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Oren Minsk Named 2024 Matthew Isakowitz Fellow

Student Profiles, Awards / February 13, 2024

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Author:
Claire Sibley

Oren Minsk, a junior in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) is a recipient of the 2024 Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program. The program, designed to honor the legacy of Matthew Isakowitz, aims to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the aerospace industry through mentorship and career training.

As one of thirty-one fellows, Oren eagerly anticipates being assigned an executive mentor from Mandala Space Ventures, with whom he will meet regularly over the course of the year. He looks forward to the diverse backgrounds of the mentors, ranging from engineers and astronauts to management-level executives and investors in aerospace companies.

Additionally, Oren will commence his internship in California at the end of May, followed by a summit in July where he will have the opportunity to network with fellows and industry leaders.

Oren’s fascination with aerospace traces back to his childhood love for travel and airplanes. However, it was rocketry that truly captured his imagination. Reflecting on humanity’s journey into space, Oren remarked, “It just seems so crazy that we figured out how to reach outer space… I think that we’re really kind of entering a new kind of time period of technological development in the space industry that I’m really excited [about].”

At Penn, Oren finds inspiration and guidance from Professor Bruce Kothmann, his advisor, whose passion for airplanes resonates deeply with him. His elder sister graduated with a degree in Bioengineering from Penn and told him, “You have to take at least one class with Bruce.”

While Oren’s passion for aerospace remains unwavering, his experiences in different sectors, including government agencies and now the private sector, provide him with diverse perspectives to inform his career aspirations. He looks forward to exploring engineering work in the private sector and gaining insights into startup operations and venture capital.

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