Penn Aerospace Club

Penn Jet Propulsion

PJP is PAC’s propulsion division. Our team explores, studies, and builds many different types of propulsion devices. 

Through our collaborative team structure, our 25+ current members get hands-on experience in the engineering design process, CAD, CNC Machining, CFD Software, and make a visible impact on the team, even in their first semester. Additionally, they can take full advantage of our partnership with the U.S. Air Force and our mentors at top aerospace companies to further their interests and career aspirations! Our division is split into three sub-teams: Engine Control Unit (ECU), Engine, and Research & Development (R&D)

Engine Control Unit

Team Lead 2024-2025: Evan Canis

Engine

Team Lead 2024-2025: Josh Dalal

Research and Development

Team Lead 2024-2025: Devan Malik

Our Team

Dhaval Tantry

Dhaval Tantry

Director

Dhaval is a junior studying mechanical engineering and pursuing a masters degree in robotics. He leads PJP as director and works on CAD design and manufacturing for the Engine subteam.  He is interested in aerospace and spacecraft. In his free time he plays basketball, football, and goes to the gym.

Devan Malik

R&D Team Lead

Devan is a Sophomore from Manhattan Beach, California, and leads the R&D sub team. Outside from aerospace, his interests include photography, traveling, music, and fitness.

Xiang Chen

Xiang Chen

ECU Sub-Team Member

Xiang is a senior in Computer Science from Brooklyn, NY. He enjoys typing, and playing chess in his free time. He is a very data driven person and very passionate about getting things to run, especially jet engines.
Lance Hartman

Lance Hartman

ECU Sub-Team Member

Lance is a junior studying CIS in SEAS from Ambler, Pennsylvania. He works with the ECU team and deals with both embedded- and web-based software. When he is not coding, he enjoys playing soccer, listening to music, and watching Philly sports.
Rafael Nieto

Rafael Nieto

Engine Sub-Team Member

Rafael is a sophomore from NY studying biophysics and biochemistry and pursuing a masters in bioengineering. He is interested in medicine and aerospace and is currently on the engine team. In his free time he likes to play soccer, do Latin dance, and draw.

Bogdan Netudykhata

Bogdan Netudykhata

ECU Sub-Team Member

Bogdan is a junior studying mechanical engineering from Kyiv, Ukraine. He is interested in aerospace and astronautical engineering and is currently on the ECU team. Outside of PJP he enjoys video editing, playing guitar and stargazing with a telescope.

Angelina Yang

Angelina Yang

ECU Sub-Team Member

Sam Hoffman

Sam Hoffman

Advisory Board Member

Sam Hoffman is a junior in Mechanical Engineering from New Hope, Pennsylvania. Outside of aerospace and robotics, he enjoys cooking and experimenting with different recipes, as well as skiing and traveling.

Evan Canis

Evan Canis

ECU Team Lead

Evan is a junior studying Electrical Engineering from St. Louis, Missouri. This summer, he will be interning at GE Vernova as a Power Conversion engineer. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, practicing photography, and listening to tech/business podcasts.
Julia Payne

Julia Payne

Operations Lead

Julia is a junior from New Canaan, CT, studying Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in energy, thermal, and fluids systems. Outside of PJP and aerospace, her interests include exploring center city, going on runs, doing Pilates, and spending time with friends.
Jomal Mathew

Jomal Mathew

ECU Sub-Team Member

Jomal is a senior from Philadelphia, PA studying Electrical Engineering with a minor in Physics. Outside of PJP, he enjoys cooking, watching Formula 1 (Forza Ferrari!!), and playing volleyball.

Anya Mittal

Anya Mittal

R&D Sub-Team Member

Anya is a junior studying Bioengineering with an accelerated masters in Robotics. She is interested in hardware and medtech. Originally from Boston, she enjoys figure skating, piano, and adventure.

Sid Mody

Sid Mody

ECU Sub-Team Member

Sid is a junior studying mechanical engineering from Charlotte, NC. Outside of PJP, he enjoys watching sports, listening to new music, and traveling.

Aaditya Karnataki

Aaditya Karnataki

Engine Sub-Team Member

Aaditya is a sophomore from Cupertino, CA studying Chemical Engineering. Outside of PJP, he enjoys working out, music, and crossword puzzles.

Diego Salamanca

Diego Salamanca

Engine Sub-Team Member

Diego is a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering and Physics from Ellicott City, Maryland. He is interested in drone technology and electric jet propulsion. Outside of PJP, Diego enjoys playing baseball on the club team, watching sports, and traveling.

Ethan Sundel

Ethan Sundel

Advisory Board Member

Ethan is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in mathematics from Bethesda Maryland. He is a member of PJP’s engine development team. In his free time, Ethan enjoys swimming and running.

Josh Dalal

Josh Dalal

Engine Team Lead

Josh is a junior studying mechanical engineering from Westchester NY, and is interested in aerospace engineering. He is currently on the engine team for PJP. Outside of PJP, he enjoys watching sports, food, and travel.

Bhavya Surapaneni

Bhavya Surapaneni

Engine Sub-Team Member

Bhavya is a junior from Castle Pines, Colorado, studying systems engineering and planning to pursue a masters degree in electrical engineering. She works on CAD design, research, and project development for the Engine subteam of PJP. Bhavya is interested in sustainable applications within aerospace and engineering for social welfare. Outside of engineering, Bhavya is interested in music (listening and playing), reading, running, and chilling outdoors with friends!

Suhani Gupta

Suhani Gupta

R&D Sub-Team Member

Suhani is a sophomore from Princeton Junction, NJ, studying mechanical engineering. Outside of PJP, she likes to read, listen to music, and bike.

Siddhant Vashisht

Siddhant Vashisht

Engine Sub-Team Member

Siddhant is a junior from Edison, NJ studying mechanical engineering and pursuing an accelerated master’s in robotics. He focuses on CAD and mechanical design work for the engine sub-team and enjoys playing guitar and reading in his free time.

Aadit Shah

ECU Sub-Team Member

Aadit is a sophomore from Mumbai, India studying Computer Science. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and cricket, watching sports, and playing poker.

Jason Simon

Jason Simon

Engine Sub-Team Member

Michael Aizenberg

Michael Aizenberg

ECU Sub-Team Member

Jason De Gentile

Jason De Gentile

Advisory Board Member

Our Alumni

David Nemeth

Former Director

David is an alumni who studied mechanical engineering and economics. He was a member of the APOP subteam.

Henry Seiden

Henry is an alumni who studied mechanical engineering from Chicago, and leads PJP’s Engine Development Team. His team was the first undergraduates to design and manufacture an axial turbojet. In his free time, Henry enjoys cooking and swimming.

Jordan Yang

Jordan is an alumni who studied mechanical engineering. He worked on the Engine subteam, focusing on design and manufacturing.

Caleb Rudick

Caleb Rudick is an alumni that studied mechanical engineering with a minor in energy systems and sustainability. His focus is on engine design and thermal performance. 

Jillian Pote

Jillian is an  alumni that studied  mechancial engineering, from Easton, PA. She enjoys machining and planning team bonding events. In her free time, she likes to lift, pet dogs, and try different foods in Philly.

Vraj Satashia

Vraj is an alumni who studied in mechanical engineering. In his free time, Vraj likes to cook and watch movies.

Sarah Fahmi

Former Director

Sarah is an alumni who studied mechanical engineering from Plymouth Meeting, PA. She loves aerospace and PJP, but in her free time enjoys reading, baking, and knitting.

John Fera

John is an alumni who studied mechanical engineering. He worked on the Engine subteam focusing on manufacturing .

Yien Kung

Yien is an alumni who studied Systems Science and Engineering. Yien is originally from Hong Kong, and enjoys playing tennis, hiking, watching sports and reading in his free time. 

Maxim Mounier

Maxim is an alumni from White Plains, NY that studied mechanical engineering and computer science. He was a member of the FADEC subteam and worked on engine controls and code development. Maxim is an enthusiastic angler who catches catfish at the Schuylkill river and also participates in intramural soccer.

Tyler Jenkins-Wong

Tyler is an alumni from Phoenixville, PA studying international relations and data analytics. He handled all finances, recruitment, events, and logistics for the group. Tyler played for Penn Jazz and the Penn Symphony Orchestra and did baseball reports for Penn Sports Analytics Group.

Michael Klein Wassink

Founder

Michael founded Penn Jet Propulsion after working on a jet engine project in high school. He led the teams manufacturing efforts and was the Director of the club. Outside of PJP, he dances tango and hangs around the precision machining laboratory. Michael is an Investment Banking analyst in Goldman Sach’s San Francisco Office.

Haley Morgenstern

Haley is an alumni who studied mechanical engineering from Lower Merion, PA. Haley spends most of her free time at the gym, eating pasta, or watching horror movies.

Jun Yun

Jun is an alumni from San Francisco who studied  in mechanical engineering. He was a member of the APOP and Engine subteams.

Jake Donnini

Jake is an alumni from New Jersey who studied electrical engineering with an accelerated masters in robotics. He worked on the power electronics for the APOP subteam. In his free time, Jake runs a start up called Nobo Robotics.

Thomas Swingley

Thomas is an alumni from Philly who studied in Mechanical Engineering. He was a member of the engine sub-team focusing on manufacturing. Outside of PJP, he enjoys working out, backpacking, and snowboarding.