David Di-Benedetto
Patti Grace Smith Fellow, Class of 2022
University of Texas at Austin , Mechanical Engineering , ‘24
Host Institution: Hermeus
Inspired by his love of physics, David Di-Benedetto is a second-year student at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, with his education funded by a full-ride scholarship from the Terry Foundation. David found his passion in space science and rocketry from his membership in the Texas Rocket Engineering Lab (TREL), where he previously worked as an Avionics Hardware Engineer and is now a Ground Structures Engineer. This opportunity to work on many different sectors of rocketry and delve into the field of aerospace influenced David to orient his career towards contributing to interplanetary travel and exploration. Previous to working in TREL, he worked as a Frame Design Engineer in Longhorn Racing Solar (LHR), an organization focused on building a 100% solar-powered racecar for competition in the American Solar Challenge. David is an incoming propulsion intern at Hermeus, where he will help develop the future of hypersonic transportation.
Fun Fact: In his free time, David enjoys exploring cities and keeping track of all the niche locations he has visited!