Mark Noftz

2025 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Grantee

Hometown

Villa Park, Illinois

Major

Aeronautics & Astronautics, Ph.D.

College

The Graduate School

 

Through the Fulbright Study/Research Award, Mark Noftz takes the next giant leap toward completing a PhD in Aerospace Engineering and pursuing a career in developing and evaluating advanced hypersonic technologies. At the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Canberra, Australia, Mark will investigate the aerodynamics of high-speed intake systems under disruptive events, which he notes can cause supersonic planes to violently spin out of control. Collecting data for his doctoral dissertation, Mark will conduct experiments at several state-of-the-art facilities at UNSW, including the Australian Defense Force Academy’s hypersonic wind tunnel. In all aspects of his life from the hobbies he chooses to his advocacy for youth STEM initiatives, Mark’s commitment to engineering is evident and he explains: “As someone who benefited immensely from such outreach programs at my local community college, I know firsthand just how critical they are to lessen the intimidating nature of STEM to younger audiences. Not all parents, nor families, have the time or means to help their children explore and understand the wide array of pathways that are in their grasp.”