James "JJ" McCauley, 2024

Hello! My name is James "JJ" McCauley. I am currently a sophomore at the University of Maryland studying aerospace engineering, following the astronautical track within the Aerospace Engineering Honors Program. I have always been fond of complex problem solving, applied physics and mathematics, and taking a collaborative and creative approach to explore my curiosity of the universe. At the University of Maryland, I am a part of College Park Scholars: Science and Global Change (SGC), a living-learning program with a focus on exploring global climate change. I completed my practicum in the summer of 2025, working as a project manager with Aramark Facilities Management in Manhattan University. I worked with technicians, engineers, and managers to run the boiler rooms, HVAC systems, and day-to-day maintenance of the university. In my second year with SGC, I became a scholars peer-mentor, helping the freshman class with their transition to the university and College Park Scholars. I am also a member of UMD Loop, an undergraduate-run engineering team that designs and builds a Mars rover to compete in the University Rover Challenge. I have the role of science team lead, where I am in charge of the system that collects and tests samples for life. My team and I are currently developing scoop and auger mechanisms to collect samples, which are then analyzed with a custom made Raman spectrometer and fluorometer. Our team has been chosen as one of 38 teams, representing 18 different countries, to compete at the Mars Desert Research Station in the Utah desert for the 2026 URC competition. In addition to Loop, I have also participated in the Nearspace Balloon Payload Program, an engineering team doing scientific research by launching latex balloons tens-of-thousands of feet into the air with payloads to record data. I worked on the GHOUL system, which is what allows for the ventilation of helium, allowing for altitude control. Overall, I am always keeping my eye open for new opportunities to learn and meet new people.