Puneet Singh Brings Industry Experience to Aerospace Research at UT Austin 

Puneet Singh joined The University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics as an assistant professor in May 2026, bringing industry experience in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and expertise in computational aeromechanics, aircraft design, controls, modeling and simulation, and multidisciplinary design optimization. 

Singh’s research focuses on advanced air mobility systems and novel aircraft configurations, with an emphasis on understanding, designing and controlling increasingly complex vehicles. 

His interest in aerospace engineering began with rotorcraft aeromechanics, where he became interested in the complex interactions among aerodynamics, structural dynamics and flight dynamics. 

“There’s no part on a rotor blade that’s moving at the same speed all the time,” Singh said. “Everything is constantly changing, and it’s a highly dynamic environment.” 

Singh earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur in 2013 before earning an M.S. and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, where he focused on rotorcraft aeromechanics. 

Before joining the department, Singh worked at eVTOL companies including Overair and Archer Aviation, focusing on aircraft flight dynamics, loads, controls, simulation and design. His industry experience gave him a practical perspective on applying research to aircraft development. 

“I really enjoyed my time in industry,” Singh said. “After getting my Ph.D., I got the chance to see what it’s like to work in an environment where you’re trying to build something, and where many different disciplines come together to make it work well and do it quickly.” 

At UT Austin, Singh is continuing his work in computational methods, simulation and multidisciplinary design, studying how emerging aerospace configurations behave and how engineers can improve their stability, responsiveness and safety. His research also examines flying and handling qualities, including how aircraft respond to pilot inputs and interact with autonomy and control systems. 

eVTOL aircraft present particular challenges because they combine characteristics of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft. 

“Now we need software, design and analysis tools that can model systems that do both,” Singh said. “That’s much more challenging than what we were doing before.” 

Singh will use UT Austin’s advanced modeling and simulation capabilities, including the NovaSim helicopter and jet virtual reality simulators, to study these challenges and improve aircraft design and flying qualities. His work also considers the people who interact with these systems, from pilots to passengers. 

“I want to make aviation and spaceflight as safe as possible,” Singh said. “In engineering, we tend to focus a lot on the math and physics, but I want to make sure that our simulations and analyses are incorporating the human experience as well, whether as a pilot, operator or passenger.” 

His industry experience continues to shape his approach to research and teaching. 

“It’s not just about publishing papers — it’s about solving real problems in ways that people can use and understand,” Singh said. “I’m also interested in developing new courses and teaching students the skills they need to succeed in the aerospace industry.” 

That practical perspective is one reason Singh was drawn to UT Austin, where he found broad expertise across aerospace disciplines and opportunities for collaboration. 

“It’s a department with some of the best researchers and academics across all areas of aerospace engineering, not just one particular field,” he said. 

He hopes to bring that collaborative approach to his students, encouraging them to think independently and approach aerospace problems from multiple perspectives.