Nicole L
- Research Program Mentor
PhD candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Expertise
Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Bio
Nicole (Nic) is a graduate student at MIT pursuing an S.M./Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics alongside MIT’s Technology & Policy Program (TPP). She’s passionate about human-centered engineering, especially designing technology that supports people in challenging, real-world environments. She loves hands-on, project-based work that turns curiosity into something tangible. Outside of academics, Nic enjoys staying active, dancing, watercolor painting, spending time with friends, and getting involved in community and mentorship activities. She likes trying new experiences, traveling when she can, and finding small ways to recharge between busy weeks. She values balance, curiosity, and connection both in and out of the classroom.Project ideas
Designing a Space Survival System
In this project, a student would explore how humans survive in extreme environments by designing a simple system inspired by space missions. The project could focus on one challenge—such as staying warm, managing limited resources, or supporting the human body—and research how engineers currently solve this problem. The student would then propose their own solution using sketches, basic calculations, or a simple prototype, and explain the tradeoffs in their design. The goal of the project is not to be technically perfect, but to practice breaking down a big problem, asking good questions, and clearly communicating ideas.
Designing a Startup
In this project, a student would identify a real problem they notice in everyday life—at school, at home, or in their community—and explore how it could be turned into a startup idea. The student would research who is affected by the problem, why current solutions fall short, and what a better solution might look like. They would then outline a simple product or service, define who their customer is, and explain how their idea creates value.