Dr Gladys Ngetich is a Rhodes Scholar and a Schmidt Science Fellow. She recently worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT, USA where she researched wax-based propellants for the launch and in-space propulsion of small satellites.
Gladys obtained her PhD in Engineering Science (Aerospace) from the University of Oxford where, in close collaboration with Rolls Royce Plc, she researched advanced techniques for cooling jet engines. Before Oxford, she pursued a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Outside the lab, she has been pursuing her entrepreneurial interests. She is the co-founder and CEO of Sqdgo (pronounced Squad Go); a group-sharing ride platform that aims to bridge the gap between unreliable public transportation and relatively expensive digital taxis. The startup has been recognized and funded by top programs like Founders Factory and Standard Chartered Bank
Gladys has been a recipient of many notable awards and recognition including; RMB Africa’s Fearless Thinker, MIT Rising Star in Aerospace, the International Astronautical Federation IAF Emerging Space Leader Award, UK Rare Rising Star, Kenya’s Top 40 Under 40 Women, and featured in Nature and twice in the BBC Science News
To inspire others to unleash their full potential, Gladys hosts GNInspire YouTube channel and has also published two books: “The PhD Journey” and “The Bold Dream
