EMA Senior, Nicholas Rienstra, named Astronaut Scholar for 2025

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is excited to announce Nicholas Rienstra, a senior in our Engineering Mechanics (+Aerospace option) bachelor’s program, is one of two UW-Madison students to have been named to the 2025 class of Astronaut Scholars by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). This honor is awarded to exemplary juniors and seniors pursuing degrees in the STEM field. Scholars not only receive up to $15,000 in financial support but also gain access to a professional network of astronauts, alumni, and industry leaders who are willing to mentor and offer advice to students. The scholars also participate in a variety of professional development opportunities, including leadership training, coaching, building business skills, and presenting cutting-edge research.

Nicholas was nominated by Professor Elizabeth Wright of the Department of Biochemistry, who he has researched under since 2023. Professor Wright explained in her nomination, “Nicholas’ pioneering work at the intersection of aerospace engineering, microbiology, and microfluidics has already led to tangible innovation, including a device now under patent review. As he joins this prestigious cohort of Astronaut Scholars, Nicholas is well on his way to becoming a leader in the next generation of aerospace and biomedical discovery.” Hear more about Nicholas’s experience at UW-Madison so far and what makes him a great representative of our program and university as he embarks on his journey as an ASF scholar!

What has your engineering journey been like? Did you ‘always’ want to be an engineer?

My interest in engineering started very early in my life with Lego. I was always curious about building things, which continued to evolve as I grew from elementary school robotics, all the way to high school physics labs. When I applied for college the first degrees that came to mind were physics or mathematics, but after taking ME 201: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering the summer before my freshman year, I found my passion in engineering and committed to my current major.

I participated in the Mechanical Engineering Summer Launch program, which allows incoming freshman to take ME 201 and live in the dorms prior to their freshman year. With this opportunity, I was able to knock out the required intro to engineering credit and take the course with one of the best professors on campus, Prof. Greg Nellis. This 4-week program introduces students to a variety of engineering topics and ends with students building a wind tunnel. After getting a taste for every part of engineering during the intro course, I was hooked.

How did you decide to pursue a degree in Engineering Mechanics? Is there a specific area of EMA you are interested in?

As an avid fan of space in general (whether sci-fi or non-fi), I always felt that I would gravitate (get it?) towards any work that I could do that goes out of this world. So naturally, an Engineering Mechanics (+Aerospace Option) degree was my focus from the point I committed to engineering at UW. While I’m interested in everything that happens in the aerospace field, a specific interest rose this past semester. Taking EMA 642: Satellite Dynamics, with Prof. Mike Sracic, introduced me to the concept of dynamics in zero torque environments and how design choices of a satellite or any space craft can have significant impacts on efficiency and even mission success. After our final project of designing a satellite and simulating the controlling systems, I decided that I wanted to pursue further research and work in this niche of aerospace.

Can you talk about any experience(s) you have with undergraduate research at UW?

I’ve been doing undergraduate research since the summer after my freshman year (2023) in Prof. Elizabeth Wright’s Lab. As a freshman, with no practical knowledge in any field, I was looking for any opportunity to get my first taste of research, and Prof. Wright happened to have a concept for a project that really suited the small set of skills I had. Since then, my skillsets have grown and I have put together a few publications, presented at research conferences, and even created a patent with this project.

Sadly, my time in this lab will come to an end this summer, and in the second half of the fall semester I will begin working with Prof. Melih Eriten in the Mechanical Engineering department as a Faustin Prinz Fellow.  As an incoming senior, I feel the practical knowledge and skills I have gained since starting research as a freshman will benefit me as I begin assisting with more advanced topics in research. Overall, participating in undergraduate research has been a pivotal part of my experience at UW as a student. As someone who learns by doing more than any other method, being able to apply knowledge from my classes with something real and practical is unmatched. 

Are you involved in any student organizations? If so, which ones and what is your involvement?

I am the vice-president of SAE Aero UW. We’re a competition design team, where each year we design, test, and build a 15-foot wingspan RC plane. We’re a new club – this is our second year in competition – and what we learned last year, at our first competition, is going to be essential for placing even better this year. I’ve already had several meetings with our president, Jason Kuehne, and our business director (last year’s president), Aiden Brion. We’ve been discussing how we can get more sponsors for next year, involve even more students, get some attention at E-Bash (the engineering student org recruiting event), and build an even better plane this year. I can’t wait for the late nights finishing up our technical paper, building the plane, and most of all for our competition in Dallas, next April.

What inspired you to apply for the ASF scholarship?

The astronaut scholarship was first put on my map in the spring of my freshman year. In April 2023, the Mechanical engineering department hosted a ceremony for a real astronaut (Brewster Shaw, BS 1968, MS 1969 EGR) to present the award to UW’s astronaut scholars that year, Josh Baston of the MS&E department and Will Jarvis of Physics. I remember seeing that flyer in the ME atrium and thinking, “woah it would be cool to get something from a real astronaut,” but not much more. It wasn’t until last fall, as I was moving through the application process for the Hilldale fellowship – which helps fund my research in the Wright lab – that I revisited the Astronaut scholarship and felt like my experiences and skillsets aligned with the foundation’s goals.

What are you most looking forward to as an ASF scholar? How do you think this will help you as you move forward in both your professional and academic career?

The number one thing I’m looking forward to as an ASF Scholar is the community that comes with the award. Just a few weeks ago we had a welcome meeting on zoom to meet the other members of our cohort. It was so cool to see all these top students from the top schools in the country and know that I get to connect with them, work with them, and make new friends. Those connections within my cohort, as well as connections to ASF alumni, are going to be much more valuable than the tuition stipend I get.

As I move forward in my career, the connections I make through ASF are going to be essential. I’ve already heard stories from ASF Alum who’ve talked about how relationships they built through this program helped them get job interviews, improve applications, or even simple stuff like knowing a person in a new city. I’m super excited to join this community and take advantage of all it has to offer.

Congratulations!

A big congratulations to both Nicholas and Nathan Wagner – the other UW-Madison scholar who is majoring in Math and Physics (read more about Nathan here) – for earning this high honor. We are excited to watch Nicholas continue to grow in his academic and research pursuits as he look towards graduating in Spring 2026!

Stay tuned for more information about the ASF Scholar Award Ceremony on October 9th to see Nicholas and Nathan be recognized for their success.

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