The people
behind the
mission.
100+ engineers, scientists, and operators span 15 universities across Japan and Texas A&M as they build competition-level Mars rover hardware.
Founders
KARURA started in 2022 with a small group of students who believed a cross-Pacific engineering team could compete in the world's most demanding student robotics competition, and in 2024 they proved it.
Hirokuni Kakiuchi
Co-Founder
Aerospace Engineering senior at Texas A&M University. Oversees all mechanical design, fabrication strategy, and the US operational node of KARURA.
Mechanical · Program Direction · US Operations
Texas A&M University
Haruto Seto
Co-Founder
Mechanical Systems Engineering. Co-architect of the KARURA cross-Pacific engineering model from the program's founding in 2022.
Mechanical Systems · Program Architecture
Shinshu University
Hardware
Chassis · Suspension · Drive Train · Robotic Arm
Ellie Person
US Project Co-Manager & Executive Director of Hardware
Texas A&M University
MJ Seelke
Hardware Lead
Texas A&M University
Carter Boland
Drone Lead
Texas A&M University
Cindy Long
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Harry Phan
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Sean Birdwell
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Supreet Sudharshana
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Kevin Shu
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Hannah Liu
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Aidan Salazar
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Will Mascorro
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Kevin Progatsky
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Karthik Somashekhar
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Electrical
Power · PCB Design · Motor Control · Sensors
Nicolas Medina Deleon
Executive Director of Electrical Systems
Texas A&M University
Atharva Agarwal
Power Distribution Member
Texas A&M University
Siddharth Rajasekaran
Arm Embedded Systems Member
Texas A&M University
Amulya Bissaria
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Zayan Alam
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Ishaan Khosla
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Amogh Kaji
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Victor Bao
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Rayyan Arshad
Hardware Member
Texas A&M University
Software / Autonomy
ROS2 · Navigation · Computer Vision · Telemetry GUI
Zachary Renkema
Project Co-Manager & Executive Director of Software
Texas A&M University
Ethan Do
Control Station Lead & KARURA AI Lead
Texas A&M University
Pranav Kalaiselvan
Arm Software Lead
Texas A&M University
Ikaika Mendoza
Drone/Science/Communications Software Lead
Texas A&M University
Matthew Culver
Autonomous Navigation/Mobility Software Lead
Texas A&M University
Gauri Agrawal
Software Member
Texas A&M University
Ryo Kato
Software Member
Texas A&M University
Dunsin Komolafe
Software Member
Texas A&M University
Yashvi Mehta
Software Member
Texas A&M University
Rhea Goyal
Software Member
Texas A&M University
Muhammad Ibrahim Khurram
Software Member
Texas A&M University
Anvay Todkar
Software Member
Texas A&M University
Aidan Morris
Software Member
Texas A&M University
Science
Astrobiology · Life Detection · Sample Analysis
Shakti Sridhar
Executive Director of Life Sciences
Texas A&M University
Camille Cordell
Microscopy Lead
Texas A&M University
Alex Jonasz
Geology Lead
Texas A&M University
Hana Blair
Microscopy Member
Texas A&M University
Jyotsana Nagarapu
Geology Member
Texas A&M University
Ruksana Faizal
Geology Member
Texas A&M University
Business & Outreach
Sponsorship · PR · Operations · Recruitment
Brady Wood
Executive Director of Business Operations
Texas A&M University
Fareed Badamosi
Finance Lead
Texas A&M University
Victoria Corral
Marketing Lead
Texas A&M University
Jacob Hanel
Sponsorship Lead
Texas A&M University
Nick Evans
Engagement Lead
Texas A&M University
Tati Meza
Graphic Designer
Texas A&M University
Tiago Silva
Business Member
Texas A&M University
Evan Haack
Business Member
Texas A&M University