técnico, Afonso received the ULisboa Merit Scholarship and was the Financial Director for JUNITEC, Portugal’s leading Junior Enterprise. He also led a pioneering innovation program for university students and established a broadly recognized incubation framework that supported the launch of several startups.

Beyond research and entrepreneurship, Afonso enjoys discussing orbital mechanics, exploring California’s mountains, and traveling.

Erina Yamaguchi

Erina is a Ph.D. student in Aeronautics at the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories at Caltech. She is working in the AMBER Lab with Professor Aaron Ames. Erina received her bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from MIT in 2023 and her MS in Aeronautics from Caltech in 2024. She is an EAS Chair Scholar and received the Rolf D. Buhler Memorial Award in Aeronautics at Caltech.

Her primary research interest is in ensuring safe and robust control for robotics. She is currently investigating risk-aware control in environments with stochastic disturbances.  Outside of work, Erina is passionate about STEM outreach. She also enjoys figure skating in her free time.

Satvik Kumar

Satvik Kumar is a Ph.D. student in Space Engineering at Caltech's Autonomous Robotics and Control Lab (ARCL), focusing on space autonomy and control. He earned his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech, and an M.S. in Space Engineering from Caltech.

As Chair of the Georgia Tech AIAA Section, he co-organized the 2022 Region 2 AIAA Student Conference. At Caltech, he's a Keck Institute of Space Science (KISS) Affiliate and actively participates in STEM outreach through programs like Science Olympiad, the Aerospace Mentorship Program, and RISE Tutoring at the Caltech Y.

Jack Caldwell

Jack Caldwell is a Ph.D. student in the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories at Caltech, working under Professor Mory Gharib on additive printing methods and propellent interactions for use in liquid bi-propellent rocketry. He graduated from Caltech for both his undergraduate and M.Sc. degrees in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Previously, he has worked as a propulsion engineering intern at Relativity and other aerospace companies. Furthermore, during his time as an undergraduate he started the Caltech Rocketry team (PARSEC), which he currently mentors. Outside of research, Jack enjoys off-road motorcycling and wilderness camping.