Audrey Brooks

PhD Student in Aerospace Engineering | Purdue University

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University 2026

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Concentration in Aerospace Engineering

Colorado State University - Fort Collins, CO

May 2026

Magna Cum Laude

Work Experience

Research Assistant, Colorado State University

May 2026 - August 2026

Investigates the effect of temperature-dependent thermodynamic properties on low-Reynolds-number aerodynamics under Martian conditions to advance fixed-wing planetary flight.
Develops high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) frameworks utilizing Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) and implicit Large Eddy Simulation (ILES) to accurately resolve complex flow physics, including laminar separation bubbles and spanwise transition behavior.
Evaluates subsonic compressible flow over NACA 0012 airfoils across a range of Mach numbers, adapting numerical solvers to implement both constant-property and variable-property CO2 models to characterize nonlinear lift and drag trends.

Graduate Research Assistant, Purdue University

May 2026 - Present

Investigates fluid-thermal-structural interactions (FTSI) in high-enthalpy hypersonic environments to understand their effects on compliant vehicle surfaces.
Utilizes the SU2-NEMO framework to simulate thermochemical nonequilibrium and assess how surface perturbations impact shock structures and aerodynamic heating.

Teaching Assistant, Colorado State University

Aug 2025 - December 2025 | Dr. Amir Nazerian, MECH417

Grades assignments, papers, and discussions for the upper-level "Control Systems" course.
Assists with grading for Process Modeling and Characterization, Controller design, tuning, and stability.
Helps evaluate system modeling and simulation, and control system configuration and design.

Undergraduate Researcher in the Computational AeroMechanics (CAM) Lab, Colorado State University

Aug 2024 - May 2026 | Advisor: Dr. Jacob Turner

Conducted CFD simulations to analyze compressible flow over a wing at low Reynolds and high Mach numbers.
Interpreted results using MATLAB and ParaView to visualize 2D flow patterns.
Currently extending CFD studies into 3D as part of senior research, with the goal of preparing results for conference submission.

Aerospace Summer Internship, ASA / CSBR

June 2024

Engaged with aerospace professionals on technical and ethical dimensions of the field.
Participated in collaborative discussions and networking events with industry leaders.

Graduate-Level Engineering Projects

Aeroelastic Wing Simulation

MECH 520 | Independent Finite Element Analysis

Coupled time-resolved CFD pressure fields for a 2D NACA0012 airfoil to an Abaqus shell model to study dynamic structural response under unsteady aerodynamic loading. Built the end-to-end MATLAB to Abaqus pipeline, created amplitude curves for time-varying pressure, and validated trends against literature.

Upper-Division Engineering Projects

Guac-A-Mole Arcade Machine

MECH 307 | Project Manager & Controls Lead

Led a team to design and build a custom arcade-style machine with interactive mechanical components, managing timelines, fabrication, and system integration.

Artemis Airborne (RC Car)

MECH 202 | Designer & Fabricator

Designed and built a remote-controlled car with a custom flip mechanism, achieving mechanical rotation using a student-designed launch system.

Foundational Engineering Projects (MECH200A)

Clock Project

Manual Machining & Cost Analysis

Gained foundational manufacturing experience by fabricating a multi-material clock (aluminum, brass, steel) using manual lathes and mills. Analyzed production costs and proposed an automated assembly line model to improve efficiency by over 97% for mass production.

Screwdriver Project

Forging, Lathing & Injection Molding

Developed skills in diverse manufacturing processes by creating two screwdrivers. Utilized injection molding for a Phillips head handle and employed forging, heat treating, and CNC lathing for a flathead screwdriver, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of material transformation.

Coaster Project

CNC Milling & HAAS Certification

Mastered CNC mill operation by programming and fabricating a custom aluminum coaster. The project was integrated with the official HAAS CNC certification exam, resulting in the successful acquisition of a valuable industry credential.