Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, 2026
  • M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, 2021
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, 2018
Professional Honors
  • NY Space Grant Graduate Research Fellowship, NY NASA Space Grant Consortium, 2024
  • NY Space Grant Graduate Research Fellowship, NY NASA Space Grant Consortium, 2021
  • McMullen Fellowship, Cornell University, 2021
  • GEM Fellowship, The National GEM Consortium, 2019
  • Dean’s Excellence Fellowship, Cornell University, 2018
  • Dr. Andrés Calderón Colón Scholarship, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, 2018
Professional Affiliations
  • American Physical Society (APS)
  • Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
Languages
  • Spanish

Rivera Rosario, Ph.D., is a mechanical and aerospace engineering expert with experience in fluid dynamics, turbulence, optical diagnostics, and experimental design. She has experience developing complex testing setups for multidisciplinary applications and using high-speed imaging, image processing techniques, and data analysis.

Before joining Exponent, Dr. Rivera Rosario completed her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University. Her dissertation research focused on characterizing the effects of compressibility on turbulent jets, particularly using optical methods such as schlieren imaging to quantify changes in the density field. She also investigated the feasibility of specialized medical equipment for aerosol containment during surgical procedures, supported projects involving the visualization of droplet breakup mechanisms from a cough-generating device, and supported the development of an experimental setup for testing breathability and thermal performance of fabrics. Earlier in her career, she contributed to propulsion system performance and trajectory optimization projects for supersonic vehicles. Dr. Rivera Rosario also holds an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.