Aerospace engineering students earn top honors at AIAA regional student conference
Auburn Engineering continued its streak of excellence at the 76th annual Southeastern Regional Student Conference of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), where three students brought home awards.
Patrick Eid and Mitchell Sisk earned first and second place, respectively, in the graduate category of Region II during the April 3-4 conference in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Auburn University also received first place in the Outstanding Student Branch category, led by Austin Miranda, who graduated in spring 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering.
All three students were mentored by Joseph Majdalani, professor and the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. Their success marks a 17-for-17 unbroken winning streak for Majdalani's mentees, who have competed and won top awards at the AIAA Region II Student Conference since 2010.
“We are extremely proud of our aerospace engineering students, both at the undergraduate and graduate level and how they continue to represent Auburn University and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering,” said Mario Eden, dean of engineering. “Their consistent record of excellence showcases the amazing accomplishments our students are capable of achieving.”
Eid is a graduate teaching and research assistant in aerospace engineering pursuing a doctorate. His project, titled “Evolution of the Bidirectional Vortex in a Capped Ellipsoidal Cyclonic Rocket Engine,” also co-authored by Majdalani, introduces a novel analytical model for vortex-driven thrust chambers.
Because of his first-place finish in the graduate category, Eid received the Mike Freeman Prize and a plaque, which will be displayed at Auburn University until the next annual regional competition.
He will also represent Region II at the International Graduate Student Competition in January at the 2026 AIAA SciTech Forum in Orlando.
Sisk, a graduate student in aerospace engineering, specializes in hybrid rocket propulsion and swirl injection systems. His project, “On the Multipole Vortex (MpV) Motion in a Circular-Port Hybrid Rocket Engine,” also co-authored by Majdalani, explores vortical dynamics in advanced hybrid rocket engines, offering new strategies for enhancing regression rates and stabilizing combustion processes.
Miranda served as president of the Auburn AIAA student branch. According to Majdalani, he tripled the organization’s undergraduate research participation, launched a five-year strategic plan and organized Auburn’s inaugural Aerospace Industry Day, which attracted 14 major aerospace companies.
“Patrick, Mitchell and Austin exemplify the quality that defines Auburn’s aerospace engineering program,” Majdalani said. “Some of our students apply game-changing concepts to real-world problems and, in so doing, advance the science of propulsion little by little.”
The 2025 Region II Student Conference, the largest of the AIAA’s seven regions, drew 337 students from 21 universities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Participants presented 116 technical papers across multiple disciplines, including propulsion, hypersonics and space systems.
Keynote speakers Adam Amar from NASA Johnson Space Center and David Robinson, CEO of Corvid Technologies, shared insights on emerging aerospace engineering career pathways.
Attendees also toured Honda Aircraft Company’s production facility, home of the HondaJet, and joined career development sessions titled “How to Stand Out,” which focused on networking and technical communication.
Media Contact: , dzd0065@auburn.edu, 334-844-2326
Patrick Eid is recognized with the first-place award and Mike Freeman prize in the graduate division at the 76th annual Southeastern Regional Student Conference of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Greensboro, North Carolina. Pictured from left are Patrick Porter, Clay Mowry, Eid and Kurt Polzin.
