Chloe Stoops

Featured project | Fall 2024

Chloe Stoops has been amazed by outer space since she was a child and has always dreamed of being an astronaut. The aerospace engineering senior’s love for space, science and sustainability is motivating her to explore ways to improve spacecraft efficiency. Her work in the FURI program with Liping Wang, an associate professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, involves developing a variable emittance coating, a smart material that regulates temperature by radiating or absorbing ambient heat.

What made you want to get involved in FURI and why did you choose the project you’re working on?

I chose FURI because I wanted to gain hands-on experience in the technical application of the material I learned about in my classes.

I chose the project I’m working on because I am passionate about both space and sustainability. As sustainable space flight becomes more and more of a reality, my project sheds light on another possible pathway toward realizing this innovation.

How will your research project impact the world?

My research is centered around the idea of energy conservation. I believe research in this sector is particularly meaningful given the environmental state of the world, and has the potential to introduce sustainable solutions in many different areas.

My project specifically focuses on passive radiative cooling, which provides a more environmentally friendly method of cooling and heating for many different applications. Since this is a passive process, the power consumption is near to zero, thus conserving energy.

While I am studying the variable emittance coatings that enable this for spacecraft applications, there are similar applications that could be implemented on Earth as well.

What has been your most memorable experience as a student researcher?

My most memorable experience has been spending my first day working independently in the lab. It was very fulfilling at the end of the day to go over my data and results and know that my hard work was coming to fruition. It is one thing to learn about how the world works in an engineering class, but it is another to see it firsthand, which has been an experience that I value greatly.

How do you see this experience helping with your career or advanced degree goals?

This experience has deepened my understanding of concepts I’ve previously studied and fostered my curiosity in new topics. I greatly value the technical skills I’ve gained, such as laboratory procedures, technical writing and more. I believe the skills and knowledge I’ve gained through my experiences with FURI are directly helping me become a better engineer.

Why should other students get involved in this program?

Other students should get involved with FURI so they can see firsthand applications of their studies and gain meaningful experience that will no doubt help them in their career. Aside from the technical skills and knowledge one will no doubt gain, it is also simply a fun experience. As engineers, most of us love getting to work with our hands, take things apart, put them back together and figure out how they work. Doing research is both a fulfilling and enjoyable experience that I’d highly recommend.