Agathiya Tharun: First-Time Engineering Undergraduate Researcher
Channel: Purdue Engineering
Date: 2021-06-04

Agathiya Tharun is one of 17 first-time undergraduate researchers who participated in undergraduate research at Purdue University during the 2020-2021 academic year. He developed a component for a modular end-effector system that would be compatible with robots designed to autonomously repair and maintain extraterrestrial habitats. Tharun is part of a research team led by David Cappelleri, an associate professor in mechanical engineering, that is working on one of several projects at Purdue associated with the Resilient Extraterrestrial Habitats Institute (RETHi) https://www.purdue.edu/rethi/  
  
Tharun received support for his work from an Indiana Space Grant Consortium grant, given to the Engineering Undergraduate Research Office (EURO), in support first-time undergraduate researchers with a mission of building a diverse workforce in Engineering.  EURO had a callout for PIs with research aligned with NASA technical directorates such as Aeronautics Research, Human Exploration Operations, Science, Space Technology.

Selected first-time researchers received a $1000 stipend award to engage in research (3 credit hour worth of time commitment) labs in the 2021 Spring semester. All first-time researcher awardees presented their work at the Purdue Office of Undergraduate Research's spring symposium.

EURO will continue to offer first-time researchers financial awards through various grants. Students should keep an eye on these opportunities at the beginning of the Fall semester. Opportunities will be posted on their website.  http://bit.ly/UG-Research

Machining support for this project was provided by the Bechtel Innovation Design Center at Purdue University and leveraging its Educational Digital Twin CNC platform. http://bit.ly/bidc-digital-twin

Video Editor: Cooper Tavss 
Producer/Videographer:  Erin Easterling

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Known as the “Cradle of Astronauts,” Purdue University's College of Engineering’s long list of pioneers includes Neil Armstrong and Amelia Earhart. Purdue Engineering is among the largest in the United States and includes 13 academic programs and ranked Top 10 nationwide by U.S. News and World Report.

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