The UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering will celebrate 28 PhD students, 14 Master of Engineering students, six Master of Science in Engineering students, and 59 undergraduate Molecular Engineering majors as they graduate as part of the University of Chicago’s 538th Convocation on Saturday, June 1.
“The dedication, broad-mindedness, and brilliance of PME’s students are a large part of what drew me to this world-class institution,” Dean Nadya Mason said. “It is a great honor to see our students graduate and move into impactful careers, where they will use the insights and skills they’ve gained to tackle some of society’s most pressing problems.”
It will be the first Convocation at UChicago for Dean Mason, who was appointed in October 2023.
David Sandoval, a fourth-year molecular engineering major, noted, “My research at PME on batteries engineered from the molecular level has provided me with key skills critical for impactful work in the renewable energy field. I also deepened my industry knowledge by actively engaging with a network of leading experts I built through PME’s partnership with Argonne National Laboratory,” he said. “This blend of academic and professional growth reinforced my commitment to become an electrochemical scientist and engineer dedicated to tackling climate change and energy inequity through revolutionized technologies.”
Sandoval studied the interfacial stability of high-energy density, cobalt-free cathodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries under PME Prof. Y. Shirley Meng at the Laboratory for Energy Storage and Conversion (LESC). During his time at PME, he was also an Odyssey Scholar, Questbridge Scholar, Argonne Student STEM Ambassador, and research aide at Argonne National Laboratory. He plans to begin his PhD in chemical engineering at Princeton University in the fall, with the long-term goal of joining the energy industry, helping facilitate the global transition from fossil fuels.
İnci Bayramiçli, a student in PME’s Master of Engineering (MEng) program, came to PME from Istanbul, Türkiye, to bolster her bioengineering and immunology research with the ultimate goal of creating 3D-printed skin substitutes.
“The holistic coursework-focused approach of the PME Master of Engineering program has provided me with the necessary skills to integrate hands-on research with entrepreneurship,” she said. “The encouraging mentorship of PME faculty promoted an environment for innovative thinking and technological development.”
Bayramiçli plans to continue working on tissue engineering and developing 3D-printed functional skin substitutes to help improve outcomes for patients who need skin grafts.
Xinghan Guo, a PhD candidate in the High Lab, developed a diamond-based material platform that integrates uniform thin film diamonds with other materials. Since its development, this platform has shown great potential in quantum sensing, quantum networking, and electronic applications. The ability to collaborate across departments and labs drew him to PME.
“I was amazed by PME’s unique department-funded mutual selection process between students and labs, as well as its vibrant co-advising and collaborative culture between research groups,” he said. “These efforts allow me to receive enough exposure to various fields and perform interdisciplinary studies.”
Guo plans to continue his quantum work at Yale University as a postdoctoral researcher working on superconducting qubits and phonons.
PME will celebrate its graduating students with a diploma and hooding ceremony followed by a reception, after the University-wide Convocation.