Shehan Rajapakse
Undergraduate Student Researcher
B.S. Student, Aerospace Engineering with minors in Music and Electrical Engineering
I am a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder pursuing a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering with minors in Music and Electrical Engineering. I am passionate about creating more inclusive spaces in engineering and emphasizing that people must be at the center of all engineering design. Through my roles as a NASA L'SPACE Mentor, Aerospace Engineering Electronics Lab Assistant, and Learning Assistant for GEEN 1400, I have deeply enjoyed teaching, inspiring, and supporting other engineering students as they develop both technical skills and a genuine commitment to the people their work will serve. I am particularly committed to actively working toward more equitable representation in engineering, especially for groups that have been historically underrepresented in the field.
Through my involvement in the SPUR summer research program with the Burleson Lab, I am exploring how we can better equip engineering students and professionals to understand and prioritize the human dimensions of engineering design. I am excited about this work because I believe that helping engineers develop a deeper awareness of how their design decisions affect people is essential to advancing more thoughtful and responsible engineering practice.
In my free time, I create electronic music, enjoy exploring Colorado's outdoors through camping and backpacking, play tennis, and love a good game of chess!