University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering PhD student, Christina Harvey, has been named a 2021 recipient of the Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship. The fellowship honors women pursuing a PhD who have demonstrated a superior academic record conducting research applied to aerospace engineering. It was established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian, Amelia Earhart to show support for women and promote gender equality.
“I am honored and grateful to have been named among so many other successful women,” Christina said. “Winning this award encourages me to not only continue to strive to be the best aeronautical engineer I can be, but also to work towards being the best mentor I can be for all who come next.”
Christina will put her fellowship toward her research on avian wing morphing, which she conducts in the AIMS Lab under the mentorship of Dr. Inman. She studies how birds change the shape of their wings in flight with the goal of inspiring new unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“By combining the biological and aeronautical perspectives, I hope to identify the aspects of avian wing morphing that permit their impressive maneuverability and adaptability so that we can inspire the design of a novel highly maneuverable and adaptable UAV.”
Christina Harvey is a third-year PhD student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. She is a co-lead for GSAC DEI sub-committee, and serves as a graduate representative for the Aerospace Department’s DEI committee. She received her Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University and completed her Master of Science in Zoology at the University of British Columbia.
