Rushil Kukreja

Astrophysics-Aerospace Researcher @ NASA & Brown
Light Pollution Speaker @ United Nations
Intern @ Lockheed Martin
Pete Conrad Scholar, Non-Trivial Fellow, Team USA at IOAA

I'm a Founder

Work Experience

Lockheed Martin

Paid internship at Lockheed Martin Space (one of only 14 high school interns across the nation). 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

  • 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. Awarded 1st place in Fairfax County Science & Engineering Fair and 3rd place in Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair. Awarded Top 30 in Blue Ocean Entrepreneurship Competition.

  • WiFind

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

    Recieved Pete Conrad Scholar Award (1st place among 4,700+ projects worldwide). Presented at Space Center Houston.

    See website

Research Experience

NASA Wallops Flight Facility & NASA Langley Research Center

Designated as Virginia Space Coast Scholar and Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholar and invited twice 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 (impact factor of 4.8) with UVA professor coauthor.

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.

Massachusetts Institute for Technology & George Mason University

Selected for the competitive Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at GMU, in collaboration with a professor at MIT AeroAstro. Conducted advanced modeling of the environmental impact of Low Earth Orbit satellite mega-constellations. First-author for research paper pending publicaion in Earth's Future (impact factor of 7.3) with MIT & GMU professor coauthors. Invited to present at TPRC (Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy).

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. Second-author for research paper pending publicaion in Applied Energy (impact factor of 10.1) with Liverpool professor coauthor.

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 grants from Cornell University & Griptape to support ongoing efforts. Published research recognized as Top 10 in a reputable journal. Collaborating with legislators in Virginia and others in 7 states to develop groundbreaking light pollution legislation. Obtained proclamation from Governor of Massachusetts.

    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

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ACT (Perfect Score)

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SAT (Perfect Math at Age 13)

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PSAT (Perfect Score)

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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
  • United States Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad (USAAAO) – Gold medal; Selected as 1 of 5 students to represent the United States at the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA)
  • Pete Conrad Scholar – Selected as 1st place among 4,700+ projects worldwide; Recieved all-expenses paid trip to Boston with exclusive trip at MIT, special medallion, full scholarship to TKS, and scholarsip to Leangap
  • Non-Trivial Fellowship – 3rd Place in Fellowship of 20,000+ Applicants; 2nd Place in AI Grand Challenge; Awarded $2,500 scholarship
  • National 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
  • American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) – Achieved Top 20 in National Finals among 3,000+ students nationwide
  • Conrad Challenge Finalist – Selected as 1 of 5 teams among 4,700+ projects worldwide; Invited to present at Space Center Houston; Awarded $792,000 in scholarships
  • United States Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) – Qualified after placing in the top 3% nationally
  • 2 Provisional Utility Patents – Neural Intelligence Application for Precision Rocket Launch Optimization, Predictive Flight Guidance, and Adaptive Environmental Calibration (#63727018); Integrated Wireless Signal Triangulation and Pose Recognition System for Post-Disaster Human Detection (#63778367)
  • NASA Student Launch (SL) – 3rd Place STEM Engagement Award; 2x Qualifier & Launcher in Huntsville, Alabama
  • 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
  • International Environmental Science Olympiad (IESO) – Placed 2nd in world on qualifying exam (98/100); Invited to Puerto Rico
  • 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 nation
  • 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 – 2x Top 30 Finalist out of 12,700+ students internationally
  • Virginia State Science & Engineering Fair (VSSEF) – 3rd Place in Virginia
  • University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School M&TSI – Admitted as 1 of 75 from over 2,500 applicants (3%)  (Application Video)
  • NASA Wallops Flight Facility – Selected as a Virginia Space Coast Scholar to attend an all-expenses-paid residential research program
  • 2x US Congressional Special Recognition – Honored by Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner 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, mentorship, & publication opportunity
    • – Winner of National Capital Astronomers Science Fair
    • – Invited to present project at University of Maryland Observatory
    • – Awarded by IEEE Photonics & Optical Society of America
    • – Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Honorable Mention, recieving engraved coin
  • Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) – Awarded full scholarship 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)
  • Civics Unplugged Fellow – Selected for fellowship to develop strategies for addressing societal challenges

Leadership, Skills, & Courses

Leadership Positions at TJ

Rocketry | Co-President

Lead a team of 75+ members in designing, developing, and launching low-power and high-power rockets equipped with glider & rover 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. Showcased rocket at Capitol Hill to members of Congress. Achieved Top 20 in the National Finals of ARC. Qualified for and launched twice for NASA SLI in Huntsville, Alabama.

Caelus Rocketry | Co-President

Lead 35+ students developing a liquid-fuel rocket with the goal of becoming the first high school team to reach space, sponsored by NASA, AIAA, Aerojet, Spaceport America, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, George Mason University, Society of Women Engineers, and Howard Lerman. Co-organized GMU Space Day, attracting over 1,000 attendees to celebrate and advance interest in space exploration.

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

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).

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 United States History
  • AP Macroeconomics
  • AP Microeconomics
  • AP Psychology
  • AP Environmental Science (upcoming)
  • AP Spanish Language and Culture (upcoming)
  • AP English Language and Composition (upcoming)
  • AP United States Government and Politics (upcoming)

    • 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
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics Research AV (upcoming)
  • Quantum Physics & Optics Research AV (upcoming)

    • Passion for Poetry

    Book Cover

    The Sky We Forgot: A Birthday Book of Poems for Earth

    The Sky We Forgot is a collection of 22 poems written for Earth Day (April 22), which also marks my birthday, exploring the fading boundary between night and light in a world increasingly flooded by artificial glow. Through wonder, loss, and quiet resistance, the poems offer a lyrical meditation on growing up under dimmer stars and how we might begin to bring the night sky back.

    Poetry has always been a way for me to blend science, emotion, and art, offering a voice to moments of wonder and a call to protect the vanishing beauty of our night skies. Through writing, I aim to inspire others to reconnect with nature, find quiet strength, and imagine a future filled with both hope and stars.

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