Rushil Kukreja

Astrophysics-Aerospace Researcher @ NASA, MIT, Brown, & UVA
Light Pollution Speaker @ United Nations
Intern @ Lockheed Martin

I'm a Founder

Work Experience

Lockheed Martin

Paid internship at Lockheed Martin Space. Collaborating with engineers on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, contributing to the analysis of missile guidance algorithms, the development of CAD designs to minimize testing requirements for unique configurations, and the forecasting of expected outcomes to enhance system performance.

Projects

  • StarLaunch

    Independently launched iOS and Android app that utilizes physics-informed machine learning to simplify and enhance model rocketry, making it more accessible and engaging for students.

    Secured provisional utility patent on Neural Intelligence Application for Precision Rocket Launch Optimization, Predictive Flight Guidance, and Adaptive Environmental Calibration.

    See website

  • Project TITAN

    Developed an autonomous space-based laser system leveraging physics-informed machine learning and ablation techniques to efficiently track and remove space debris, enhancing orbital sustainability.

    Awarded 1st place in Space Station Technology Challenge. Presented at AIAA conference at Johns Hopkins University and awarded 2nd Place.

    See presentation

  • Caelus Rocketry

    Developing a liquid-fuel rocket engine with the goal of becoming the first high school team to reach space. Co-organized GMU Space Day, attracting over 1,000 attendees to celebrate and advance interest in space exploration.

    See website

  • LumiShield

    Independently developed a smart photovoltaic-integrated electrochromic window that harvests solar energy during the day and becomes opaque at night to reduce light pollution and improve energy efficiency.

    Awarded 1st place in JSHS Greater Washington DC Region, winning $1,000 scholarship and all-expenses paid trip to National Symposium.

  • WiFind

    Developed a search-and-rescue system that uses WiFi signal detection and machine learning to locate individuals in low-visibility disaster-stricken environments.

    Selected as 1 of 5 teams among 4,000+ students worldwide to be Conrad Challenge Finalist. Invited to Space Center Houston.

    See website

Research Experience

NASA Wallops Flight Facility

Designated as Virginia Space Coast Scholar and invited to attend all-expenses-paid residential summer research academy. Designed advanced instrumentation and space missions, collaborated with NASA officials and scientists, and presented findings to a panel of NASA experts.

Brown University

Developed computer vision models leveraging images from the CaSSIS orbiter to perform diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, analyzing the Martian surface’s composition and morphological features to gain insights into its potential habitability.

University of Virginia

Developed multilayer physics-informed machine learning models to optimize the production of laser-induced graphene-metal composites. First author for research paper pending publication in Journal of Computational Design and Engineering.

Non-Trivial Fellowship

Selected in the Top 100 among over 20,000 students to pursue selective research. Developed and published policy recommendations on establishing a risk-based licensing system to mitigate malicious use of frontier AI models. Recognized with 3rd place in fellowship and 2nd place in AI Governance Grand Challenge, earning a $2,500 scholarship for research excellence.

George Mason University & Massachusetts Institute for Technology

Selected for the competitive Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP). Conducted advanced modeling of the environmental impact of Low Earth Orbit satellite mega-constellations. First-author working paper, collaborating with professors at MIT AeroAstro.

University of Liverpool

Conducted research on energy demand forecasting, developing advanced CNN, LSTM, and GRU machine learning models to predict consumption patterns using weather data. Improved forecasting accuracy to support sustainable energy management strategies.

Volunteering

  • Princia

    Founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to combating light pollution and promoting sustainability. Consisting of 250+ advocates across 6 continents, Princia has reached 13,000+ people to raise awareness about the environmental, health, and astronomical impacts of artificial lighting through education, policy advocacy, and innovative research.

    Invited to present at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Secured a grant from Cornell University & Griptape to support ongoing efforts. Published research recognized as Top 10 in a reputable journal. Collaborating with Del. Rip Sullivan and others in 7 states to develop groundbreaking light pollution legislation.

    See website

  • Haycock Rocketry Club

    Founded a rocketry club at my former elementary school to inspire a passion for STEM and aerospace engineering among young students in my community. Designed and implemented a comprehensive program that combines interactive lectures with hands-on activities, guiding over 60 students through the process of designing, building, and launching model rockets while fostering curiosity, creativity, and foundational skills in science and engineering.

    Received the Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award and the Silver Medal Congressional Award.

  • STEM Outreach

    Actively engaged 850+ K-12 students in interactive STEM activities designed to make science and engineering concepts accessible, exciting, and relatable. Provided students with opportunities to explore foundational concepts in aerospace engineering, including rocketry, propulsion, and aerodynamics. Inspired curiosity and a passion for innovation by creating environments where students can experiment, problem-solve, and build confidence in their STEM abilities.

    Awarded 3rd place NASA STEM Engagement Award.

Test Scores

ACT Icon

ACT (Perfect Score)

SAT Icon

SAT (Perfect Math at Age 13)

PSAT Icon

PSAT (Perfect Score)

AP Icon

AP Exams with all 5s

AMC Icon

AMC 12 (AIME with Distinction)

Honors & Awards

  • United Nations – Invited to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City to raise awareness about light pollution
  • Conrad Challenge Finalist – Selected as 1 of 5 teams among 4,000+ students worldwide; Invited to Space Center Houston
  • United States Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) – Qualified after placing in the top 3% nationwide, with a score of 18/25
  • Provisional Utility Patent – Neural Intelligence Application for Precision Rocket Launch Optimization, Predictive Flight Guidance, and Adaptive Environmental Calibration (#63727018)
  • NASA Student Launch (SL) – 3rd Place STEM Engagement Award (hands-on lessons for 850+ students); 2x Qualifier & Launcher in Huntsville, Alabama
  • American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) – Achieved Top 20 in National Finals among 3,000+ students nationwide
  • Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) – 1st Place in Greater Washington, DC Region; Awarded $1,000 scholarship; Invited to all-expenses-paid trip to give oral paper presentation at National Symposium
  • Billy Michal Student Leadership Award – 1 of 51 students nationwide; Received all-expenses-paid trip to represent VA in New Orleans
  • National Astronomy Competition (NAC) Qualifier – Ranked in top 2% nationally on astronomy & astrophysics olympiad
  • International Environmental Science Olympiad (IESO) – Placed 2nd in world on qualifying exam (98/100); Invited to Puerto Rico
  • Non-Trivial Fellowship – 3rd Place in Fellowship of 20,000+ Applicants; 2nd Place in AI Grand Challenge; Awarded $2,500 scholarship
  • Space Station Technology Challenge – 1st Place for developing physics-informed ML system for laser-based space debris removal
  • Cornell University – 1/200 projects to receive grant funding through the National Contribution Project to support Princia’s initiatives
  • President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) – Gold Award presented by the US President for efforts to help the community
  • Congressional Award – Silver Medal presented by House and Senate leaders for outstanding contributions to the community
  • AIME Qualifier with Distinction – Ranked in top 5% nationally among 20,000+ students on the AMC 12
  • USACO Gold – Advanced to the prestigious Gold division, placing among the top 7.5% of 13,000+ competitive prograqmmers worldwide
  • AIAA Research Conference – Invited at Johns Hopkins University to present groundbreaking aerospace researchm, winning 2nd place
  • Blue Ocean Entrepreneur Competition –Top 30 Finalist out of 9,800+ students for developing app utilizing computer vision
  • NASA Wallops Flight Facility – Selected as a Virginia Space Coast Scholar to attend an all-expenses-paid residential research program
  • US Congressional Special Recognition – Honored by Sen. Tim Kaine in recognition of founding Princia and leading impactful initiatives
  • Griptape Learning Challenge Grantee – Awarded prestigous grant to advance Princia's initiatives
  • Fairfax County Regional Science & Engineering Fair – 1st Place; Invited to represent Fairfax County at VSSEF in Charlottesville, VA
    • – 2nd Place Award by Dominion Energy, winning a cash prize
    • – Environmental Engineering Award by Virginia Tech, recieving internship & publication opportunity
    • – Winner of National Capital Astronomers Science Fair
    • – Awarded by IEEE Photonics & Optical Society of America
    • – Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Honorable Mention
  • Virginia Space Grant Consortium – Awarded full scholarship funded by NASA for Private Pilot training
  • Virginia Invitational Model UN Conference (VIMUNC) – Best Delegate (1st Place); 3-time Awardee
  • William and Mary High School Model UN (WMHSMUN) – Honorable Mention (3rd Place)
  • Johns Hopkins University – Achieved recognition through JHU Center for Talented Youth for exceptional academic performance
  • Civics Unplugged Fellow – Selected for all-expenses-paid fellowship to develop strategies for addressing societal challenges
  • SSRN Environmental Pollution & Prevention Journal – Top 10 Downloads List

Leadership, Skills, & Courses

Leadership Positions at TJ

Rocketry | Vice President

Lead a team of 60+ members in designing, developing, and launching low-power and high-power rockets equipped with aerial reconnaissance glider payloads for the American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) and NASA Student Launch Initiative (SLI). Delivered technical presentations on rocket designs and calculations to panels of NASA engineers.
Achieved Top 20 in the National Finals of ARC. Qualified for and launched twice for NASA SLI in Huntsville, Alabama.

Computational Physics | President

Lead a club focused on exploring advanced physics concepts through simulations, hands-on experiments, and collaborative research projects. Spearheaded a field trip to Micron Technology’s semiconductor facility to enhance members’ understanding of real-world applications of computational physics.

Model UN | National Team, Director of Tech, & Webmaster

Represent the school at national Model UN conferences, demonstrating leadership and diplomacy. Serve as Director of Technology at TECHMUN, a flagship Model UN conference hosting 1,000+ students. Designed and developed the official TJMUN website, enhancing the club's online presence.
Selected as Best Delegate & 3x Awardee at the Virginia Invitational Model UN Conference (VIMUNC) and awarded Honorable Delegate at William & Mary High School Model UN (WMHSMUN).

Quantum Computing | Officer

Coordinate presentations and lead interactive activities to guide peers in exploring quantum algorithms, programming, and emerging technologies, fostering interest and engagement in this advanced field.

BigSibs | Family Captain

Lead a group of upperclassmen mentors (BigSibs) who support underclassmen in their academic and extracurricular growth. Foster a supportive and collaborative environment, provide guidance to BigSibs, and oversee their efforts to support the personal and academic growth of their mentees.

National Honor Society

Participate in community service projects while upholding the pillars of scholarship, leadership, service, and character, fostering a culture of academic excellence and civic engagement.

Technical Skills

Programming & Markup Languages

Python, Java, C++, C, R, JavaScript, SQL, Swift, CSS, HTML, Solidity, LaTeX

Analysis Packages & Environments

TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, Scikit-learn, OpenCV, Pandas, NumPy, caret, dplyr, ggplot2, Jupyter Notebook, Firebase, Anaconda, RStudio

Engineering & Design Software

Ansys Fluent, Autodesk CFD, MATLAB, Fusion 360, Mathematica, KiCad, Onshape, RockSim, OpenRocket

Courses

AP Courses

  • AP Physics C: Mechanics
  • AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
  • AP Computer Science A
  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Statistics
  • AP US History
  • AP Macroeconomics
  • AP Microeconomics
  • AP Psychology

    • Post-AP/Dual Enrollment Courses

  • Quantum Mechanics and Electrodynamics AV
  • Multivariable Calculus DE
  • Linear Algebra DE
  • Advanced Astronomy HN
  • Mobile Application Development AV
  • Web Development AV
  • Computer Vision AV
  • Research Statistics AV

    • Featured in the News

    Contact Me