Aref Abdala

Welcome to my portfolio! I created this website to showcase my skills and past experiences.

I am an Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering student at the Univesity of Central Florida looking for opportunities to learn and develop my skills.

Click the button below if you would like more details in a PDF version of this portfolio or my resume!

  • Portfolio PDFResume PDF

    • LDS Vacuum

    Manufactured high vacuum hardware capable of sustaing leak rates below 1E−9 mbar through TIG welding, manual lathe, manual mill, and other shop tools.

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory

    Analyzed sea surface temperature (SST), ocean chlorophyll a, and sea level data from the Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission.

    Boeing

    Identified, documented, and communicated powered spacecraft testing anomalies in an ESD controlled environment.

    Raytheon Intelligence and Space

    Established comprehensive documentation guidelines and desk instructions for Joint Polar Satellite System- Common Ground Systems.

    National Security Innovation Network

    Utilized topology optimization techniques to reduce material usage while maintaining structural integrity of additively manufactured projects.

    Extra Curricular

    The following is a list of activities and projects that I have worked!

    Small-Scale Rotating Detonation Engine

    Led the design, fabrication and testing of UCF's first Small-Scale Rotating Detonation Engine.

    3-in Rotating Detonation Engine

    Compared three methods of calculating the stagnation pressure at the exit of a combustion chamber.

    Emergency Insights

    Developed a platform that allows future home owners or property managers to access potential hazards to their property from natural disasters.

    Robotic Arm Project

    Oversaw the design, manufacturing and integration of a robotic arm.

    Office of undergaduate Research

    Mentored multiple university students by establishing unique goals, timelines, and possible opportunities for each individual.

    Nanophotonics Device Group

    Led a research study focused on determining the best manufacturing techniques for a photovoltaic cell.

    Community Service

    Volunteered at multiple non-profit organizations.These organizations vary from camp counselor, scholarship ambassador and pier cleanup scuba diver.

    Student Organization

    Participated and led multiple registered student organizations at the University of Central Florida.

    Skills & Interests

    Programming

    Python

    MATLAB

    C

    HTML

    CSS

    LATEX

    Software

    ANSYS

    Solidworks

    LabVIEW

    Jira

    Confluence

    Excel

    Gantt

    Teamcenter

    Word

    Github

    Overleaf

    Fabrication

    ASME Y14.5 GD&T,

    P&ID

    Band Saw

    Dynobrade and Dremel

    Manual Lathe

    Manual Mill

    TIG Welding

    MIG Welding

    3D Printing

    Interests

    Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

    Space Economy

    Automotive Refurbishing

    Volunteering

    Awards & Recognitions

    Scholarships

    • 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship
    • 2021, 2022, 2023 Lockheed Martin STEM Scholarship
    • 2021, 2022, 2023 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar
    • 2021, 2022, 2023 Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund (HHSF)(Boeing & Duke Energy)
    • 2022, 2023 RAMP Scholar (UCF)
    • 2023 Presidio Future Built Scholarship
    • 2022 ScholarSHPE (Raytheon Technologies)
    • 2022 Pheonix Scholarship (UCF)
    • 2022 GMiS Scholarship (Boeing)
    • 2022 Diversity Scholar (Boeing & AIAA)
    • 2021 Ortlieb Scholarship
    • 2020 F-L.E.A.R.N. Scholarship (UCF)
    • 2020 Salute to Education Scholarship (Ford)
    • 2020 Broward Education Foundation
    • 2020 PTSA Steve Schultze Memorial Scholarship
    • 2020 Nicole Hobin Memorial Scholarship

    Publications

    • AIAA Aviation 2023 "Base Drag Considerations to Determine Equivalent Available
      Pressure in the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine"
    • AIAA Region II Student Conference 2024 "Exploring Operability and Design Characteristics of a Small-Scale
      Methane/Oxygen Jet-in-Crossflow Rotating Detonation Engine" (pending)
    • AIAA SciTech 2025 "Additively Manufactured Inconel 718 In Small-Scale Rotating
      Detonation Rocket Engines" (pending)

    Academic Presentations

    • 2024
      • Student Scholar Symposiun
    • 2024 AIAA Region II Student Conference
    • 2023 AIAA 2023 Aviation Conference
    • 2023 Florida Fluids Symposium II
    • 2022 SHPE National Conference
    • 2021 Office of Undergraduate Research - F-L.E.A.R.N. Showcase

    Get in touch

    Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, or just want to chat!
    For more info, make sure to check my resume and protfolio!

  • Portfolio PDFResume PDF