鲍颁贵鈥檚 Perla Latorre-Suarez 鈥�21 is among the most promising graduate students in the world who are likely to change the aerospace industry, according to Aviation Week Network.
The magazine and its partners 鈥� Accenture and Hexcel 鈥� this month announced their 20 Twenties Award Class of 2022. More than 80 students were nominated from around the world. The 20 winners were selected based on their academic excellence, STEM and leadership skills and innovative approach to problem solving.
The winners will get access to a network of technology hiring managers, some of the nation鈥檚 best faculty and industry experts who will help them begin to build a network of not only potential employers, but some of the greatest minds working to solve critical problems facing the aviation and space industries.
Latorre-Suarez 鈥� who is pursuing a master鈥檚 in aerospace engineering at 麻豆原创 鈥� is one of only two Florida recipients who share the honor with students from Duke, MIT and Purdue, among others.
鈥淭his is the first award I have won as a student,鈥� says Latorre-Suarez, who earned a bachelor鈥檚 in mechanical engineering from 麻豆原创. 鈥淚t will give me the opportunity to expand my academic and professional connections by networking with other professionals around the country. I will also be able to learn about the opportunities available in multiple industries and universities. I believe this will bring more ideas to solve the current technology challenges.鈥�
Latorre-Suarez is part of Engineering Professor Seetha Raghavan鈥檚 research lab, where she is investigating 3D printed sensors that could be made in space and which would monitor the structural integrity of the components and vehicles used by explorers on other planets.
She is also part of 鲍颁贵鈥檚 MSTAR program, which led to an internship opportunity to work at NASA鈥檚 Langley Research Center in Virginia this past summer. Working with NASA scientists she helped design ceramic coatings that can protect lunar vehicles from the moon鈥檚 dust.
The Puerto Rico native says 麻豆原创 and its faculty have been critical to her academic journey.
鈥淢y advisor, Dr. Raghavan, has played an important role in my academic, professional and personal life,鈥� she says. 鈥淪he nominated me as a recipient of this award, and for me, it was more than that; it has been an honor to be mentored by her.鈥�
Latorre-Suarez is researching the 3D printed sensors that could be made in space and which would monitor the structural integrity of the components and vehicles used by explorers on other planets.
鈥淢y biggest goal is to be able to collaborate on space missions, such as the Artemis moon mission,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to ensure astronauts鈥� safety while exploring other planetary surfaces.鈥�
This is not Latorre-Suarez鈥檚 first recognition. In 2021 she was named an X-Force Fellow by the National Security Innovation Network and the Department of Defense. She is also a NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium Fellow.
“Congratulations to the winners 鈥� all of whom possess the leadership and STEM skills needed to bring innovation to our industry,鈥� said John Schmidt, global Aerospace and Defense industry lead at Accenture in a news release. 鈥淎ccenture is committed to developing the next generation of the aerospace and defense workforce by supporting programs like this that help recognize top talent.鈥�
In addition to getting plugged into the talent network, Latorre-Suarez will also be honored at a luncheon at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., and then again during Aviation Week Network鈥檚 65th Annual Laureate Awards and Dinner at the National Building Museum. These presentations are scheduled for November.聽The 20 Twenties program is a significant part of Aviation Week Network鈥檚 workforce initiative that continues to cultivate, inform, and inspire the next generation of aerospace and defense professionals, according to the organization.
Latorre-Suarez is one of many recent graduates from Raghavan鈥檚 laboratory who have received national or international recognition for their work.
鈥淧erla has emerged as a leader and an expert in her area,鈥� Raghavan says. 鈥淲hile research is challenging for any student and more so under current circumstances, (such as the pandemic), her persistence has always helped her to manage her time and academics to continue to make research progress.鈥�
Latorre-Suarez is also paying it forward. She has led multiple outreach activities at 麻豆原创 representing Raghavan鈥檚 lab. She鈥檚 led components for Camp Connect and 鲍颁贵鈥檚 STEM Day. Both events provide students from K-12 hands-on learning opportunities focused on different research topics conducted by the group. Latorre-Suarez also participated in Skype-a-Scientist program, where she shared her research expertise with elementary school students in Malaysia.
鈥淪he has demonstrated outstanding leadership and project management skills, as well as the constant aspiration to learn and become better at what she does,鈥� Raghavan says. 鈥淎s a mentor, she is setting up a path for many other students to succeed along the way.鈥�
