A new undergraduate research engagement program is designed to connect students in aerospace engineering with faculty mentors, campus research opportunities and professional development resources.

The AeroPathway program, created by Professor Yiyang Sun, runs on an annual cycle. In the fall semester, weekly undergraduate seminars introduce students to faculty research through short talks. In the spring, the focus shifts to research skills development and a showcase of undergraduate work.

The fall 2026 seminar series began Aug. 31 and runs through Nov. 16, with sessions held Mondays from 11:45 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. in Link Hall, Room 369. The seminars are open to all mechanical and aerospace engineering undergraduates, and no sign-up is required.

Each 50-minute session is split into two parts. The first half features an aerospace engineering professor introducing their research and describing undergraduate opportunities available in their lab. The second half rotates through student club spotlights, fellowship and scholarship advising sessions, career advice and student panels.

The seminar series opened with a greeting from Syracuse University Chancellor J. Michael Haynie and a talk from Professor Kasey Laurent on bio-inspired motion in moving fluids, paired with a student panel on undergraduate research. Later sessions in the fall lineup include Professor Benjamin Akih Kumgeh on combustion science for propulsion and energy systems, Professor Amit K. Sanyal on safe and resilient autonomy in aerospace vehicles, Professor John Dannenhoffer on the Engineering Sketch Pad software, Professor Yeqing Wang, Professor Fernando Zigunov and Professor Yiyang Sun on shaping airflow with computational fluid dynamics.

Subtopic sessions throughout the semester will highlight student organizations such as AIAA, ORBIT, Citrus Racing and Invent@SU, along with funding opportunities through Syracuse University’s SOURCE grant program and national fellowships.

The spring 2027 portion of AeroPathway will include sessions on scientific presentations, awards and funding, a research showcase and preparation for the AIAA Student Conference.