Nikita Kozak
Major: Mechanical engineering
Minor: Mathematics
Hometown: Waukee, Iowa
Clubs and activities: Iowa State Division 1 hockey goaltender, Computational fluid-structure interaction laboratory working, multidisciplinary research with Ivy College of Business, University Research Ambassador, Iowa’s Rising Scholar Research Outreach Program founder and president
Awards and honors: Barry E. Goldwater Scholar, Stanford Knight-Hennessy Fellowship finalist, ISU Rhodes Scholar nominee, ISUAA Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award, ISU Cardinal Leadership Scholar, ISU Academic Recognition Scholar, ISU James Krist Volunteer Scholar and Jim Blackburn Commit to Excellence Award.
First place in several highly competitive research events: 2019 Army Research Laboratory Symposium, 2019 Army Computational and Information Science Research Symposium, 2019 IINSPIRE LSAMP Research Conference, 2018 Army Research Laboratory Symposium, 2018 U.S. Army Vehicle Technology Research Symposium.
Published first author on Journal of Mechanics and AIAA Energy and Propulsion publications. Invited presenter to the 2020 National Collegiate Research Conference at Harvard University, 2019 AIAA Energy and Propulsion Forum, 2018 Research in the Capitol and 2019 Posters on the Hill, where he received an honorable mention award.
Most influential Iowa State mentor:
If I had to just choose one, it would probably be Ming-Chen Hsu, associate professor of mechanical engineering, who is my research mentor.
What would you consider your greatest accomplishment at Iowa State?
Obtaining my first research position in the computational fluid-structure interaction laboratory.
What’s your favorite place on campus?
The fourth floor of Parks Library
What’s your advice for first-year Iowa State engineering students?
Be ambitious. Be courageous. Be dynamic.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Stay active, ride motorcycles, go sailing and hang out with friends.
What are your plans for after graduation?