Hannah Gillespie

I am a 2023 Marshall Scholar and a 2020 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where I earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Theology. My work sits at the intersection of engineering and international development, driven by a commitment to sustainable, human-centered solutions.

During my time at Notre Dame, I was deeply involved in both technical leadership and global research. I served as the president of the AIAA Design/Build/Fly club and was recognized as a Kellogg International Scholar and a de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture Sorin Fellow. These experiences shaped my approach to engineering: viewing technical challenges through the lens of human dignity and community impact.

My research journey has taken me from developing robotic proxy fingers for haptic feedback at Imperial College London to co-creating all-natural biosand filters in Léogâne, Haiti. I believe that true innovation happens when we prioritize the needs and voices of the people we serve, whether designing autonomous systems for commercial aircraft or building resilient infrastructure in developing regions.

I am a former Autonomous Systems Engineer at Boeing currently working on two start-up ventures in the UK. I am passionate about leveraging my background in engineering for sustainable development to create a more equitable and resilient future.