Joshua Hurwitz

College of Engineering

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Joshua Hurwitz is a Master’s student with a dual background in aerospace engineering and aviation maintenance. His research focuses on advancing low order computational methods for aerodynamic analysis, specifically by developing a supersonic panel method with a new vortex wake model. These low-order methods enable the analysis of complex geometries, reducing computation times from hours on a supercomputer to minutes on a laptop. This project has applications in rapid aircraft design, supersonic boom prediction, and design optimization. At Utah State, Joshua has contributed to multiple research projects, from flight tests to software design, and presented his findings at conferences like SciTech. He has authored two journal articles, with one in review and another nearing completion. His hands-on approach stems from his engineering and maintenance training, allowing him to tackle challenges with both technical precision and practical insight. Beyond research, Joshua has advised Utah State’s Design-Build-Fly team to its highest performance in recent history and co-led a hypersonics team to win a national design competition. His journey reflects a balance of technical expertise, problem-solving, and resilience, embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth.