Dr. Durgesh Chandel is a Software Research Scientist in the Resolution Enhancement Technologies (RET) team at Intel Corporation, and a former a Postdoctoral Associate in the Gas Turbine Laboratory (GTL) at MIT.  Her postdoctoral research focused on the integrated aero-propulsive system design for NASA’s sustainable civil aircraft concept under the CHEETA (Center for Highly-Efficient Electrical Technologies for Aircraft) program.  Durgesh obtained her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics from the University of Minnesota. Her doctoral research focused on hypersonic nonequilibrium flows with application to spacecraft atmospheric entry missions.

She was also a summer intern at NASA Ames Research Center,  where she supported simulations and characterization of NASA’s Electric-Arc Shock tube (EAST) facility. Durgesh holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s dual degree in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, and is a recent graduate from the MIT LEAPS (LEAdership and Professional Strategies & Skills Training) program and Kaufman Teaching Certificate Program.  Durgesh is passionate about teaching, mentoring, and technical service. She is a member of the AIAA Thermophysics Technical Committee and AIAA Diversity working group, and the founder of  WeLEAP Aerospace -Global, an online STEM mentorship platform.