Columbia to the Cosmos
As a Fulbright Scholar, Jeonghyun “Jay” Chae BS’24 is transforming childhood curiosity into propulsion research that could shape future lunar and planetary exploration.
by Kate Cammell
Raised in Boise, Idaho, and originally from South Korea, Jeonghyun ‘Jay’ Chae BS’24 remembers an early fascination with space.
“I’ve always thought space represents something philosophically interesting,” said Chae, who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. “It is very much a real thing, but it’s about as intangible as something real can be. It’s hard to fathom.”
In November 2025, Chae joined the Warsaw Institute of Aviation as a Fulbright Scholar, bringing his childhood dream to fruition as he works to improve the propulsion and design efficiency of rocket engines. Engineering was a familiar path for Chae, who followed in his dad’s footsteps as a mechanical engineer. Intrigued by the versatility of mechanics, Chae specialized in aerospace and propulsion systems during his time at Columbia.
He explored these interests through the Columbia Space Initiative (CSI), where students form subteams to work on rocket mission launches. “It helped me figure out what I want to do and where I want to be,” Chae noted. “I’m grateful for that.” Through CSI, he honed hands-on skills in fluid engineering design work and manufacturing. He now applies these to his career as an engineer at Blue Origin, where he works on powerful rocket engines.
As a Fulbright Scholar, Chae is eager to soak up the history, culture, and art of Poland while continuing to optimize rocket engines. Alongside colleagues at the Warsaw Institute of Aviation, he aims to implement more thorough and efficient testing capabilities on throttleable engines to enable better precision control for lunar and planetary landings.
It’s a mission that transforms a childhood fascination with space into real-world innovation that could help humanity explore deeper into the unknown.