Adrianna Waterford

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT ADRIANNA WATERFORD

I’m passionate about solving interdisciplinary challenges in hypersonics, where materials, fluid dynamics, and thermal effects intersect in some of the most demanding environments in aerospace. I am a junior in Materials Engineering at Purdue University, taking a multidisciplinary approach to my undergraduate education. While my academic foundation is in materials science, my research focuses on aerodynamics and fluid mechanics, with the intent to pursue graduate studies in Mechanical Engineering specializing in aerodynamics. This approach enables me to address complex, interdisciplinary challenges in hypersonics, where materials, fluid dynamics, and thermal effects converge in extreme environments.I conduct undergraduate research in the Mechanical Engineering department’s Compressible Flow and Acoustics Laboratory, focusing on experimental aerodynamics and hypersonic wind tunnel testing. In parallel, I work as a researcher at Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA), a contractor for NASA, supporting research at NASA Langley Research Center in hypersonic flow applications. I also serve as a Co-Principal Investigator at HySonic Technologies, where I conduct hypersonics research in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).Alongside my academic work, I pursue ultramarathon running, having completed three 50K races. Distance running has become a parallel pursuit to my research, reinforcing the same persistence, discipline, and long-term focus that drive my work in hypersonics. This passion for operating in demanding environments also shapes my involvement in astronaut training, where I focus on biometrics, human factors, neuroscience, and hydroponics in analog missions.In 2024, I conducted astronaut training at the Analog Astronaut Training Center in Krakow, Poland, where my research focused on boron nitride nanotubes and their potential integration into astronaut suits to mitigate radiation exposure. This December, I will continue my training at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), where I am developing a modular, 3D-printed hydroponic tower with integrated sensors and a lightweight AI control system to optimize water and energy use. The system will be transported to MDRS and tested on-site during a two-week simulated astronaut rotation. This project bridges materials science, autonomous systems, and sustainable food production for long-duration missions.Through this training, I explore how humans adapt and perform in extreme conditions—an extension of the same curiosity that drives my work in high-speed flight.