DAYTONA BEACH, FL — Two BID4R Members, Grace Gratton and Spoorti Nanjamma, were selected as winners of Aviation Week’s 20 Twenties for their exceptional contributions in the aerospace STEM field. These Students and valued Lab Members will be honored on March 19th, 2026 with at the 68th Annual Laureates Awards and Dinner in Washington, D.C.
Grace Gratton, a Junior in the Space Physics Program, and Goldwater Scholar has been researching algorithms for multi-agent systems with applications for drone or satellite networks.
Her algorithms is biologically inspired by the hatching behavior of Giant South American River Turtle, a natural process that models distributed decision making.
“My work contributes to ensuring the security, reliability and effectiveness of the multi-agent systems our nation increasingly depends on,” Gratton said.
Spoorti Nanjamma, a candidate for a Master’s Degree is Systems Engineering and international student.
She is exploring the extent to which biologically inspired design (BID) has been implemented in satellite and CubeSat designs, identifying existing gaps and potential new BID applications. Nanjamma is also developing a guide to implementing BID for student satellite teams .
She is applying her skills in model based system engineering to improve the development of Project COMET (the ERAU CubeSat Mission) with a well defined system architecture
“Having my work shared with top leaders across the aerospace industry is incredibly motivating and has opened new doors for me, which encourages me to keep aiming higher,” Nanjamma said.
Dr. Bryan Watson, the head of the BID4R lab, has said “It is an honor to work with students like Grace and Spoorti and this recognition is a testimony to the strength of the ERAU student body.” and that this is “a major accomplishment”.
References
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University News: Six Embry‑Riddle Students Honored in Aviation Week’s Prestigious 20 Twenties List
Aviation Week Network: Aviation Week Network Announces Class Of 2026 20 Twenties Winners
BID4R Lab 