“Using racing as a catalyst for education, per inspires students to refine and implement their various majors and passions in a program dedicated to the improvement of its members.”

— Sharada Shetty

Student Spotlight

Ryan Gelston

I joined PER to increase my practical experience in the field applications of mechanical engineering to further my educational experience here at Purdue, and to have fun while doing it! I find great enjoyment in working with the CAD/FEA/Manufacturing side of things, and can’t wait to further my understanding.
Luke Sasche

I am currently a Junior studying Electrical Engineering here at Purdue. I joined PER to be able to combine my passions for motorsport and engineering, as well as apply my skills learned in the classroom in a real world application. PER has given me plenty of experience which I cannot wait to bring into the professional world, especially since I would be grateful to land a career in a related industry, I believe many of the skills and lessons I have gathered so far would transfer seamlessly.
RJ Pedigo

I’m a Mechanical Engineering student who loves using new technology to solve problems so I joined PER to start applying the work I have been doing in school to gain experience in the field of Vehicle Dynamics.
Michael Sudol

I am a third year mechanical engineering student… My work with PER has not only led me to feel more engaged in my classes and peers as I apply what I learn, but has landed me multiple internships in both vehicle dynamics and battery thermal analysis.
Eli Isom

I joined PER because coming into college during the pandemic I knew I wanted to be involved in something, so I didn't spend all my time in a dorm. My friends suggested I join PER and I've loved it ever since. I've gotten to work on many fun and important projects like creating the first ever carbon fiber suspension linkages and designing the brake pedal. I've learned lots of machining processes as well as the importance of time management. My experience in PER has prepared me to fit very well into my internship with companies by having the previous experiences through PER.
Mark O' Donnell

I have joined PER to get hands on experience with electric vehicles while being able to apply the knowledge I've learned throughout my ECE classes. I have just finished the onboarding process and eager to help with the PCBs. I look forward to gaining experience and developing skills that help me break into industry.
Dario Mirelli

I am originally from Milan, Italy and moved to Dallas, Texas. I am a member of the Drivetrain sub-team. Having always had a passion for the automotive industry, I decided to join PER to put my passions to a hands-on experience. PER has helped me create many connections with top companies as well motivate me to keep striving towards my dream of working in the automotive industry.
Carlos Serrano

I’m an international student from Mexico who is passionate about engineering. I joined PER as I wanted to work on a team that would teach me how to build, test, and modify an electric car that is built from the ground up and all the skills that this would bring to me. I have learned how to machine multiple parts, test on carbon fiber, analyze test data, design on new 3D software software, and to work with a team. All these learnings have helped me to become a more complete engineer by complementing my in class learnings with some real world experience.

At PER, our primary goal is to foster a healthy, equitable, and inclusive team environment for all members. We aim to enable and empower all students to reach their full academic potential in an inclusive environment. We encourage an open and honest work culture, with constant feedback from our members on improvements we can bring about to achieve a productive and virtuous team dynamic.

We strive to push for diversity and inclusion in our team. There is no resource or task too large to overcome in our pursuit of this, and PER supports individuals from historically underrepresented demographics in getting a fair opportunity to learn. Whether you’re a new, inexperienced member getting onboarded, or an industry veteran returning to the workshop, everyone will get the chance to work with and demonstrate engineering, business, and leadership capabilities. We stand together as one team, representing Purdue Electric Racing’s status as a premier, Nationally ranked team.

Our Mission

Purdue Electric Racing is primarily a technical organization, as design and manufacturing are the core actions of our team. To fill this need, we have brought in students from several different colleges: College of Engineering, College of Science, and the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. While these are our primary sources of students, we are working to diversify into non-technical areas.

PER currently has a Business team composed of Accounting, Sales, IE, ME, and ECE students. We are currently also recruiting from the College of Liberal Arts and the Krannert School of Management to increase diversity in our team. Formula SAE provides development opportunities to develop solid technical abilities and strong leadership skills. The design work that is done to create a competitive vehicle provides an incredibly valuable experience. It serves as an extremely effective complement to the material studied in coursework. With this in mind, leadership can be even more critical to the team’s ultimate success. Leading PER is very similar to managing an innovative startup, so the lessons learned are invaluable to students’ future careers. The two previous presidents of our team are now working at electric vehicle startups in Silicon Valley.

PER highly values dedication to our team, and this is what we look for in new members. If a student approaches us with this mindset, we are ecstatic to have them, regardless of their demographics. Because of this, a significant portion of our team is made up of international students.

“Our goal is to increase our underrepresented group membership by 30% within the next two years…we plan to do this with a variety of recruitment methods and collaborative outreach programs ”

Elliot Stockwell, Chief Mechanical Engineer

“At PER, we put people first;

Focusing on fostering both technical and professional skills, our aim is to produce leaders from a variety of backgrounds.

Everyone is valued and has equal opportunity to thrive ”

Chris Larkin, PER President

Interested In Joining the Team?

PER puts teamwork and technical skills at the forefront of our team. We are looking for aspiring professionals and leaders who are ready to take the next step in working as part of a joined effort to push the forefront of racing technology. If you are interested in learning new skills, networking with members in the industry, and being a part of a fun, inclusive and collaborative community, click the button below to get more info!

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