• Patti Grace Smith Fellow, Class of 2025

• Columbia University, Mechanical Engineering, ‘25

• Host Institution: Gravitics

Claudio Solano is a senior from Puerto Rico studying Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University. He works as a machinist superuser in the Mechanical Engineering teaching lab, where he helps students with machining projects and keeps the shop running smoothly after hours. He is also an active member of the Columbia Space Initiative (CSI), contributing to both the Rockets and High-Altitude Balloons teams. He developed his passion for aerospace through photography and filmmaking and is now the principal photographer for CSI, while also shooting student films and freelance photography. Next year, he will continue at Columbia for a master’s in Mechanical Engineering.