Rushil Kukreja, 16

Astrophysicist-Environmentalist-Poet

Researcher @ MIT, NASA, & NRL | Invited to Team USA @ IOAA

Addressed United Nations | Awarded Full ROTC Scholarship

I'm a Changemaker

Work Experience

Lockheed Martin

1 of 14 paid high school interns nationwide at Lockheed Martin Space Division. Enhancing production efficiency of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system's launcher by resolving materials compatibility issues. Developed technical change requests deployed into production.

Volunteering

Princia

Founded largest student-led 501(c)(3) tackling light pollution. 261 members in 6 continents. Working w/ 754 teachers in 327 schools. Educated 13,000+. Drafting laws w/ legislators in 8 states. Obtained proclamations from governors of Massachusetts and Illinois. Recognition from 2 US Senators. Shielded 1,000,000+ lumens of light. Secured $15,000 award. Received grant from Cornell University. Addressed United Nations.

See website
Haycock Rocketry Club

Launched rocketry program at my former elementary school, mentoring 61 fifth- and sixth-grade students to provide hands-on aerospace engineering experiences.
Civil Air Patrol (CAP)

Served as cadet in U.S. Air Force auxiliary. Awarded full four-year Air Force ROTC (Type 1) & Navy ROTC (Immediate Scholarship Reservation) scholarships to continue my service.
Congressional Student Advisory Council (CSAC)

Selected to serve on Rep. Don Beyer's advisory council providing student perspectives on legislative matters affecting young Americans.

Research Experience

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AeroAstro

Created agent-based satellite models under space weather. Modeled space greenhouse gas emissions. Built orbital capacity toolbox. Funded by $85K NSF Grant #2434136. Pending 1st author papers in Nature Sustainability, Earth's Future & JOSS with Profs. Richard Linares & Edward Oughton. Presented at 3 conferences. All-expenses-paid trip to Austin, TX.

NASA Wallops Flight Facility

Launched experiment to space aboard Sounding Rocket SR-11 to test photovoltaic cell resilience & durability. Researched on-site with NASA SMEs on lunar surface activity mapping.

Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)

Conducting radio & optical data analysis on-site with Dr. Jason Kooi on Faraday rotation, CMEs, and solar wind driving space weather. Also collaborating with Dr. Liz Jensen at Planetary Science Institute.

Non-Trivial Fellowship

Selected in the Top 100 among over 20,000 students to pursue selective research. Recognized with 3rd place in fellowship, 2nd place in AI Governance Grand Challenge, and earned a $2,500 scholarship.

University of Virginia (UVA)

Optimized laser-induced graphene composites production using physics-informed machine learning with Prof. Stephen Baek at the Visual Intelligence Laboratory. 1st author working paper.

University of Liverpool

Forecasted climate-based energy demand using Prophet, LSTM, TCN, & GRUs with Prof. Ron Mahabir. Pending 2nd author paper in Energies.

Invited for Conference Presentations:

MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference (URTC)
IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)
IEEE Electrical Power and Energy Conference (EPEC)
IEEE Sustainable Smart Lighting Conference (LS2025)
Springer Future Technologies Conference (FTC)
Springer International Conference on Sustainable Development of Water and Environment (ICSDWE)
Springer International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (ICEST)
AIAA Aerospace
AIAA Young Professionals, Students, and Educators (YPSE) Conference, Johns Hopkins University
ACM Multimedia
Quantum Information Processing (QIP) ($1,000 award to cover travel to Latvia)
Research Conference on Communications, Information and Internet Policy (TPRC) (also accepted to Graduate Student Workshop)
Operational Assurance for All Space Traffic Conference, University of Texas at Austin
Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

Projects

WiFind

Built patent-pending search-and-rescue aerial device harnessing Wi-Fi propagation to locate survivors. Awarded 1st place in Conrad Challenge and selected as Paradigm Challenge finalist. Presented 1st author paper at Springer FTC. Presented at Space Center Houston. Youngest invited to Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026. 2nd youngest person selected for Founders Inc accelerator. Raised $14,000.

See website
StarLaunch

Launched patent-pending iOS & Android app using PINNs to streamline model rocketry and guide launch day decisions, making rocketry more accessible and engaging for students.

See website
Lumishield

Developed smart window for solar energy harvesting during day & light pollution mitigation at night. Invited to present at 6 international research conferences. Awarded National JSHS Finalist, 3rd place in VSSEF, 1st place in RSEF, National Capital Astronomers winner, Paradigm Challenge finalist, and Top 30 in Blue Ocean Entrepreneurship Competition.

See paper
Project TITAN

Used machine learning to develop autonomous laser ablation system to remove space debris. Presented at 2 AIAA conferences, including at Johns Hopkins University (2nd Place Award). Won 1st place in Space Station Technology Challenge.

See presentation

Test Scores

ACT (Perfect Score)

SAT (Perfect Math at Age 13)

PSAT (Perfect Score)

AP Exams (including 10 5's)

AMC 12 (AIME with Distinction)

Honors & Awards

Academic

USA Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad (USAAAO) – Gold Medal; Training Camper; 1 of 5 students selected for Team USA at International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA); Invited all-expenses-paid to Mumbai, India
Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) Christine Stevens Wildlife Award – $15,000 for research protecting pollinators from light pollution
Non-Trivial Fellowship – 3rd Place Fellow of 20,000+ Applicants (top 0.015%); 2nd place in AI Governance Grand Challenge; $2,500 scholarship
Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) – National Finalist for oral presentation; 1st Place poster in Greater DC region; $1,000 & all-expenses-paid trip to nationals
American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) – Top 20 in National Finals of 3,000+ students; Qualified school for NASA SL in Huntsville, Alabama for 2 yrs
NASA Student Launch (SL) – 1st Place Design; 2nd Place Altitude; 3rd Place STEM Engagement; 3rd Place Social Media
International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition (IAAC) – Gold Honor (top 2% of 12,000+)
USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) – Qualifier (top 8% of 6,000+)
International Environmental Science Olympiad (IESO) – 2nd Place on qualifying exam; Invited to Puerto Rico
Space Station Technology Challenge – 1st Place
American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) – Qualifier with Distinction (top 5% of 90,000+ on AMC)
USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) – Gold (top 9% of 15,000+ nationally)
Virginia State Science & Engineering Fair (VSSEF) – 3rd Place
National Astronomy Competition (NAC) – Qualifier
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) – 2nd Place at YPSE conference at Johns Hopkins University
Fairfax County Regional Science & Engineering Fair (RSEF) – 1st Place; Selected to represent Fairfax County at VSSEF; 2nd place Dominion Energy Award; CIA Honorable Mention; Virginia Tech Environmental Engineering Award; IEEE Photonics & Optical Society of America Award; National Capital Astronomers Winner; Invited to present at University of Maryland Observatory
Quantum Information Processing (QIP) – $1,000 award to cover travel to Latvia
National Merit Semifinalist – Scored in top 1% on PSAT
AP Scholar with Distinction – Outstanding scores on AP exams

Leadership & Entrepreneurial

Pete Conrad Scholar – 1st place of 4,700+ projects (top 0.1%) worldwide in Conrad Challenge; Presented at Space Center Houston; All-expenses-paid trip to MIT; Awarded $792,000 in select college scholarships; Received full scholarship to TKS
United Nations – Addressed UN General Assembly in New York City on light pollution
Billy Michal Leadership Award – 1st place in Virginia; All-expenses-paid trip to American Spirit Awards gala at National WWI Museum in New Orleans
Emergent Ventures – $13,000 grant; All-expenses-paid trip to Unconference
University of Pennsylvania Wharton Management and Technology
Summer Institute (M&TSI) – Admitted as 1 of 75 from over 2,500 applicants (<3%); Won Most Innovative Idea; 4.0 GPA (Pitch Video)
Founders, Inc – 2nd youngest person selected for startup accelerator in San Francisco (3.8% acceptance rate)
2 Provisional Utility Patents – Neural Intelligence Application for Precision Rocket Launch Optimization (#63727018); Integrated Wireless Signal Triangulation and Pose Recognition System for Post-Disaster Human Detection (#63778367)
Blue Ocean Entrepreneur Competition – 2x Top 30 Finalist of 12,700+ students (top 0.25%) internationally
2x US Congressional Special Recognition – Honored by Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner
1517 Fund – $1,000 Medici Grant
Cornell University – 1/200 projects to receive grant funding through the National Contribution Project
President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) – Gold Award from US President
Congressional Award – Gold Medal from Senate & House Congressional leaders
Virginia Invitational Model UN Conference (VIMUNC) – Gavel/Best Delegate (1st Place); 3-time awardee
Karma for Cara (K4C) – $1,000 Grant
Paradigm Challenge – 2x Top 100 Finalist of 2,000+ students (top 5%) internationally
Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) – Full scholarship for Private Pilot ground school training
George H. W. Bush – Daily Point of Light Award
Civics Unplugged – Fellow
Griptape Challenge – $250 Grant
Hack Club – $150 Grant

Clubs, Skills, & Courses

Leadership Positions at TJ

Rocketry | President

Lead largest STEM club at TJ with record high of 76 students. Achieved 2nd place nationally. Competed in American Rocketry Challenge & NASA Student Launch with 300+ launches reaching 4,750 ft altitude. Presented rocket to NASA & Congressmen at Capitol Hill. Educated 2,100+ students. Received $8,500 in grants.

Caelus Rocketry | President

Lead 35 students in world's 1st HS team building liquid-fuel rocket to cross Karman line. Co-organized GMU Space Day with 2,000+ attendees. Supported by NASA, AIAA, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Spaceport America, Society of Women Engineers, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, and Howard Lerman. Invited to Embassy of Switzerland.

Computational Physics | President

Spearheaded field trip for 42 students to Micron Technology's semiconductor facility in Manassas, VA. Received $1,500 grant.

Quantum Computing | Co-President

Invited guest speakers and organized hands-on activities & lectures for 28 students.

Model UN | Director of Technology

Led tech operations for flagship TechMUN conference with 1,000+ student participants and 159 staff. Designed and developed official website. Gaveled (1st Place) in national conferences.

Animal Rights Club | Co-President

Led advocacy campaigns and raised awareness on animal welfare.

HackTJ | Organizing Team

Run largest student-run overnight HS hackathon, with 500+ students. Sponsored by Jane Street, Appian, Otis, & Cvent with $25K annual budget. Obtained $2,500 sponsorship from Vercel.

BigSibs | Family Captain

Led upperclassmen mentors to support freshmen, both academically and socially.

National Honor Society

Courses

Post-AP/Dual Enrollment Courses

Research Practicum AV

Quantum Mechanics & Electrodynamics AV

Multivariable Calculus DE

Linear Algebra DE

Concrete Mathematics AV

Advanced Math Techniques AV

Computer Vision 1 & 2 AV

Research Statistics 2 & 3 AV

Mobile App Development AV

Web Development AV

AP Courses

AP Physics C: Mechanics

AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism

AP Environmental Science

AP Calculus BC

AP Statistics

AP Computer Science A

AP US History

AP Macroeconomics

AP Microeconomics

AP English Literature

AP US Government & Politics

AP Psychology

Self-Study AP Exams

AP Biology

AP Comparative Government & Politics

AP Chemistry

Technical Skills

Programming & Markup Languages

Python, C++, Java, C, R, JavaScript, SQL, Swift, Solidity, HTML, CSS, LaTeX

Analysis Packages & Environments

TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, Scikit-learn, OpenCV, Pandas, NumPy, caret, dplyr, ggplot2, Jupyter Notebook, Firebase, Anaconda, RStudio

Engineering & Design Software

MATLAB, Ansys Fluent, Autodesk CFD, SolidWorks, CREO, Fusion 360, Mathematica, KiCad, RockSim

Published Poetry and Writing

The Sky We Forgot: A Birthday Book of Poems for Earth

The Sky We Forgot is a collection of 22 poems written for Earth Day (April 22), which also marks my birthday, exploring the fading boundary between night and light in a world increasingly flooded by artificial glow.