Mechanical Engineering Student Named Patti Grace Smith Fellow

Elias Bilal, E26, was selected as a 2026 Patti Grace Smith Fellow. Named after Patti Grace Smith, a notable leader in commercial space transportation, the program supports Black undergraduate students seeking their first aerospace internship experience and builds community amongst talented, passionate aerospace leaders. 

The fellowship connects leading aerospace companies with high-achieving students who participate in a paid summer internship. This year, fellows represent twenty colleges and universities across 15 states.  

Bilal will intern at Draper, a nonprofit engineering innovation company, joining its Mechanism and Electromechanical Design Department. His experience as a research assistant in Tufts’ Microscale Sensors and Systems Laboratory, along with his President and Vice President positions with Tufts National Society of Black Engineers and Tufts American Society of Mechanical Engineers, have positioned Bilal to make significant contributions in both aerospace engineering research and leadership.   

Bilal conducts stratospheric data acquisition research, helping to build technology that can collect information about the atmosphere of Earth and other planets. He also competes on the Tufts University football team and plays the French horn for Tufts’ ensemble, noting that these experiences helped him develop a strong sense of routine and discipline.  

"I am excited to connect with like-minded individuals, learn from accomplished mentors, and contribute to the aerospace industry, gaining experience with hands-on professional mechanism and electromechanical design projects,” Bilal said. “I can’t wait to get started.”