MADISON HOBBS

Matthew Isakowitz Fellow, Class of 2023

Harvey Mudd College, Bachelor of Science in Applied Dynamics, Minor in Classics

Host Company: SpaceX

Madison Taylor Hobbs is a President's Scholar and 4th-year student at Harvey Mudd College. Madison is pursuing an independent program of study in Applied Dynamics, combining her interests in engineering and applied mathematics. Madison will graduate from Mudd this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Dynamics and a concentration in Classics. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals.

Madison is currently conducting research for her engineering-mathematics thesis, which investigates inerter-based vibration absorption using Matlab modeling. As a member of the Harvey Mudd AeroLab, she assisted in building a VANS RV 12iS experimental aircraft, learning advanced metalworking techniques, and experiencing the engineering design process in a hands-on environment. Madison's interest in space began at a young age with her building model rockets and watching Cape Canaveral launches. This interest, combined with her Applied Dynamics background, led her to her previous internship at SpaceX. At SpaceX, she had the incredible opportunity to work on Falcon Heavy's booster separation and gained experience with computational modeling and structural analysis.

Madison is passionate about community involvement. She has served as the president of Black Lives at Mudd, a student organization focusing on building a social and academic Black STEM community. She is also a teaching assistant for the Harvey Mudd Mathematics Department and a member of the Engineering Student Advisory Board, advocating for student needs and helping design future student programs. 

Madison will continue her studies and begin her Ph.D. in the fall. She will focus on computational dynamics, fluid-structure interaction of space vehicles, and reduced-order modeling. She hopes to continue encouraging young minority students to pursue careers in the space industry. Madison enjoys reading, judo, and spending time with her dog Miles Davis in her free time. 

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