Nikki Wheelus is a master’s student in the College of Engineering. Nikki earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from UA in May of 2008. She was recently awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. She is a member of AIAA, SWE, Sigma Gamma Tau, and the Blackburn Institute. She has been the graduate mentor for the Research Experience for Undergraduates program at UA for the past two summers. Her passion is fluid dynamics research and she is currently conducting tests on shark skin in the water tunnel lab at UA. Her love of travel and research has led her to pursue a research project abroad for next fall. Nikki plans to graduate in May of 2011 and aspires to work in a research laboratory. Nikki loves Alabama football and was at the Rose Bowl in January 2010.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.