In this episode, we chat with Vanessa E. Wyche, Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and a trailblazer in the field of space exploration and leadership. Dr. Wyche has over three decades of experience at NASA, contributing to numerous human spaceflight missions and programs. As the first African American woman to lead the Johnson Space Center, she is at the forefront of innovations in space exploration and human spaceflight. Vanessa shares her journey, the challenges she has faced, and her vision for the future of space exploration, all while inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders. Tune in for a deep dive into NASA’s evolving missions and Vanessa’s remarkable career.

INFO:

Vanessa's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncanmulgrew/⁠

Blueprint Podcast Hosts: Liam Kauffman, Agathiya Tharun, & Greyson Lemmons

Liam’s LinkedIn: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/liam-kauffman⁠

Aggy's Linkedln: ⁠www.linkedin.com/in/agathiyatharun⁠

Grey’s LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/greyson-lemmons-engineer⁠

GUEST REQUEST FORM AND FEEDBACK: ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHfHyD5mExipb_aPoEq-8S-lIcb8fWsroXCXpmcCOHWJjxJw/viewform

In this episode, we chat with Duncan Mulgrew, Co-Founder & CEO of Uniform Sierra, a defense company that builds drones that are designed to protect humans. Duncan has been building and flying small unmanned systems for close to 10 years and has accumulated over 2,500 remote flight hours. He has built over 100 unique aircraft and operated them around the country and world.

INFO:

Today’s Podcast Guest: Duncan Mulgrew

Duncan's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncanmulgrew/

Blueprint Podcast Host: Liam Kauffman 

Liam’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/liam-kauffman

Blueprint Podcast Host: Aggy Tharun

Aggy's Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/in/agathiyatharun

Blueprint Podcast Director: Greyson Lemmons

Grey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greyson-lemmons-engineer

GUEST REQUEST FORM AND FEEDBACK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHfHyD5mExipb_aPoEq-8S-lIcb8fWsroXCXpmcCOHWJjxJw/viewform

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jay Gore, Purdue’s Reilly Professor in Combustion Engineering (with courtesy appointments in Aeronautics & Astronautics and Chemical Engineering). Dr. Gore was the founding Director of the Energy Center at Discovery Park and the founder of the SURF program at Purdue. He also worked for the US State Dept. where he coordinated with U.S. and international governors on the topics of energy and climate issues. Furthermore, he was awarded Best Paper of the Year by A.S.M.E. and has authored over 200 conference papers. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

INFO:

Today’s Podcast Guest: Dr. Jay Gore

Dr. Jay Gore’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-gore-19b6486/

Untapped Podcast Host: Liam Kauffman 

Liam’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/liam-kauffman

Untapped Podcast Host: Aggy Tharun

Aggy's Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/in/agathiyatharun

Untapped Podcast Director: Greyson Lemmons

Grey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greyson-lemmons-engineer

GUEST REQUEST FORM AND FEEDBACK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHfHyD5mExipb_aPoEq-8S-lIcb8fWsroXCXpmcCOHWJjxJw/viewform

In this episode, we have the honor of speaking with Purdue's John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, Arvind Raman. Born in Uttar Pradesh, India, to immigrant parents, Raman's early life was shaped by adaptability and a strong foundation in STEM, thanks to his mother. Pursuing mechanical engineering at the leading Indian Institute of Technology, his insatiable curiosity led him to Purdue for his master's, followed by a PhD at the University of California, Berkeley. Beyond his accolades, Dr. Raman's journey is a testament to passion, resilience, and the drive to understand and innovate. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

INFO:

Today’s Podcast Guest: Arvind Raman

Arvind Raman's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvind-raman-88b20a6a/⁠

Untapped Podcast Host: Liam Kauffman 

Liam’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/liam-kauffman

Untapped Podcast Host: Aggy Tharun

Aggy's Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/in/agathiyatharun

Untapped Podcast Director: Greyson Lemmons

Grey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greyson-lemmons-engineer

GUEST REQUEST FORM AND FEEDBACK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHfHyD5mExipb_aPoEq-8S-lIcb8fWsroXCXpmcCOHWJjxJw/viewform

In this episode, we speak with Kevin Jin. Kevin is a senior at Purdue University studying industrial engineering, which is ranked 2nd in the nation in industrial engineering programs. Kevin has been active in multiple organizations, including Purdue Solutions consulting and PurdueTHINK consulting, with internships at West Monroe and Deloitte. Thanks for listening.

INFO:

Kevin's LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinleijin/⁠

Liam's Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/liam-kauffman

Aggy's Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/agathiyatharun

Grey's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greyson-lemmons-engineer

GUEST REQUEST FORM AND FEEDBACK:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qGYWon2QkNjlY_h8JDbgMgp5Jv8XuWSkIilCNZhkySg/edit

In this episode, we speak with Aref Malek and Jacob Zietek, two computer science students at Purdue University. Both share a deep passion for innovation and Artificial Intelligence, and are club presidents for the Purdue AI/ML club, which offers students a wide range of initiatives to get involved in. Our conversation spans from AI and club initiatives, all the way to the roots of how machine learning works and the ethics surrounding AI. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

If you're interested in the Purdue ASME/AI club, check out this form: https://ml-purdue.github.io/apply/

Jacob's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-zietek

Aref's Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/aref-malek

INFO:

Liam's Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/liam-kauffman

Aggy's Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/agathiyatharun

GUEST REQUEST FORM AND FEEDBACK:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qGYWon2QkNjlY_h8JDbgMgp5Jv8XuWSkIilCNZhkySg/edit

On today's episode, we are joined by Renee A. Thomas. Renee was recently appointed associate vice provost for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. She previously served as director of the Purdue University Black Cultural Center and has three decades of experience in higher education administration with expertise in program development, student services, community engagement and fundraising. She is committed to promoting a campus climate that ensures the inclusion of diverse students, faculty, and staff in all aspects of the university. During her tenure, Thomas has been known for her ability to nurture, support and mentor students. She plays an active role in enhancing student success and retention.

Hope you enjoy!

INFO:

Liam's Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/liam-kauffman

Aggy's Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/agathiyatharun

GUEST REQUEST FORM AND FEEDBACK:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qGYWon2QkNjlY_h8JDbgMgp5Jv8XuWSkIilCNZhkySg/edit

TIME STAMPS:

(1:19) - Personal Background

(4:15) - Black Cultural Center

(6:10) - Transitioning

(7:30) - Celebrating Personal Background

(12:20) - Purdue DEI

(14:00) - DEI vs DIB

(18:00) - Diverse Teams

(23:00) - Authentic Self

(28:00) - Familiarizing with DEI

(31:40) - Encouraging Students

(33:30) - Future Initiatives

(35:30) - Study Abroad

On today's episode, we are honored to be joined by Purdue University’s President, Mung Chiang. President Chiang brings with him a wealth of experience. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering and mathematics and M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He has received numerous awards for his work in edge computing and wireless resource allocation, and holds 25 patents. He has also founded three companies and has published several influential books. President Chiang has also served as a diplomat and policy-maker, being the Science and Technology Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State and a driving force behind tech diplomacy programs. 

Hope you enjoy!

INFO:

Liam's Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/liam-kauffman

Aggy's Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/agathiyatharun

GUEST REQUEST FORM AND FEEDBACK:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qGYWon2QkNjlY_h8JDbgMgp5Jv8XuWSkIilCNZhkySg/edit

TIME STAMPS:

(1:20) - How’s it been so far?

(2:30) - Working Under Mitch Daniels

(4:15) - Advice for Ambitious Students

(6:00) - Mistakes

(8:00) - Technical Background

(9:10) - Future Initiatives

(10:00) - Why is Purdue Highly Ranked

(12:20) - Acceptance Rate

(16:20) - Growth Mindset

(17:20) - Conclusion