Learning interdisciplinary skills for a career in sustainability

As an undergraduate student in India, Sulagna Hazarika saw firsthand how pollution affects air quality and public health. Motivated to understand the science behind climate challenges, she studied chemistry as an undergraduate and later worked in a national research laboratory, where she focused on ways to reduce carbon emissions.

Her interest in clean energy led her to pursue graduate research in the United States, studying ways to tune electrochemical pathways for green hydrogen production. But that experience expanded her perspective.

“When I was deep into the research, I realized that sustainability impact requires an entire ecosystem, from academic discovery and engineering scale-up to commercial deployment at operational scale,” she said. “I am always looking for opportunities where I can apply my scientific training, but also grow beyond the lab bench and have a broader perspective of making sustainable energy processes viable.”

Looking to pivot to engineering, she found the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) Master of Engineering program. With its Energy and Sustainability Track, it seemed like the perfect way to approach the sustainability problem from a different angle.

“My background in chemistry helped me understand the molecular roots of environmental problems, but addressing today’s environmental challenges requires solutions that reach beyond a single discipline," Hazarika said. “I want to design solutions that are sustainable, scalable and grounded in real-world constraints. A program like UChicago PME brings together that interdisciplinary approach to make that happen.”

Initially focused on polymer science and materials discovery, Hazarika quickly realized that the program was flexible enough that she could create her own path. Now, she plans on enrolling in courses from UChicago’s Booth School of Business and Harris School of Public Policy to learn skills in entrepreneurship, policy, and communication.

“My earlier academic experiences have been grounded in structured environments,” she said. “But UChicago PME has helped me expand that mindset, promoting creative problem solving and to think outside the box. It’s a great ecosystem to be in.”

Outside of the classroom, Hazarika makes time to serve as a Seminar Coordinator for UChicago Chemistry department, as a teaching assistant/proctor, and even participates in UChicago’s Formula SAE club, which challenges students to design and build their own formula-style vehicles. “I love teaching and being engaged with students, so both of these opportunities are a way for me to do what I love and learn new skills,” she said.

She also joins study sessions with her fellow students and even invites them to her home to enjoy Indian cuisine. “It’s a way for me to feel connected to my roots and culture,” she said. “And UChicago is so culturally diverse that I also get to know students from other backgrounds. It’s so interesting to get to know their cultures and cuisines, too.”

After graduation, Hazarika hopes to join either the energy or automotive industries, with a goal of helping them reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To reach her goal, she’s now applying for internships. “UChicago PME has also helped with navigating the interviews and networking,” she said.

Ultimately, she hopes to build a career where she can bring together teams, ideas, and stakeholders, using her interdisciplinary training at UChicago PME to advance sustainable solutions.

“In the next couple of decades, the education system is going to be very interdisciplinary, and UChicago PME has already taken that step,” she said. “So much innovation now happens at the intersections of fields, and this program gives you the foundation to explore and build the skills to navigate those intersections.”