Academic CV

Tanaka Chonyera

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineer · Pharmaceutical Capital Project Lead · Founder, Dreamernaut Rocket Bootcamp
[email protected]tanakachonyera.comlinkedin.com/in/tanakachonyeraIndianapolis, IN
Resume

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CV

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Education

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Concentration

Michigan State University (MSU), Honors College · East Lansing, MI
May 2024
  • GPA 3.5/4.0 · Dean’s List · $140,000 in merit-based scholarships · $1,250 Boeing Scholarship
  • Programming coursework: C++ and Python, data structures and algorithms, object-oriented programming

Research Experience

Applied Research & Additive Manufacturing Intern

Fraunhofer USA · East Lansing, MI
May 2022 - May 2023
  • Investigated boron-doped diamond (BDD) microelectrodes as a more durable replacement for carbon fiber electrodes in nanomolar dopamine detection
  • Ran long-term coating experiments with fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy in a flow cell simulating brain conditions, to raise dopamine and serotonin sensitivity while keeping durability; coating data acknowledged in Gupta et al., Biosensors (2023)
  • Tested BDD electrode response to dopamine, serotonin, and DOPAC, and characterized electrodes with electron microscopy
  • Fabricated a carbon fiber microelectrode that measured dopamine in vivo for Parkinson’s research at MSU’s Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering
  • Delegated work across the BDD fabrication team and trained new interns in electrochemical techniques
  • Developed a BDD electrode fabrication method and Siemens NX 3D-printed fixtures that standardized fabrication and quality control; the product went from selling at cost to $15,000+ in sales at a 57% margin

Mechanical Design & Nuclear Physics Research Intern

Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), Dr. Kei Minamisono’s BECOLA team · East Lansing, MI
September 2021 - April 2022
  • Designed in Siemens NX and built a high voltage divider for collinear laser spectroscopy of radioactive nuclei at BECOLA, where ppm-level knowledge of beam energy is needed to extract nuclear structure information
  • Analyzed the divider’s output in Python to determine its ratio and compare it with a reference divider from Germany’s National Metrology Institute
  • Created a full technical draft of the divider for lower-cost reproduction and use in other FRIB facilities
  • Presented the divider design and ratio measurement as first author of a UURAF 2022 poster; the work was featured in FRIB’s The Greensheet (March 2022)

Presentations & Research Contributions

  • Chonyera, T., Dockery, A., Koenig, K., and Minamisono, K. “Accurate High Voltage Measurement for Laser Spectroscopy.” Poster, University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), Michigan State University, 2022
  • Acknowledged for experimental help in: Gupta, B., et al. “In Vitro Biofouling Performance of Boron-Doped Diamond Microelectrodes for Serotonin Detection Using Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry.” Biosensors 13, no. 6 (2023): 576. doi:10.3390/bios13060576

Engineering Projects

Team Lead, Aerodynamic Body Design (Senior Capstone)

MSU Solar Racing Team · East Lansing, MI
January 2024 - April 2024
  • Led the senior capstone team designing an aerodynamic, lightweight, manufacturable body for MSU’s solar car; the cockpit design cut drag coefficient by 50%
  • Made design decisions in Siemens NX and MATLAB, evaluated airfoil profiles in Xfoil, and justified them with fluid dynamics and boundary layer theory
  • Earned a 4.0 in the capstone course

High-Power Rocketry

Tripoli Rocketry Association, Level 2 · High-Power Rocket Bootcamp
2025 - Present
  • Ranked #1 flyer by flight count at LDRS 44 (2026), the world’s largest high-power rocketry launch, with 34 flights
  • Serve as Flyer of Record for 170+ student-built rockets, inspecting airframe, motor classification, and recovery system against NAR safety codes and FAA airspace rules

Aerodynamics & Powertrain Team Member, MSU Formula Racing (Formula SAE)

Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI
September 2021 - April 2022
  • Machined radiator mount and suspension components on manual mills and lathes for the team’s new monocoque car, and inspected parts for quality control
  • Researched air filter alternatives for air-to-fuel ratio, power delivery, and combustion efficiency, and front wing designs that resist failure under aerodynamic load; documented findings for team leads

Solid-Propellant Rocket and Parabolic Solar Concentrator

Maru-a-Pula School · Gaborone, Botswana
2018 - 2019
  • Built a solid-propellant rocket from scratch, from the fuel to the fuselage, as team captain; the school placed first overall and the rocket won the gold medal at the 2018 Lebone STEM Derby, South Africa
  • Designed and built a parabolic solar concentrator that heats water to steam for low-cost power; runner-up at the 2019 African Leadership Academy STEM Derby

Professional Experience

Project Manager, Capital Projects

Eli Lilly and Company · Indianapolis, IN
June 2024 - Present
  • Lead a $150M+ capital capacity expansion of warehouse and logistics infrastructure for one of Lilly’s flagship therapeutics, from design through construction, commissioning, and qualification (C&Q)
  • Direct the design, construction, and C&Q firms’ project managers, all of whom report to this role
  • Hold monthly governance reviews with the site head of the receiving business unit, translating engineering decisions into executive-ready risk and progress reporting and aligning capital partners on tradeoffs and recovery plans

Development & Process Engineering Intern

First Solar · Perrysburg, OH
May 2023 - August 2023
  • Validated and optimized a new ultrasonic welding process for solar modules; JMP analysis of the test data drove the process changes that stopped automated manufacturing from damaging modules
  • Supported assembly and testing of new tandem modules that combine monocrystalline and thin-film technology for higher conversion efficiency

Teaching, Mentoring & Outreach

Founder & Lead Instructor, High-Power Rocket Bootcamp

Dreamernaut Rocket Bootcamp · Marion County, IN
August 2025 - Present
  • Founded and run a free high-power rocketry program: 390+ participants trained across ten cohorts (August 2025 to September 2026), 336 rockets built, and 170+ launched to altitudes up to 5,000 feet
  • Designed the curriculum (aerodynamics, propulsion, recovery systems, FAA airspace coordination) and built a corps of 174+ adult volunteers, screening applicants for technical fit and teaching ability
  • Raised $155K+: $80K through MEPI (Minority Engineering Program of Indianapolis), including a $40K Cummins grant reconciled in full, and $75K from Lilly Social Impact for Lilly’s 2026 Global Day of Service
  • Expanded to 5 Indiana communities and 10+ partner institutions, including the Indiana State Museum and the City of Fishers; replicated the model for 75 students at Enlace Academy

Talks

Franklin College · Broadhurst Primary School
2019 - 2026
  • Guest speaker in Professor Miranda Carter’s public relations class at Franklin College on the High-Power Rocket Bootcamp and capital project management at Eli Lilly (October 2026)
  • School assembly talk to students and parents at Broadhurst Primary School, Gaborone, on the DStv Eutelsat win and rocketry (May 2019)

Bootcamp Cohorts

  • Summer 2025, Camp Dellwood, Indianapolis: builds Aug 2, 9 and 16, 2025; launch Aug 24, 2025, Muncie
  • Fall 2025, Park, Indianapolis: builds Nov 1 and 8, 2025; launch Feb 8, 2026, Pence
  • Winter 2026, first group, Camp Dellwood, Indianapolis: build Jan 25, 2026; launch Feb 8, 2026, Pence
  • Winter 2026, second group, Camp Dellwood, Indianapolis: build Feb 1, 2026; launch Feb 8, 2026, Pence
  • Spring 2026, Camp Dellwood, Indianapolis: builds Apr 4 and 18, 2026; launch Apr 19, 2026, Pence, during LDRS 44
  • Enlace Academy, Indianapolis: one-day build for 75 students, May 7, 2026
  • Indiana Black Expo Youth Leadership Summit, with Purdue University, Indianapolis: one-day build, Jul 17, 2026
  • Indiana State Museum, Space Day, Indianapolis: one-day build, Jul 18, 2026
  • City of Fishers, Fishers Maker Playground: build Aug 2, 2026; launch Aug 9, 2026, Muncie
  • Lilly Global Day of Service, Hattie B. Stokes Elementary, Lebanon: build Sep 24, 2026; launch Sep 25, 2026, Sheridan Airport

Honors & Awards

  • Letter of Recognition from the Governor of Indiana for the High-Power Rocket Bootcamp (2026)
  • NSBE 25 Under 25, National Society of Black Engineers (2026)
  • Eli Lilly Rise Recognition, “Deliver”, nominated by Lilly’s Chief People Officer (2026)
  • Wielenga Research Scholar, Michigan State University, $4,000 stipend (2022)
  • 1st Place in Africa, DStv Eutelsat Star Awards, essay category, judged by a panel chaired by ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli (2018)

Leadership & Service

Chapter Secretary & Communications Chair

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), MSU Chapter · East Lansing, MI
September 2022 - May 2024
  • Rebranded the chapter’s social media under @nsbemsu and redesigned nsbemsu.org; Instagram reach rose 38%, membership 47%, and interest in national convention attendance 121%
  • Solicited sponsorships from companies including SpaceX to fund chapter operations

Skills

  • Project delivery: capital projects; design, construction, and C&Q oversight; vendor selection; governance and risk reporting; FDA-regulated facilities
  • Engineering tools: Siemens NX, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, MATLAB, Xfoil, JMP, Python, C++
  • Engineering analysis: aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, boundary layer theory, statistical analysis (JMP)
  • Lab, shop, and certification: fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, electron microscopy, 3D printing, mills and lathes, Tripoli Rocketry Association Level 2
  • Languages: English; Shona and French (limited proficiency)

Selected Press

  • Indianapolis Star (2026), WTHR NBC Indianapolis (2026), Fox59 (2026), The Week Junior (2026), FRIB Greensheet (2022), Botswana Guardian (2019, 2020), Space in Africa (2019)

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