- Major: Aerospace Engineering
- Company: University of Tennessee Space Institute, Aerojet Rocketdyne
- Graduation Year: 2024
- E-mail: mbuckn13@vols.utk.edu
Profile
I began gaining professional experience by interning at the University of Tennessee Space Institute. As a part of the HORIZON group, I assisted in high-speed wind tunnel testing, laser diagnostic development, and aerothermodynamic research. My summer at UTSI was a great introduction into research, and it solidified my interest in the aerospace industry. In the summer of 2023, I traveled to Huntsville, Alabama to intern with Aerojet Rocketdyne at the company's Defense Headquarters. As a systems engineering intern, I learned a more holistic approach to the design and integration of complex missile defense systems. This position gave me an appreciation for all engineering disciplines and their importance in a product's life cycle.
I would recommend an internship or co-op to any engineering student pursuing professional experience before they graduate. I am excited to help students through the process of finding positions and developing their network. Outside of academics, I enjoy hiking, reading, and playing soccer. I love to balance the challenges of my classwork with exploring new places and activities around Knoxville.
