Annika Rollock

Annika Rollock is an accomplished aerospace engineer and currently serves as the Vice President of Engineering at the Aurelia Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she also minored in creative writing and literature. During her time at MIT, she was a Division I rower and interned at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Aurora Flight Sciences.13

After completing her undergraduate studies, Annika pursued graduate education at the University of Colorado Boulder, earning both a master's degree and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering Sciences. Her research focused on designing next-generation deep space habitats as part of the NASA Habitats Optimized for Missions of Exploration (HOME) project, under the mentorship of Professor David Klaus.14

Throughout her academic career, Annika has been recognized with prestigious fellowships, including the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship and the Amelia Earhart Fellowship. She has also gained professional experience as a flight systems engineer at NASA and a design development engineer at Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation.23

In addition to her engineering work, Annika is an advocate for gender minorities in STEM fields and has served as the president of the AIAA Women of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She is passionate about teaching, outreach, and maintaining a balance between her technical work and personal interests, which include endurance sports, writing, and reading.34