Rushil Kukreja

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

I'm a Founder

Work Experience

Lockheed Martin

Paid internship at Lockheed Martin Space (1 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. Backed by 1517 Fund. Selected for Founders, Inc. Off Season.

    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.

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 coauthors.

Conference Presentations:

  • IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), Montreal, Quebec
  • Springer International Conference on Sustainable Development of Water and Environment (ICSDWE), Bali, Indonesia
  • Springer Future Technologies Conference, Munich, Germany
  • Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy (TPRC), American University, Washington, DC
  • AIAA Young Professionals, Students, and Educators (YPSE) Conference, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Volunteering

  • Princia

    Founded first student-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated tackling light pollution. Consisting of 250+ members 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 proclamations from Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts and Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois.

    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)

SAT Icon

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 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 – 1st place among 4,700+ projects worldwide; Recieved all-expenses paid trip to MIT; Given full scholarship to TKS and scholarsip to Leangap; Invited to present at Space Center Houston; Awarded $792,000 in college scholarships
  • United Nations – Invited to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City to raise awareness about light pollution
  • Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) Christine Stevens Wildlife Award – $15,000 for research on protecting pollinators from light pollution
  • Non-Trivial Fellowship – 3rd Place in Fellowship of 20,000+ Applicants; 2nd Place in AI Grand Challenge; Awarded $2,500 scholarship
  • Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) – National Finalist; 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
  • United States Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) – Qualified after placing in the top 7% nationally
  • 2 Provisional Utility Patents – Neural Intelligence Application for Precision Rocket Launch Optimization and Predictive Flight Guidance (#63727018); Integrated Wireless Signal Triangulation and Pose Recognition System for Post-Disaster Human Detection (#63778367)
  • NASA Student Launch (SL) – 1st Place Best Looking Rocket; 2nd Place Altitude; 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
  • 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
  • 1517 Fund – Awarded $1,000 Medici Grant & $10,000 in AWS credit by venture capital firm
  • 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 – 2nd place at YPSE researchconference at Johns Hopkins University
  • Blue Ocean Entrepreneur Competition – 2x Top 30 Finalist out of 12,700+ students internationally
  • Virginia State Science & Engineering Fair (VSSEF) – 3rd Place in Virginia
  • National Astronomy Competition (NAC) Qualifier – Ranked in top 2% nationally
  • 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 Virginia Space Coast Scholar to attend all-expenses-paid residential research program
  • NASA Langley Research Center – Selected as Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholar (VASTS) to attend all-expenses-paid residential program
  • 2x US Congressional Special Recognition – Honored by Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner in recognition of founding Princia
  • Founders, Inc. – Selected as 1 of 2 HS teams among 1,000+ applicants to be invited to 42,000 square foot campus in San Francisco for Off Season incubator
  • Paradigm Challenge – 2x Top 100 Finalist worldwide, winning $400
  • 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 opportunities
    • – Winner of National Capital Astronomers Science Fair; Invited to present at University of Maryland Observatory
    • – Awarded by IEEE Photonics & Optical Society of America
    • – Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Honorable Mention
  • 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
  • Griptape Challenge – Awarded grant
  • AP Scholar with Distinction – Achieved exceptional scores on AP exams

Clubs, 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. Provided hands-on STEM education to over 1,200 students. Achieved Top 20 in the National Finals of ARC. Qualified for and launched twice for NASA SLI in Huntsville, Alabama. Earned 3rd Place STEM Engagement Award from NASA.

Caelus Rocketry | Co-President

Lead 35+ students developing a liquid-fuel rocket on track to be the first HS team to reach space, sponsored by NASA, AIAA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Spaceport America, Society of Women Engineers, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, and Howard Lerman. Invited to Embassy of Switzerland. 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 with 40+ students to Micron Technology's semiconductor facility to enhance members' understanding of real-world applications of computational physics.

Quantum Computing | Co-President

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

Model UN | National Team & Director of Technology

Represent the school at national Model UN conferences. Run all technology at TECHMUN, a flagship Model UN conference hosting 1,000+ students. Designed and developed the official TJMUN website. Selected as Best Delegate & 3x Awardee at the Virginia Invitational Model UN Conference (VIMUNC).

Animal Rights Club | Co-President

Lead club focused on raising awareness about animal rights and advocating for the ethical treatment of animals.

BigSibs | Family Captain

Lead a group of upperclassmen mentors (BigSibs) who support underclassmen in their academic and extracurricular growth, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.

HackTJ | Organizing Team

Run one of the largest student-run overnight high school hackathons in the country, attracting over 500 students from across Northern Virginia. Sponsored by Jane Street, Otis, Appian, and Cvent, with over $20,000 annual budget.

National Honor Society

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 Mentorship 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.

    Also published Op-Ed in The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press with combined 75,000+ circulation

    Featured in the News

    Contact Me