AIAA Announces Winners of Prestigious Zarem Graduate Student Awards for Distinguished Achievement in Aeronautics and Astronautics

October 7, 2024 - Reston, Va. - The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Zarem Graduate Student Award for Distinguished Achievement:

Mohammed Abir Mahdi and Shafi Romeo, Oklahoma State University, won the astronautics award for their paper, "Convolutional Neural Network and Homogenization based Hybrid Approach for Lattice Structures." Mahdi and Romeo will present their paper at the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Milan, Italy, 14-18 October 2024. The winners will receive their awards at the 2025 AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, Florida, 6-10 January 2025.

This award was established by AIAA Honorary Fellow Abe Zarem, founder and managing director of Frontier Associates, to annually recognize graduate students in aeronautics and astronautics who have demonstrated outstanding scholarship in their field.

• Mohammed Abir Mahdi, Oklahoma State University, Astronautics Award (Co-Recipient)
  [Link]Mahdi is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Purdue University's School of Mechanical Engineering. He recently completed his master's in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Oklahoma State University. Mahdi's research focuses on composite manufacturing and the design of lattice structures. He holds a bachelor's in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Prior to his graduate studies, Mahdi worked as a lecturer at MAS Marine Academy in Bangladesh, gaining expertise in naval structure design and analysis. He is passionate about teaching and inspiring students in the field of science and technology. "Receiving this award makes the nights, days, and sacrifices for this novel work feel truly worthwhile," said Mahdi.

• Shafi Romeo, Oklahoma State University, Astronautics Award (Co-Recipient)
  [Link]Shafi Romeo is pursuing his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Oklahoma State University. His research interest lies in developing, analyzing, and applying physics-constrained deep learning models to tackle intricate scientific challenges within fluid dynamics. Currently, his focus is on the innovative realm of Physics-Guided Multifidelity Learning for characterizing the dynamic stability of atmospheric reentry vehicles.
  
  "Receiving the Abe M. Zarem Graduate Award is a tremendous honor for me. This award recognizes my hard work and boosts my confidence and enthusiasm for future endeavors," said Romeo.

• [Link]Their faculty advisor, Wei Zhao, is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Oklahoma State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Virginia Tech. Zhao's research focuses on lightweight aerospace structures and materials created using advanced robotic automated fiber placement and 3D printing technologies. He is an AIAA Senior Member and a member of the AIAA Structures Technical Committee.
  
  "As an advisor, witnessing the growth and development of my graduate students is extremely rewarding. From hands-on teaching to seeing them gradually conduct their work independently, this process not only advances our field but also helps shape the next generation of innovators and leaders. Their successes and discoveries drive the progression of aerospace engineering, particularly in next-generation fuel-efficient airplane design, and their unique perspectives and creativity continually inspire me. Advising graduate students is not just about sharing knowledge; it's about fostering a collaborative environment where both the mentor and mentee learn and grow together, ultimately pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve," Zhao said.

For more information on the Abe M. Zarem Graduate Awards for Distinguished Achievement, please contact Michael Lagana.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world's largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.