Daniella Caldarella
Email: dc7510@princeton.edu
Education
BSE, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (Current Program)
Princeton University, Class of 2026
Biography
Daniella C. is from Flemington, NJ and is a member of Princeton University’s Class of 2026, majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where her studies are inspired by her passion for aviation and her experience as a licensed private pilot. With flight experience in Cessna 172s she brings a pilot’s perspective to her engineering work, connecting hands-on flying with the design and analysis of aircraft systems. She has interned at General Dynamics Mission Systems and led Princeton’s Aeronautical Engineering Capstone team in designing a flying wing sUAV. She also contributes as a graphic designer to Princeton Electric Speedboating and her favorite hobby is painting and crafting. Outside of engineering and flying, Daniella enjoys traveling with her family and exploring new places, always inspired by the horizons she sees from the cockpit.
Research
For her senior thesis, Daniella is exploring a bio-inspired approach to high-lift systems by applying shark gill–inspired ram air spanwise blowing at the wing root of an aircraft. Shark gills positioned ahead of their pectoral fins with ram fluid flow suggests potential aerodynamic benefits when adapted to lifting surfaces. Previous research on spanwise blowing in aircraft demonstrated improved boundary layer attachment, enhanced vortex lift, and higher stall angles, though conventional circular nozzles and reliance on engine bleed air limited efficiency and safety. By contrast, Daniella’s project introduces “gill slots” integrated into a 3D-printed fuselage and wing-root assembly, tested in a wind tunnel under varying angles of attack, airflow conditions, and gill geometries. The goal is to assess whether shark-inspired spanwise blowing can passively delay stall, reduce drag, and increase lift without depending on engine bleed air, offering a safer, more fuel-efficient, and environmentally sustainable alternative for next-generation aircraft design.