From Remote Research to Real World Applause: Online Engineering Doctoral Student’s Breakthrough Spotlighted in Prestigious Journal 

What started as a mission to create safer, more efficient diesel engines for school buses, ambulances and other vehicles has fast-tracked Aakash Gupta, a student in Purdue’s online Doctor of Engineering program, into the global spotlight. 

After presenting his research at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International’s 2025 World Congress Experience earlier this year, Gupta’s paper will be featured in the SAE International Journal of Advances and Current Practices in Mobility. According to Gupta, the journal features the best technical contributions across SAE conferences.  

“I was really excited about that,” Gupta said. “That was great news.” 

Gupta’s conference paper, “Topology Optimization of Multibody Systems Undergoing Dynamic Loading using an Equivalent Static Displacement Method,” introduces a physics-based model to create engine designs responsive to industry demands.   

“Long story short, it basically comes up with a design that is the best solution for the given problem,” Gupta said. 

That sentiment also sums up his educational journey. For Gupta, who thrives on responding to challenges in the most efficient and effective manner, Purdue’s online Doctor of Engineering was the smartest course of action.  

The online modality offered access to supportive, responsive professors, West Lafayette campus’ world-class facilities and other motivated, engaged students without requiring him to be on campus full time, Gupta said. 

Before enrolling in virtual classes, Gupta attended classes in person at the former Indiana University — Purdue University Indianapolis campus for his master’s. When the pandemic happened, he was introduced to online classes. 

“I needed to take some direct courses from Purdue West Lafayette to be able to get that degree,” Gupta said. “I think that’s what made me gear more towards Purdue’s online program. I can take all my classes that are actual coursework, not the research work, online.” 

Gupta said he does not regret the move to Purdue’s College of Engineering.  

“From my own personal experience, I think Purdue’s infrastructure is so strong and there is such a broad spectrum of students to be able to work with, even in the online programs, it’s just a great environment.  And it’s not just that, but I really love and enjoy that even through an online program, I get to utilize the full resources that are available through Purdue.” 

Gupta said he found his professors helpful, willing to meet in person and open to working with him on campus in the lab. He developed such a strong repertoire with one of his professors, Gupta asked him to be part of his PhD dissertation committee.  

“It’s been a great collaboration working with these professors, even though it’s an online program. You can still get very well connected with your professors.” 

His recent research project is a perfect example of that. His paper explains how he, with support and guidance from Purdue engineering professors, developed the Equivalent Static Loading Method process to make engine design and operations more efficient. 

“There’s always a push in mechanical engineering: can we get the same analysis done faster?” Gupta said. “That’s going to save a lot of computational resources. It’s able to solve complex problems in a very short amount of time.” 

Gupta’s process also saves resources and can be adapted to use AI once that technology evolves. 

“At times, we run out of solutions on our own because there is only so much we can think about. But there are tools and resources available that can think outside the box. This is one of those types of methods that could utilize AI, but currently it’s a physics-based model, so we have equations that drive the optimization of the mechanical system.” 

Gupta’s paper detailing his process was selected after a rigorous peer-review process with very few minor changes, he said. Later, his presentation at the conference in Detroit was a success.  

“I got really, really impressive feedback from some of the other people and researchers that work in similar areas to ours,” Gupta said. “Then, a couple months later, I got an email that said my conference paper that I submitted along with my presentation was selected as one of the best papers out of that conference, and they would like to submit that as a journal paper.” 

The paper will be published later this year. 

Gupta said he eventually would like to become a technical project leader at Cummins, Inc. Currently, he designs and validates engines at the facility as a system validation leader. 

He is the Ivy Tech Community College – Columbus Engineering Department Program Chair, teaches engineering courses for the college and is actively involved in Ivy Tech’s Green2Gold program, which creates a pathway from Ivy Tech to Purdue’s engineering program. 

During the weekends, he plays guitar with his friends. He broke the Guiness World Record for the longest Guitar Marathon when he was 14 and has since topped his personal best twice. 

Completing his education online allows him to progress in every area of his life, he said. 

“Well, I definitely want to do better in the areas that I’m currently working in,” Gupta said. “I try to challenge myself. Playing guitar has nothing to do with the work that I do right now, but it’s just that passion and just the energy to be able to break some of those limits that I go after.” 

Ready to push beyond your limits? Learn more about Purdue’s online Doctor of Engineering today.