Our Officers 2020-2021
Ryan Udell, President
Mechanical Engineering ’21
Our President, Ryan Udell, is a senior from McMurtry College pursuing mechanical engineering and a certificate in the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership. He hails from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and he enjoys reading business books and watching rocketry videos in his spare time. As President, Ryan works tirelessly to empower others to reach their full potential by connecting them with numerous space opportunities on campus and abroad. Ryan aspires to reignite Rice University’s aerospace capabilities by increasing connections with the space industry.
Feni Pandya, Vice President
Space Studies Masters
Feni Pandya is a Professional Science Master’s student in Space Studies. She graduated with a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from Amity University Dubai. She was the President of an aerospace engineering club in her undergrad, Aero-club Amity Dubai. She led the team and organized events, including events for school kids, to enhance the students’ knowledge about aerospace concepts. She aims to become an astronaut and is interested in designing vehicles for faster space travel which will change the dynamics of exploring the universe.
Jack Sheehan, Outreach Chair
Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science ’22
Originally from Columbia, Illinois, Jack Sheehan is a junior from Duncan College pursuing a BS in Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science and a BA in German Studies. His primary interests include planetary geoscience and atmospheric carbon cycling. He spends his free time playing and watching soccer, doing research, or reading historical nonfiction. Jack is excited by the unlimited potential of space, particularly the growth of the private sector. Eventually, he intends to work as a planetary geologist for a private space company, working to contribute to humanity’s interplanetary travel. Through SEDS, he hopes to build Rice’s space network, helping connect other Rice students to opportunities in the space industry.
Max Bowman, Secretary
Computational Physics, Materials Science and NanoEngineering ’23
SEDS secretary Max Bowman is a sophomore from Martel College interested in physics and materials science applications in the space industry. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Max’s passion for space began early with trips to the Adler Planetarium. Max fills his time with a combination of schoolwork, reading, fencing, and lab research. He is excited to help promote the SEDS mission of expanding the exploration of space disciplines on campus.
Juan De La Garza, Projects Chair
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering ’22
Our Projects Chair, Juan De La Garza is a junior from McMurtry College pursuing Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with a certificate in the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership. He is from Corpus Christi, Texas and his passion for aerospace lies in the innovation of propulsion systems. Juan works towards furthering Rice’s involvement and prodigious legacy in the space industry through SEDS-Rice. He aspires to play an integral role in advancing space exploration technology in order to learn more about humankind’s place among the stars.
Brandon Khek, Treasurer/Business Development Chair
Physics ’23
Brandon is a sophomore from McMurtry College pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Physics. From Fairfax, Virginia, Brandon has always been interested in space and joined SEDS Rice in order to test his gravitation toward the field further. In his free time, Brandon likes to play tennis and chess, and is currently involved in other organizations around Rice such as BASYK Dance or McMurtry student government. As treasurer and business development chair, he hopes to facilitate easy transactions within the club and market SEDS Rice as a community that any student can be a part of.
Justin Lee, Events Chair
Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science ’24
Justin Lee is a freshman at Lovett College interested in mechanical engineering and computer science. He has always found space to be such a beautiful and profound place—he aspires to be part of the effort to bring space and our world closer by making space flight cheaper and more accessible. In his free time, he enjoys playing ping-pong in the commons, playing tennis, and reading short stories and webcomics online. He is excited for the opportunity to put on fun and exciting events for SEDS Rice!
Our Team Leads 2020-2021
OwlSat CubeSat
Douglas Steinbach, Co-Lead/Mechanical Lead
Materials Science and NanoEngineering PhD
Doug Steinbach is pursuing a PhD in materials science and nanoengineering. He obtained his B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. He is the co-project lead and mechanical lead of the Owls’ cube satellite. In these roles, he is both overseeing the completion of the project and designing the structure of the satellite. When he isn’t in the research lab or working on the Owlsat you’ll find him exercising, spending time with friends, or calling his girlfriend. He intends to work in the private space industry after completing his PhD and before returning to academia to teach.
Eric Yang, Co-Lead
Computer Science ’23
Eric Yang is a sophomore from Sid Richardson College pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science. As co-lead of the OwlSat CubeSat project, he helps manage the overall progress of the satellite’s development. He also enjoys working on the electrical development of the OwlSat. Raised in Cupertino, California, in the Silicon Valley, Eric was introduced to engineering and technology at a young age from everyone around him. In his spare time, he enjoys speedcubing or doing astrophotography. He aspires to enter the aerospace industry after graduation, hoping to play a part in eventually making humans an interplanetary species.
Hoik Jang, Head Science Advisor
Space Studies/MBA
Hoik Jang is on coordinated degree on Space Studies and MBA as graduate student. He majored in Mechanical Engineering in Chung-Ang University in South Korea and he was a developer for a new user interface for CAD which used wireless physical blocks to build CAD models which allows easy access to designers. He also served U.S. Army in Korea(KATUSA) as an interpreter and analyst. He has watched the ‘Apollo 13’ dozens of times that lead him into space industry. He would like to lower the entry barrier to space industry for many people around the world developing a platform for them.
Human Exploration Rover
Emily Ellison, Project Lead
Mechanical Engineering ’23
Emily is a rising sophomore from Sid Richardson majoring in Mechanical engineering. Born and raised in Houston, Emily has always been fascinated with space. She also loves to design and build anything. Whether a project involves welding, kitting, wood working, painting, or CAD designing she enjoys picking up new skills and creating new things. She’s excited by the unlimited potential for learning and innovation in the space industry. Emily hopes to one day make a contribution to the future of space exploration. In her free time Emily can be found tinkering away on a random side project or in the OEDK designing and building puzzles for the Rice Escape Club’s escape rooms. As the lead for the Human Exploration Rover Challenge, she’s excited for the opportunity to tackle a fun design challenge and to compete in the upcoming competition with teams from other universities.
Chima Adiole, Past Outreach Chair from May 2020 to September 2020
Mechanical Engineering ’23
Chima Adiole is a sophomore from Baker College majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Her primary interests are in aerospace, sustainability, and renewable energy production. Alongside her officer position at SEDS, she is part of the mechanical team working on the OwlSat CubeSat this year. During her free time, Chima loves to listen to classical music and study world history. She looks forward to being a part of the many future developments in the space industry and encourages anyone with the slightest bit of interest in any of the club’s exciting projects to reach out and come on board!
Our Team 2019-2020
Ryan Udell, President
MechE ’21
Our President, Ryan Udell, is a junior from McMurtry College pursuing mechanical engineering and a certificate in the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership. He hails from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and he enjoys reading business books and watching rocketry videos in his spare time. As President, Ryan works tirelessly to empower others to reach their full potential by connecting them with numerous space opportunities on campus and abroad. Ryan aspires to reignite Rice University’s aerospace capabilities by increasing connections with the space industry.
Feni Pandya, Vice President/Outreach Chair
Space Studies Masters
Feni Pandya, the Outreach Chair, is a first-year Professional Science Master’s student in Space Studies. She graduated with a B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering from Amity University Dubai. She was the President of an aerospace engineering club in her undergrad, Aero-club Amity Dubai. She led the team and organized events, including events for school kids, to enhance the students’ knowledge about aerospace concepts. She aims to become an astronaut and is interested in designing vehicles for faster space travel which will change the dynamics of exploring the universe.
Paul Glenski, Projects Chair
ELEC ’22
A sophomore from Wiess College, Paul has always been interested in space and the limitless potential it has to reshape our collective human existence. One of the main reasons he decided to attend Rice University was to be closer to the Houston Space Complex. Unfortunately, when he arrived, he realized that Rice had fallen a bit behind the times when it came to the space industry. However, SEDS Rice is here to change that and he is proud to be a part of it.
Robert Bullard, Business Development Chair
Space Studies Masters
Our Business Development Chair, Robert Bullard, is pursuing his Professional Science Master’s in Space Studies. Prior to attending Rice, Robert graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in physics, along with minors in economics and mathematics. Funded through the NASA Flight Opportunities program within the Daniels Lab, Robert helped develop and fly the experimental apparatus for Project EMPANADA (Ejecta-Minimizing Protocols for Applications Needing Anchoring or Digging on Asteroids). The experiment probed photoelastic granular materials and regolith simulants in Martian, lunar, and microgravity environments on a series of parabolic flights. Robert chose Rice University’s Space Studies Master’s program for its interdisciplinary approach to space activities and looks forward to making an impact in the space industry.
Our Team 2018-2019
Ryan Udell, President
MechE ’21
Our President, Ryan Udell, is a sophomore from McMurtry College pursuing mechanical engineering and a certificate in the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership. He hails from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and he enjoys reading business books and watching rocketry videos in his spare time. As President, Ryan works tirelessly to empower others to reach their full potential by connecting them with numerous space opportunities on campus and abroad. Ryan aspires to reignite Rice University’s aerospace capabilities by increasing connections with the space industry.
Paul Glenski, Projects Chair
ELEC ’22
A sophomore from Wiess College, Paul has always been interested in space and the limitless potential it has to reshape our collective human existence. One of the main reasons he decided to attend Rice University was to be closer to the Houston Space Complex. Unfortunately, when he arrived, he realized that Rice had fallen a bit behind the times when it came to the space industry. However, SEDS Rice is here to change that and he is proud to be a part of it.