Mina Cezairili and Lilly Etzenbach selected for Aviation Week Network’s “20 Twenties” Class of 2026
AeroAstro grad students Mina Cezairili (ICAT) and Lilly Etzenbach (ESL) have been awarded spots in Aviation Week Network’s 20 Twenties Class of 2026. Since 2013, the program has annually recognized 20 emerging aerospace leaders based on academic excellence, community engagement, and impactful research.
This year’s winners were selected from 60 nominees from 20 schools representing 13 countries. Cezairili and Etzenbach join 14 Course 16 alumni named to 20 Twenties cohorts in previous years.
Awardees are nominated by their advisors and colleagues as part of the application process. “I am very grateful for my advisor Prof. John Hansman, who always pushes me to think about the real-world applications and impact of my research,” says Cezairili. She also thanks Liam Gilbey, chapter lead during her internship at Air New Zealand, “and my MIT AeroAstro peers, whose passion and accomplishments continually inspire me.”
About our winners:
Mina Cezairili researches operational improvements that can reduce the environmental impact of aviation, from reducing excess fuel burn in flights worldwide to abating local noise impacts on communities living near airports, under Prof. John Hansman. Prior to MIT, Mina studied Mechanical Engineering at Yale University and worked as an economic consulting analyst for two years. She is interested in human systems and the intersection of aviation and data science. Mina has a private pilot’s license and enjoys flying, running, and reading in her free time.
Lilly Etzenbach is a SM candidate in the Strategic Engineering Research Group within the Engineering Systems Laboratory, researching under Prof. Olivier de Weck. She obtained her BS in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Aerospace Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 2024. As an undergraduate, she led research on microgravity combustion with NASA and was president of the university’s liquid rocketry team. As a graduate student at MIT, her research interest lies broadly in the domain of space systems, space exploration logistics and space travel.
The 20 students chosen for the Class of 2026 will be honored at a Luncheon and celebrated at the Aviation Week Network’s annual Laureates Awards and Banquet in March 2026 in Washington, DC.
