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
Mechanical
Chassis · Suspension · Drive Train · Robotic Arm
Ellie Person
US Project Co-Manager & US Executive Director of Hardware
Texas A&M University
MJ Seelke
Mechanical Arm Lead
Texas A&M University
JZ Zabolio
Mechanical Arm Member
Texas A&M University
Praharshini Nernuru
Mechanical Arm Member
Texas A&M University
Carter Boland
CAD Specialist & Drone Manager
Texas A&M University
Sean B
Mechanical Mobility 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 Members
Texas A&M University
Siddharth Rajasekaran
Arm Embedded Systems Member
Texas A&M University
Pranav Kalaiselvan
Arm Embedded Systems Member
Texas A&M University
Gavin Cervantez
Science Embedded Systems Member
Texas A&M University
Anshi Ravula
Science Embedded Systems Member
Texas A&M University
Software
ROS2 · Navigation · Computer Vision · Telemetry GUI
Zachary Renkema
Project Co-Manger & Executive Director of Software
Texas A&M University
William Clymire
Autonomous Navigation Lead
Texas A&M University
Ethan Do
Control Station Lead & KARURA AI Lead
Texas A&M University
Ikaika Mendoza
KARURA AI Member
Texas A&M University
Matthew Culver
Communications Member
Texas A&M University
Oliver Hankins
Control Station Member
Texas A&M University
Science
Astrobiology · Life Detection · Sample Analysis
Shakti Sridhar
Director of Life Sciences
Texas A&M University
Camille Cordell
Flourescense Lead
Texas A&M University
Alex Jonasz
Geology Member
Texas A&M University
Robb Gass
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