Dona Marabe
Dona in a blue flight suit against a doodled space backdrop Dona in a lab at the Philippine Space Agency Dona's graduation portrait from Philippine Science High School

Dona Marabe

Mechanical engineering student at De La Salle University and 2026 IAF Emerging Space Leader, building a path to space from penguin-inspired airfoils to the university's first rocketry team.

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Highlights

Awards and the roles that shaped them, from a first volunteer internship at the national space agency to a rocket launch.

1 of 5

2026

Emerging Space Leader

Awarded by the International Astronautical Federation for the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Türkiye.

2 of 5

2025

Young Pioneer Award in Aerospace, finalist

International Astronautical Federation, at the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney.

Young Pioneer Award certificate held up in front of an IAC 2025 sign
The Archernauts model rocket lifting off from a field

3 of 5

Oct 2024 – present

Archernauts: founder and team leader

De La Salle University's first CanSat and model rocket team. Its CanSat won Best Can Satellite Project with a successful rocket launch at the Philippines' first National Can Satellite and Rocket Competition (Indiana Aerospace University, 2025).

  • Led the team through design, fabrication, testing, launch and post-flight analysis
  • Designed and simulated flight systems in OpenRocket, from CG/CP stability to mid-flight payload deployment
  • Ran a hands-on rocketry workshop for high school students

4 of 5

Jun 2024 – Apr 2025

Philippine Space Agency: volunteer intern

Spacecraft Mechanical & Autonomous Systems Development Division, Space Technology Missions & Systems Bureau.

  • Pioneered the agency's first volunteer internship role
  • Designed satellite component attachments in SolidWorks and contributed to the MULA satellite scale model
  • Co-authored the Philippines' first permit manual for emerging aerospace technologies
A metal plate engraved with a star and sun, made during the PhilSA internship

5 of 5

2021

Youth Excellence in Science awardee

Awarded by the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).

Research & projects

Aerodynamics, space suits, rockets and satellite data, presented from Tainan to Sydney.

A desk with a laptop, notes and NASA mugs
77th International Astronautical Congress, Antalya 2026

Three papers heading to IAC 2026

To be presented and published in the conference proceedings.

  1. Biomimetic penguin feather-inspired surface textures for passive ice accretion mitigation and flow control in aerospace structures
  2. Development and flight validation of a novel non-pyrotechnic pneumatic deployment mechanism for amateur rocketry in a non-spacefaring nation
  3. Advancing aerospace interest in an emerging space nation through student-led initiatives: a Philippine university case study
The International Convention Centre in Sydney
76th IAC, Sydney 2025

The design concept of an ultrahaptic glove for extravehicular space suits

Presented and published in the conference proceedings.

Read the paper (DOI)
Entrance of National Cheng Kung University in Tainan
ILASS-Asia, Tainan 2025

CFD analysis of a NACA 4412 airfoil with finite span effects

Presented at the Institute for Liquid Atomization and Spray Systems – Asia conference.

EU-Copernicus Youth Challenge banner, Cebu, November 2025
SGAC AP-SGW, Cebu 2025

Sat4Blue, EU-Copernicus Youth Challenge

A satellite-data, community-driven solution to mangrove forest depletion and blue carbon crediting. Presented at the Space Generation Advisory Council's Asia-Pacific Space Generation Workshop, with the EU Delegation to the Philippines and the European Space Agency.

  • 1stFirst place in the working group
Turbinobabies team title card
Science fairs, 2020–2021

The development of a slow drift motion–based water turbine

  • 2021Best in Sustainable Energy, Singapore International Science Challenge
  • 2020Gold Medal, International Science Inventions Fair, Applied Science (Indonesia)
  • 2020Champion, Science Castle in ASEAN Research Fair (Singapore)

Education

Built from the ground up: a physics foundation at Pisay, mechanical engineering at La Salle, and a semester of composites in Toulouse.

Graduated 2021 · Quezon City, Philippines

Philippine Science High School – Main Campus

Physics core with electives in Design & Make Technologies, Engineering, and Practical Astronomy. Graduated with High Honors.

Front of Philippine Science High School Main Campus
  • Excellence in Research Award, given to 2 of 240+ students
  • Gawad Liknayan (Award in Physics): competed on the student honors physics team and served as Physics Youth Honors Society president
  • Special Citation in Engineering
2021 – present · Manila, Philippines

De La Salle University – Manila

BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering, specialization in Mechatronics Engineering (Honors Ladderized Program). Current GPA 3.698 / 4.000.

  • Thesis: the investigation of aerodynamic properties of a penguin flipper surface biomimetic NACA 4412 airfoil
  • STAR Scholar, one of the top 15 student applicants nationwide
  • ERDT scholar: Engineering Research and Development for Technology, under the Department of Science and Technology
Aug 2023 – Jan 2024 · Toulouse, France

INSA Toulouse

Study abroad: MS in Mechanical Engineering coursework.

Entrance sign of INSA Toulouse
  • Composites module, Erasmus FRP++ 1, 2 and 6 (15.95, ECTS A), part of the European Masters Course in Advanced Structural Analysis and Design using Composite Materials
  • Smart Machining (15.6, ECTS A), with Airbus SE as partner and client for the design and manufacturing concept

Speaking engagements

Talks, panels, mentoring and training, most recent first.

  1. “Suntok sa Buwan”

    Shooting for the moon

    Philippine Space Agency Resource speaker & panelist

    The first Philippine Activities in SpaceTech (PHAST) Talk, part of the National Philippine Space Week Exhibit 2026. A talk on pioneering opportunities in aerospace.

  2. Beyond the Horizon: The Future is Already in Orbit

    La Salle Computer Society, DLSU Technology Summit Guest speaker

    Space systems engineering from the perspective of a student researcher.

  3. Ignite: Launching ME to New Heights

    Far Eastern University, Mechanical Engineering Chain of Societies Guest speaker

    Why a mechanical engineering foundation matters in aerospace research, at the organization's general assembly.

  4. Space Fundamentals Boot Camp

    Lockheed Martin Space, Grand Hyatt Manila Participant

    A two-day intensive on foundational space systems, mission planning and industry applications.

  5. NASA Space Apps Challenge, Philippines

    Virtual Mentor

    Guided teams through project ideation for the national competition.

  6. Wonder Women Tech Virtual Summit

    Amplify Stage, global event Solo speaker

    On the struggles of being a woman in STEM from a third-world country.

Sidequests

Leadership, a varsity frisbee team, and the parts bin of skills that goes into every build.

Leadership & activities

  • DLSU Ultimate Frisbee Team

    Varsity athlete
    2023 – present

  • University Student Government: Engineering College Government

    Student Opportunities Director
    2024 – 2025
    76th ENG Batch President
    2022 – 2024
    Public Relations Chairperson
    2021 – 2022

  • Mechanical Engineering Society

    Academics Assistant Vice President
    2023 – 2025
    External Relations Assistant Vice President
    2022 – 2023

  • Lasallian Scholars Society

    Marketing and Publicity Assistant Vice President
    2022 – 2023

  • Youth for Women in Technology (WiTech)

    Vice President for Internal Relations
    2020 – 2022

Skills

Technical

  • SolidWorks
  • OpenRocket
  • ANSYS FEA / CFD
  • MATLAB & Simulink basic
  • Arduino IDE basic
  • Microsoft Office
  • Google Workspace

Laboratory

  • Additive manufacturing FDM / SLA resin
  • Soldering basic
  • Test set-up & instrumentation
  • Workshop tools basic

Professional

  • Team leadership
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Systems thinking & iterative design
  • STEM education & public engagement

Languages

  • English native / bilingual
  • Filipino native / bilingual
  • French A1