Madeleine Yee

Undergraduate Student, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Minor: Economics

What are you are studying/what you are interested in studying and/or researching while at Purdue? If you have done internships or other applicable experiences, feel free to include them here.

As an aeronautical and astronautical engineering major, I am excited to learn about the air and spacecrafts in our world. I’ve always found it interesting how these vehicles enable society to progress such that we can see stars millions of miles away and explore the universe from the ground. From visiting air and space museums or completing science fair projects in the aerodynamics category, I am excited to continue pursuing and developing my career in the area.

To explore my passions and interest in the field, I have involved myself with research and an internship. At Purdue, I have been working with Professor Jun Chen on his research in fluid dynamics. I have been using computational fluid dynamics software to create numerical simulations of a stream of liquid iron. Additionally, in the summer of 2023, I interned with L3Harris Technologies, a top aerospace/defense company, where I was a part of their thermal analysis team on various projects.

What made you want to join the Leading Women Toward Space Careers program?

The biggest reason I wanted to join the Leading Women Towards Space Careers program is because of the mentoring network I would be a part of. This program will allow me to interact with women who have established themselves and their careers in the space industry. I look forward to hearing about their life and how they overcame obstacles, especially relating to possible gender factors within the field. Additionally, I hope to hear all the fun stories and exciting parts the mentors encountered in their area that I can look forward to in my career.

Beyond interacting with the mentors, I am excited to gain a more comprehensive network of people I can talk to. The mentors have professional and social opportunities that I wouldn’t be able to receive anywhere else. Similarly, I look forward to making connections with my fellow mentees.

I am eager to meet others with the same ambition, diligence, and interest in space as I do. Having a solid career network of women in the industry is something no other program can give.

Lastly, I knew that being a part of this program would aid me in developing skills typically not highlighted within the classroom. I look forward to opportunities to expand my skill set, including communicating, collaborating, and contributing ideas outside my field. Moreover, participating in this program would increase my confidence in applying these skills beyond my career.

What area would you like to work in after graduation? (What career path, interests, opportunities, etc., would you like to accomplish? What field are you interested in?)

After graduation, I look forward to entering the aerospace and defense industry. Being part of the aerospace industry has the space for me to pursue my passions of aerospace engineering and fluid mechanics while contributing to society. I would also like to obtain a Doctorate in the field, as the degree represents my diligence, dedication, and passion for the area.