Rivera later joined the Reacting Flow Dynamics Lab under Jaqueline O’Connor, professor of mechanical engineering and director for the Center for Gas Turbine Research, Education and Outreach.
“We look to decrease the combustion instabilities that occur in combustors,” Rivera said of his involvement with O’Connor’s research. “My main focus in the lab is understanding how the combustor’s design changes the flow’s dynamical behavior and possibly increases or decreases these instabilities.”
Rivera also participated in undergraduate research experiences at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the Deng Energy and Nanotechnology Group under Sili Deng, assistant professor.
“Undergraduate research has opened up so many doors for me,” Rivera said. “I have made connections in some of the most prominent schools in the world, like MIT. Undergraduate research has also helped me get opportunities like the Astronaut Scholarship and put me on the right path to achieve my dream of attending graduate school and performing meaningful research that will impact the aerospace industry.”
Rivera explained his long-term goals are to pursue a doctorate in aerospace or mechanical engineering, eventually working for large transportation companies. He hopes to create his own company or start a lab in academia and revolutionize the energy and propulsion industry.
In addition to his coursework and undergraduate research, Rivera is part of the Millenium Scholars Program.
“The people in this program have been like a family to me, and I don’t know where I would be without them,” he said.
He also has been one of the STEP-UP chairs for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at Penn State. STEP-UP, which stands for Student Transition Engineering Program at University Park, is a student-run event that helps engineering students in their transition from a Commonwealth Campus to the University Park campus.
More about the Astronaut Scholarship and how to apply
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was established in 1984 by the six surviving members of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, along with Betty Grissom, widow of astronaut Virgil “Gus” Grissom; William Douglas, Project Mercury flight surgeon; and Henri Landwirth, businessperson and friend of the Mercury 7.
The Mercury 7 were America’s first astronauts, picked from the ranks of U.S. military test pilots in the late 1950s: Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard, Deke Slayton and Grissom. The foundation continued to grow its support over the years from astronauts from the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs, according to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation website.
The University can nominate up to two applicants for the award each year, so students must first pass through an internal Penn State selection process facilitated by Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring. To be considered, students must be U.S. citizens, full-time second- or third-year Penn State students with one to two years of study remaining, and be majoring in an approved STEM field with the intention of pursuing a career in research.
Penn State nominates its applicants based on proof of creativity and innovation, as well as initiative and exceptional performance in their respective fields. The University deadline to apply for the next round of Astronaut Scholarships is slated for late January 2024.
Students interested in applying for the scholarship can contact Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring at urfm@psu.edu to learn more about the scholarship program and verify that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring is part of the Penn State Office of Undergraduate Education.