Lab Director
Anil V. Rao, Ph.D.
Anil V. Rao earned his BS in mechanical engineering and AB in mathematics with distinction from Cornell University, his MSE in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, and his MA and PhD from Princeton University. After earning his PhD, he joined the The Aerospace Corporation in Los Angeles, California. Subsequently, he was a Senior Member of the Technical Staff at The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Concurrent with his employment at Draper, from 2001 to 2006 he was an adjunct faculty in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at Boston University where he taught the core undergraduate dynamics course. Since 2006 he has been a member of the faculty in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida where he is currently a Full Professor, a University Term Professor, rich Farber Faculty Fellow, and the Director of the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory. His research interests include computational methods for optimal control and trajectory optimization, nonlinear optimization, space flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, guidance, and navigation. In addition, he has co-authored the well-received textbook Dynamics of Particles and Rigid Bodies: A Systematic Approach (Cambridge University Press, 2006). He is active in many professional societies as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets and the Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, and a member of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. He is the principal developer of the open-source optimal control software GPOPS and is the co-developer of the industrial-strength optimal control software GPOPS-II. He has won numerous teaching and research awards in his career including the Department Teacher of the Year awards at Boston University (2002 and 2006) and the University of Florida (2008), the College of Engineering Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award at Boston University (2004), the Book of the Year Award at Draper Laboratory (2006), and the Pramod P. Khargonekar Junior Faculty Award (2012) at the University of Florida. He is also a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society and is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
CURRENT PhD STUDENTS
Gabriela Abadia
Gabriela Abadia was born and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida in May 2020. Gabriela joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in January 2021 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Her research interests include numerical and computational methods for solving optimal control problems with nonsmooth solutions.
Emily Palmer
Emily Palmer was born and raised in Saint Cloud, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude in Mechanical and Aerospace engineering from the University of Florida in Spring 2021. Emily joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in Summer 2021 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Aerospace Engineering. Her research interests include numerical methods for optimal control of aerospace vehicles.
Alexander Davies
Alexander Davies was raised in Cumming, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in May 2022. Alex joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in Spring 2023 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. His research interests include numerical methods, computational mathematics, and optimal control.
Katrina Winkler
Katrina Winkler was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and grew up in Sarasota, FL. She earned a Bachelor of Science Summa Cum Laude in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida in Fall 2022. Katrina joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in Spring 2023 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Aerospace Engineering. Her research interests include trajectory optimization of hypersonic vehicles.
George Haman III
George Haman was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in December 2020. George will be joining the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory and pursuing a PhD in Aerospace Engineering starting Fall 2021. His research interests include orbital mechanics, numerical and computational methods, and optimal control.
Cale Byczkowski
Cale Byczkowski is from Buffalo, New York where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University at Buffalo in May 2020. Cale joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in August 2021 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Aerospace Engineering. His research interests include developing numerical and computational methods for optimal guidance and control of aerospace vehicles.
FORMER PhD STUDENTS
Brittanny Holden
Brittanny Holden was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida in December 2018. Brittanny joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in January 2019 and is currently pursuing a PhD in Aerospace Engineering. Her research is focused on low thrust interplanetary orbital trajectory optimization.
Elisha Pager
Elisha Pager was born and raised in Brooksville, Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida in Spring 2018. Elisha joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in August 2018 and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering in August 2022. Her research interests include numerical and computational methods for optimal control along with singular optimal control.
Alex Miller
Alex Miller was born and raised in Titusville, Florida. He earned his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida in Fall 2015. Alex joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in January 2015 and earned his PhD in Aerospace Engineering in August 2021. His research interests include guidance, navigation, and control of aerospace vehicles as well as numerical methods for optimal control. Alex is currently a Member of the Professional Staff at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
Rachel Keil
Rachel Keil is from Buffalo, New York. She earned her bachelor's degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University at Buffalo in Spring 2016. Rachel joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in Fall 2016 and and earned her PhD in Aerospace Engineering in August 2020. Her research interests include optimal control, stochastic processes, and the numerical solution of probabilistically constrained optimal control problems. Rachel is currently a Member of the Professional Staff at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
Miriam Dennis
Miriam (Mitzi) Dennis was born and raised in Niceville, Florida. She earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in electrical engineering from the University of Florida in December 2015. She then worked in the Fuzes branch at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base as a contractor. She joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory at the University of Florida in August 2016 and and earned her PhD in Mechanical Engineering in August 2020. Her research interests include numerical methods for optimal control and guidance and control of vehicles. Miriam is currently a Guidance and Control Engineer at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base.
Yunus Agamawi
Yunus Agamawi was born in Pittsburgh, PA. At a young age, he moved to Minnesota where he spent most of his life growing up. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in Spring 2015. He joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory in August 2015 and earned his PhD in aerospace engineering in August 2019. Yunus is currently a Member of the Professional Staff at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
Kathryn Graham
Kathryn Graham received her B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida in May 2008 and December 2010, respectively. Shortly thereafter, she joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory working towards a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. Her research focus is in low-thrust trajectory optimization. She is the recipient of the John V. Breakwell Award for travel to the 2013 American Astronautical Society Astrodynamics Specialist Conference for her paper, "Minimum-Time Low-Earth Orbit to High-Earth Orbit Low-Thrust Trajectory Optimization". Kathryn earned her PhD in December 2015.
Fengjin Liu
Fengjin Liu earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in July 2011. She earned her PhD in the Fall of 2015 where her research focused on computational methods for optimal control. Fengjin earned her PhD in December 2015.
Begüm Cannataro
Begüm Cannataro earned her B.S. in physics engineering from the Istanbul Technical University at 2009, and her M.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida at 2011. She earned her PhD in the Summer of 2015. Her research focused on computational methods for optimal control and sparse linear solvers. Begum earned her PhD in August 2015.
Matthew Weinstein
Matthew J. Weinstein earned his BS in mechanical engineering with a minor in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010. He joined the Vehicle Dynamics and Optimization Laboratory at the University of Florida in 2011, where he received a Graduate School Fellowship Award. He completed his PhD in Spring 2015 where his dissertation focused on the development of novel methods for algorithmic differentiation and its applications in numerical methods and optimal control. Matthew earned his PhD in May 2015.
Camila Françolin
Camila Françolin was born in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. She earned her B.S. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of Florida in December 2007, her Master of Science in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida in May 2010, and her PhD in aerospace engineering In August 2013. In November she will be joining the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory as a Senior Member of the Technical Staff. Her research interests include numerical solutions to differential equations, optimal control theory, and computational methods for optimal control. Camila earned her PhD in August 2013.
Michael Patterson
Michael Patterson was born in Westminster, Maryland and grew up in the Florida Keys. He graduated Coral Shores High School in Tavernier, Florida. He earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Florida International University. He then earned his M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. After earning his Ph.D., he spent a year as a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Florida. In September 2014 he will be joining the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory as a Senior Member of the Professional Staff. His research interests are in the areas of trajectory optimization, guidance and control of aerospace vehicles, and numerical methods for optimal control. Michael earned his PhD in May 2013.
Divya Garg
Divya Garg was born in 1984 in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. She earned her Bachelor of Technology in mechanical engineering in May 2007 from Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, India. In December 2008 she earned her Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. In August 2011 she earned PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. Since earning her PhD, she has been a process technology development engineer at Intel Corporation in Beaverton, Oregon. Divya earned her PhD in August 2011.
Christopher Darby
Christopher Darby was born in 1983 in Gainesville, Florida. He attended the University of Florida for his bachelors, masters, and PhD, earning his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2011. He then moved to Oregon to work for Intel as a Portland Technology Development Module and Integration Yield Engineer. He is currently a lithography engineer designing the next generation manufacturing processes for Intel's far back end semiconducting processes, doing his part to ensure Intel adhere's to the aggressive two-year development cycle as outlined by Moore's Law (the number of transistors per chip should double every 2 years). In Chris's spare time, he enjoys playing in Intel's Rec Basketball League, playing tennis, snowboarding, and generally staying active. Chris earned his PhD in May 2011.
Geoffrey Huntington earned a B.S. in aerospace engineering from UCLA in 2001, an SM in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT in 2003, and a PhD in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT in 2007. After earning his PhD, he was a member of the technical staff at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. Since 2008 he has been a guidance, navigation, and control engineer at Blue Origin, LLC in Kent, WA. Geoffrey earned his PhD in May 2007.