Ben Casillas is a senior aerospace engineering major from Pflugerville, Texas. In the NUANCED laboratory, they are investigating the effectiveness of unconventional applications for introductory aerospace curriculum in exam-format problems. The goals for this study include improving students’ engagement in and understanding of their course content, as part of a broader effort under the NSF REDO-E grant to reach out to underrepresented populations in engineering. The results of this study are currently under review for publication in the 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
Outside of the lab, Ben is also the director of Texas A&M Rocket Engine Design, working to develop A&M’s first liquid-fuelled rocket engine through a rigorous systems engineering approach. They plan to complete their M.S. in aerospace engineering; their interests include human spaceflight & human systems integration, and they hope to help enable the future of crewed interplanetary spaceflight.