My Story

Originally from the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, my passion for problem solving naturally led me to the world of engineering, where I can turn my desire to innovate into a reality. I chose Duke for its world-class academics, vibrant campus energy, and the unmatched opportunities it offers young innovators to explore, grow, and make a real impact.

My name is Ethan Rheude, and I am a senior at Duke University majoring in Mechanical Engineering with Certificates in Aerospace Engineering and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. While I entered college knowing I wanted to study engineering, my academic path was shaped by curiosity and a willingness to step outside my comfort zone. I chose Mechanical Engineering for its versatility and broad foundation, giving me the flexibility to explore a range of interests. Aerospace wasn’t initially on my radar, but after joining Duke AERO, I discovered a passion for it that led me to pursue the certificate. To balance out my STEM-heavy degree, I found the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Certificate to perfectly complement my technical studies by giving me insight into the business and creative sides of engineering.

My coursework in I&E fits into my future plans because it has instilled me with the confidence to try something new without the fear of failing. The path to being a successful engineer or entrepreneur is rarely linear, and setbacks are often part of the process. In high school, I was a perfectionist, afraid to venture into anything that I did not think I could accomplish. That mindset held me back. I now know that striving for perfection only limits achievement, and that instead, I should strive to be the best version of myself. My engineering coursework has given me a lot of technical skills, but my I&E coursework has strengthened my creative and strategic skills, which are integral to taking an idea from concept to market.

I'm currently working on two different aerospace-related research projects. In Summer 2025, I worked with Duke Professor, Dr. Dowell, exploring the effects of riblets on the efficiency of airfoils. I found the incorporation of riblets into airfoil designs to significantly decrease drag meaning that aerospace companies could use this design to increase flight efficiency and improve fuel savings. Now, I'm looking more into how material selection impacts the effects of the riblets, but you can read more about my summer work here. My other project is exploring multi-equilibrium states in thin structures after buckling. This research is being performed with Duke Professor, Dr. Virgin. Since aerospace structures are often thin in an effort to minimize weight, they are susceptible to buckling, so understanding how these behaviors is critical for safe design.

I've participated in a variety of internship and volunteer work experiences throughout my time at Duke. In Summer 2023, I participated in Duke Engage, spending eight weeks in Kaihura, Uganda. Through collaboration with a local faith-based organization and Duke Engineers for International Development, I helped build a secondary school for approximately 300 students. Operating in a low-resource setting required creative problem-solving, adaptability, and on-the-ground collaboration—core entrepreneurial skills. In Summer 2024, I worked as a mechanical engineering intern for Michael Baker International in Salt Lake City, Utah. I helped design HVAC/Plumbing systems that required unique and innovative solutions for a variety of federal/military projects. Most recently, in Summer 2025, I interned at ValveTech, Inc., a small aerospace company in Phelps, New York. This experience exposed me to the entrepreneurial side of engineering—working closely with clients, iterating on custom valve designs, and witnessing firsthand how a smaller firm adapts to customer needs and drives innovation in a niche market.

Looking ahead, I want to use engineering and innovation to create solutions that make a tangible difference in people’s lives. My time at Duke has equipped me with not only the technical skills to invent, but also the mindset to bring those ideas into the world. Whether it’s through developing technology, improving systems, or launching something of my own, I hope to contribute to work that solves real problems and expands what’s possible.

Check out my I&E Coursework, I&E Experiences, and Final Reflection pages.

You can click on the following link to go back to my I&E Portfolio homepage.

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