Author: Tim Mascal

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.

“My work contributes to ensuring the security, reliability and effectiveness of the multi-agent systems our nation increasingly depends on,” Gratton said.

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

The NASA Pathways program is a unique opportunity that provides a series of internships and mentorship that continue until you graduate. He’ll be starting his first internship in Jan 2026, continue to go back every summer until he finishes his master’s degree. NASA pathways interns are hired on as full time government employees. As they progress in their respective degree and field they become eligible for promotions within the pathways program and even have the option of transferring to other departments or NASA centers to determine the most suitable place for their skill set.

The NASA Pathways Program, unlike traditional internship programs, does not require him to apply every year; it guarantees a series of internships while he completes his undergraduate and graduate studies. At the completion of a program, it provides a direct pipeline to apply for full time employment with NASA.

Jaden Caradine is really excited to work with the Space Mission Analysis Branch as they develop Integrated architectures, perform mission risk analysis, and strategically provide programmatic and technical assessments of future missions and space technology. They develop and apply data driven decision models to inform NASA decision makers. It was hinted during his interview that he’ll be given a portfolio of technologies and systems and have the opportunity to evaluate the integration methods, identifying potential risks, and search for possible improvements. He won’t know exactly what he’ll be doing until he gets there, but he’s confident that no matter what project they put him on, this center will develop the core skills necessary for engineering leadership and decision making.

He said, “I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I can’t wait to share what I learn with my friends, colleagues, and community.”