Students

Check out the highlights below to learn more about some of our VIPER students and alumni!

Bhaskar Abhiraman

Bhaskar Abhiraman

Designing a sustainable world is the challenge of our generation. VIPER is an amazing way to start a career thinking about the cutting-edge tech to make it happen.

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Natalia Acero

Natalia Acero

My biggest passion has always been renewable energy, especially solar energy. Being part of VIPER gave me a place of belonging and a group of friends with whom I could share this passion. I knew I would be surrounded with people who are interested…

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Kaiyuan Chen

Kaiyuan Chen

Growing up in a city notorious for its air pollution, I am always aware of the importance of preserving our environment and seeking new energy sources. With prior research experience on the correlation between haze and GDP in major Chinese cities, I…

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Will Deo

Will Deo

Coming out of high school I knew that I was interested in academic research as well as the evolving energy field.  VIPER seemed to be a unique program that suited my interests in both of these areas with strong program support.  All of this made it…

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Mohamed Elshabrawishy

Mohamed Elshabrawishy

I chose VIPER because it allowed me to focus on what my true passion was from the very beginning. I have always been interested in renewable energy sources and sustainable development. Coming from Egypt, I have seen first-hand how conventional…

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Ben Hammel

Ben Hammel

I wanted to study both Chemistry and MSE. I have also been interested in energy research going back to science fair projects in middle school. VIPER offered everything I wanted. Naturally, I went with it.

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Gloria Lee

Gloria Lee

I am interested in the applications of genetic engineering to sustainable energy. More specifically, increasing the efficiency and efficacy of biofuel productions. Currently, I am conducting research with the Bugaj lab in the Bioengineering…

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Caroline Magdolen

Caroline Magdolen

The summer before my senior year, I did the Summer STEM program at the Cooper Union and I was introduced to novel ways to harvest human energy, like piezoelectric materials and energy-generating revolving doors. It fascinates me that something as…

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Vivek Nair

Vivek Nair

My future goal is to contribute to an increasingly circular economy -- which VIPER pushes me towards by building a thorough base of knowledge through the science degree and by teaching me how to apply this knowledge creatively through the…

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Akaash Padmanabha

Akaash Padmanabha

To me, VIPER was an opportunity to apply my knowledge through energy research and surround myself with a small group of extremely passionate students and faculty.

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George Popov

George Popov

VIPER was the perfect way to follow both my passion for physics and my interest in mechanical engineering, and it also allowed for me to expand upon my past research experiences. I knew that it would prepare me very well for the present and future…

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Connor Shu

Connor Shu

Growing up in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, I spent much of my youth immersed in nature. With grand waterfalls an hour east of the city and the most scenic stretch of the Pacific coast an hour to the west, hiking was a common weekend fixture in…

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Mohammed Suleiman

Mohammed Suleiman

Growing up in Saudi Arabia opened my eyes to the untapped potential of solar power. A future where the vast empty deserts are covered with photovoltaics quickly grabbed my interest; however, with that thought comes many limitations, and they are…

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