Matthew Arace

University of Maryland

Matthew Arace is a 4th year PhD student at the University of Maryland under Dr. Anubhav Datta. His research is focused on unlocking the potential of hybrid-electric and electric propulsion systems for VTOL through both experimentation and analysis. Matt graduated from Virginia Tech in 2017 with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and minor in Mathematics while gaining internship experience supporting NASA’s Low Boom Flight Demonstrator (LBFD) project. Following graduation, he worked as a Systems Engineer supporting the FAA's NextGen initiative for several years. Once Matt completes his PhD, he hopes to contribute to the development of advanced analytical tools to assess the complex aeromechanics and dynamics of unconventional, multi-rotor aircraft. Ultimately, he hopes to contribute heavily to the decarbonization of aviation without compromising mission performance. Outside the lab, Matt likes to spend his free time hiking, snowboarding, backpacking, and camping.