About
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 Aerospace Propulsion Outreach Program (APOP).
Engine Control Unit
Team Lead 2024-2025: Evan Canis
Engine
Team Lead 2024-2025: Henry Seiden
Aerospace Propulsion Outreach Program
Team Leads 2024-2025: Jason de Gentile & Sam Hoffman
MEMBER PROFILES
Dhaval Tantry
Director and Engine Sub-Team Member
Dhaval is a sophomore studying mechanical engineering and pursuing a masters degree in robotics. He 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.
Evan Canis
ECU Team Lead
Xiang Chen
ECU Sub-Team Member
Lance Hartman
ECU Sub-Team Member
Rafael Nieto
Engine Sub-Team Member
Rafael is a freshman 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
ECU Sub-Team Member
Bogdan is a sophomore 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
ECU Sub-Team Member
Sarah Fahmi
Senior Advisory Board Member
Sarah is a senior studying mechanical engineering from Plymouth Meeting, PA. She loves aerospace and PJP, but in her free time enjoys reading, baking, and knitting.
John Fera
Senior Advisory Board Member
John is a senior studying mechanical engineering. He worked on the Engine subteam focusing on manufacturing .
Sam Hoffman
APOP Team Lead
Sam Hoffman is a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering from New Hope, Pennsylvania, currently co-leading the APOP competition team. Outside of aerospace and robotics, he enjoys cooking and experimenting with different recipes, as well as skiing and traveling.
Jason De Gentile
APOP Team Lead
Jomal Mathew
Engine Sub-Team Member
Jomal is a junior 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
APOP Sub-Team Member
Anya is a sophomore 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
ECU Sub-Team Member
Sid is a sophomore studying mechanical engineering from Charlotte, NC. Outside of PJP, he enjoys watching sports, listening to new music, and traveling.
Aaditya Karnataki
Engine Sub-Team Member
Aaditya is a freshman from Cupertino, CA studying Chemical Engineering. Outside of PJP, he enjoys working out, music, and crossword puzzles.
Diego Salamanca
Engine Sub-Team Member
Diego is a freshman 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.
Michael Aizenberg
ECU Sub-Team Member
Yien Kung
Senior Advisory Board Member
Yien is a senior studying Systems Science and Engineering. Yien is originally from Hong Kong, and enjoys playing tennis, hiking, watching sports and reading in his free time.
Jordan Yang
Senior Advisory Board Member
Jordan is a senior in mechanical engineering. He worked on the Engine subteam, focusing on design and manufacturing.
Josh Dalal
Engine Team Lead
Josh is a sophomore 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.
Henry Seiden
Engine Team Lead
Henry is a senior in mechanical engineering from Chicago, and leads PJP’s Engine Development Team. His team is currently attempting to be the first undergraduates to design and manufacture an axial turbojet. In his free time, Henry enjoys cooking and swimming.
Bhavya Surapaneni
Engine Sub-Team Member
Bhavya is a sophomore 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
APOP Sub-Team Member
Suhani is a freshman from Princeton Junction, NJ, studying mechanical engineering. Outside of PJP, she likes to read, listen to music, and bike.
Siddhant Vashisht
Engine Sub-Team Member
Siddhant is a sophomore 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 freshman from Mumbai, India studying Computer Science. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and cricket, watching sports, and playing poker.
Ethan Sundel
Engine Sub-Team 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.
Jason Simon
Engine Sub-Team Member
Jake Donnini
Senior Advisory Board Member
Jake is a senior from New Jersey studying electrical engineering with an accelerated masters in robotics. He works on the power electronics for the APOP subteam. In his free time, Jake runs a start up called Nobo Robotics.
ALUMNI PROFILES
David Nemeth
Former Director
David is an alumni who studied mechanical engineering and economics. He was a member of the APOP subteam.
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.
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.
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.
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 in 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.
