Student Awards

Arianna McCarty awarded Churchill Scholarship—the 4th in ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� history

Susan Glairon — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:18:22 +0000

Arianna McCarty awarded Churchill Scholarship—the 4th in ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� history Susan Glairon Fri, 01/30/2026 - 10:18

Chemical and biological engineering senior Arianna McCarty has earned the prestigious Churchill Scholarship, becoming just the fourth student in university history to receive the honor. The award will support a year of master’s study at the University of Cambridge, recognizing her exceptional research achievements and academic excellence.

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Double major, triple honors: Ethan Coleman earns academic, research and outstanding student awards

Susan Glairon — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:28:07 +0000

Double major, triple honors: Ethan Coleman earns academic, research and outstanding student awards Susan Glairon Mon, 12/01/2025 - 03:28

Susan Glairon

Ethan Coleman presents his research at the 2024 AIChE annual student conference, held in San Diego.

When Ethan Coleman attends winter graduation, he’ll receive not one, but two CU Engineering degrees. He’ll also take home three of the College of Engineering and Applied Science fall undergraduate awards.

Coleman, who is double majoring in Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE) and Applied Mathematics, suspected he might receive the Research Award. But what he didn’t guess was that he’d also be recognized with the Academic Engagement Award as well as the honor he’s most proud of—Outstanding Undergraduate of the College.

“It feels more holistic,” Coleman said of his third award. “I’m being recognized for more than just good grades and research.”

Those recognitions reflect his work as a teaching assistant for six classes; his strong academic performance—including three graduate-level classes—and his research, where he served as first author on two papers stemming from his undergraduate thesis. It also reflects his time spent as a ChBE student ambassador as well as participating in the Global Engineering Residential Academic Program.

Mountains calling

Coleman spent his high school years in San Antonio, Texas. After visiting Colorado a few times, he decided on ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, drawn by his love of hiking.

He majored in chemical and biological engineering because he enjoyed math and chemistry. Interested in numerics, Coleman also added an applied math double major with ChBE.

“I enjoy taking classes, doing research and teaching,” Coleman said. “Sometimes it becomes overwhelming, but for the most part, I don't mind the work. I definitely wouldn't have gone as far as I have if I did.”

Coleman completed his double major in nine semesters, with help from the AP credits in calculus and chemistry he earned in high school. He’s not sure how he fit everything in, including his passion for hiking.

“I don't really have a system,” Coleman said. “I'm a night owl. I'll do something fun in the afternoon, and then knock out some homework at night.”

And when Coleman wasn’t studying, he could often be found on one of Colorado's trails. Two years ago Coleman hiked all 486 miles of the Colorado Trail in a month. He and a companion aimed for 20 miles a day, but on some days they pushed to 30 to make up for weather delays. Every week or so, they hitchhiked into town to pick up a resupply box they’d mailed themselves and to sleep in a real bed.

Coleman and a companion hiked the entire 486 miles of the Colorado trail in August 2024.

Road to research

As a junior, Coleman took a graduate-level transport class taught by Assistant Professor Ankur Gupta while carrying a 19-credit courseload—well above the typical 15 credits.

“That class was fun, but it was also hard,” Coleman said. “Having a professor who was supportive throughout was awesome. I ended up joining his lab because I really appreciated him as an instructor.”

Gupta's feelings were mutual.

“The recognitions are all very well-deserved for Ethan,” Gupta said. “He took two courses with me, including a graduate-level course where he was among the highest scorers, even as a junior.”

Over the course of his time at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, Coleman was a learning assistant for six classes, including multivarious calculus and other teaching positions in applied math and ChBE.

Coleman has worked in Gupta’s Laboratory of Interfaces, Flow and Electrokinetics (LIFE) for two years. For the first few months he worked under a postdoctoral researcher, but then asked to head his own projects.

“Ankur was totally supportive,” Coleman said. “I wasn’t totally ready, with only three months of research experience, but Ankur said ‘If you get stuck, let me know.’ He did it in a way that was very conducive to me learning. He was very intentional about helping me grow into a good researcher.”

Coleman’s favorite research project is one he came up with himself: using microparticles that react to chemical gradients to move bacteria inside biofilms—clusters of bacteria joined by sticky polymers that are hard to remove. His goal: to discover a way to clean biofilms from porous materials.

“Ethan has been very creative and productive, on par with a graduate student,” Gupta added. “I am very excited for him and eager to follow his career, and wish him the very best.”

Looking ahead

Coleman plans to continue working in the LIFE lab for a few months after graduation. He’s applying to graduate schools to pursue a PhD in chemical and biological engineering and plans to become a professor. He’s specifically looking for labs that perform the type of biological research he currently pursues.

The recognitions reflect Coleman's work as a teaching assistant for six classes; his strong academic performance—including three graduate-level classes— and his research, where he served as first author on two papers stemming from his undergraduate thesis. It also reflects his time spent as a ChBE student ambassador.

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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s Chem-E-Car team wins international poster design competition

Susan Glairon — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:55:47 +0000

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s Chem-E-Car team wins international poster design competition Susan Glairon Thu, 11/06/2025 - 15:55

Susan Glairon

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Chem-E-Car team took first place in poster design at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ 27th Annual ChemE Car Competition, surpassing 56 teams from around the world. The competition was held in Boston on Nov. 2.

The team—chemical and biological engineering undergraduates William Bierzychudek, Colin McElroy, McKenzie Mazur, Joshua Sherritt and Megan Sullivan—created the poster to showcase the research behind their vehicle, “Don’t Zinc and Drive,” which is powered by zinc-air batteries and uses an exothermic catalytic decomposition reaction mechanism to stop.

"Initially we were completely surprised, and then excitement and gratitude hit," said Bierzychudek, a chemical engineering senior and the team's captain. "It felt like recognition of the hours we had spent continuously redesigning our car, applying theory and diagnosing and fixing countless errors."

The competition challenges teams to design a shoebox-sized car powered by chemical reactions—such as a battery or internal combustion engine—that must stop at a specified distance using a time-dependent chemical reaction. The target distance is announced just before the competition, and the team whose car stops closest to that point wins.

Throughout the year, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� students designed, built and tested their car concepts in the chemical engineering undergraduate teaching lab. ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� car finished just a few meters shy of the target line, said Assistant Teaching Professor Ehsan Keyvani, the team’s faculty advisor.

“Congratulations to the entire team for their outstanding achievement, dedication and innovative spirit; a true reflection of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� excellence in chemical engineering education and teamwork,” Keyvani said.

Bierzychudek noted that being transparent about the obstacles they faced—and how they overcame them—helped set their poster apart.

"Getting so many moving parts working can feel like a chore, but acknowledging and finding gratitude in those things was crucial to our success," he said. "It showed we were engaged not only with our project but with the process of struggling and learning."

In April ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� students won the AIChE Chem-E-Car competition at the Rocky Mountain regional held in Bozeman, Montana. At that event, "Don't Zinc and Drive," took first place in both the car competition and the poster presentation; the team's second car, "Ralphie," placed third in the car competition. The first-place win secured ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� a spot at the AIChE competition in Boston.

"There’s definitely a little imposter syndrome when you show up to a conference filled with big international schools and premier US colleges," Bierzychudek added. "We're grateful for the opportunity to represent our school on such a big scale and hope this sparks excitement for future CU Chem-E-Car teams."

The club is supported by funding from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and has received Engineering Excellence Fund support in the past.

Students interested in joining ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s Chem-E-Club can send an email to chemecar@colorado.edu. The club can also be followed on Instagram at @boulderchemecar.

The win came at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ international Chem-E-Car competition in Boston, where ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� poster stood out among 56 teams.

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How Hermann Klein-Hessling Barrientos built opportunity from adversity

Susan Glairon — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 11:30:05 +0000

How Hermann Klein-Hessling Barrientos built opportunity from adversity Susan Glairon Wed, 04/30/2025 - 05:30

Susan Glairon

Photo caption: Hermann Klein-Hessling Barrientos (right), Summit Shreshta (center) and Owen Sabolcik (left) make the sign of Ralphie's horns after taking the engineer’s oath at the College of Engineering 2025 Ring & Pin Graduation Ceremony.

Hermann Klein-Hessling Barrientos arrived at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� alone in the summer of 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, not knowing anyone or what to expect in the U.S. Though born in Minnesota to a Mexican mother and German father, his parents left the country when he was just a toddler, and he grew up across Europe and graduated from high school in Singapore.

His ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� story is defined by his resilience—struggling with housing, medical and food insecurity while maintaining a rigorous course load and strong work ethic.

This spring, Barrientos will graduate with a BS in chemical engineering, and he received the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Perseverance Award. He is also being recognized as the Outstanding Undergraduate of the College for his exceptional accomplishments in research, academia, community and global engagement.

"I succeeded despite my circumstances, not because of them,” Barrientos said. “I primarily attribute my accomplishments not to hard work or talent but luck, although I believe that luck is when preparation meets opportunity."

Hermann Klein-Hessling Barrientos stands by a Yosemite National Park sign during a weekend camping trip while participating in the Caltech Resnick Undergraduate Research Fellowship in summer 2023.

Barrientos’ six-page CV reads more like that of someone with a PhD than an undergraduate student. He has authored two journal papers, presented research at seven national conferences and symposiums and has been a researcher in the Weimer Research Group since he was a freshman.

His list of extracurricular activities is extensive, including a study abroad experience in Ireland and membership in ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Engineering Honors Program. He has won three consecutive American Institute of Chemical Engineers poster competitions and earned numerous honors, including a Caltech Resnick Undergraduate Research Fellowship, a Discovery Learning Apprenticeship Undergraduate Research Fellowship and an Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program summer grant. He is the professional development coordinator of the Chemical Engineering Honor Society Omega Chi Epsilon and has been recognized as a BOLD Leadership Scholar.

“There’s always a way to figure out how to make it work, but you have to be comfortable putting yourself out there and asking for help,” Barrientos said. “It can be very hard.”

Laying the groundwork

After graduating from high school in Singapore, Barrientos spent a gap year in South Africa—first as an aerospace engineering intern, then in a materials science internship.

With strict pandemic restrictions in Asia, returning to his family in Singapore wasn’t an option, so his parents encouraged him to begin his college education immediately. ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� scholarships and the opportunity to engage in undergraduate research ultimately tipped the scale in CU’s favor for Barrientos.

Barrientos operates a glovebox in the Weimer Lab during his freshman year.

“I heard good things about ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� engineering program from my high school counselor in Singapore, especially about undergraduate research,” he said. “In other countries, you have to wait till you are a PhD student to get involved in research. I didn’t want to wait. Research teaches you more than learning from a textbook.”

That same sense of urgency extended to his classes. In 2020, during the university’s COVID-19 shutdown when everything was online, Hermann reached out to Teaching Associate Professor Paul Diduch to learn more about the Herbst Program for Engineering, Ethics & Society, and the two connected over Zoom.

“He was clearly interested,” Diduch said. “I was impressed with how much research Hermann had done in advance of our meeting, how keen his questions were and how serious and self-directed his intentions were.”

Two months before arriving in Boulder, Barrientos also contacted Teaching Professor Emeritus Leland Giovannelli to discuss course content, review materials and get a head start on the readings for Giovannelli’s upcoming class, “A Global State of Mind for Effective Engineering Practice.”

“He did not want to waste a moment in his education,” she said.

Barrientos also reached out early to Teaching Professor Angela Thieman-Dino of the Engineering Leadership Program, expressing anxiety about traveling to the U.S. alone, completing orientation and moving into his dorm without either parent present—while facing the difficult reality that he likely wouldn’t see them again for a long time due to COVID-19 restrictions. Thieman-Dino also said that Barrientos was eager for guidance around engaging in research. He joined her upper-division Engineering Leadership class as a first-year student to learn about conducting inquiry about complex leadership challenges while focusing his own project on engineering, sustainability and agriculture.

“I'm delighted to see how he has continued to engage in meaningful research throughout his time at CU,” Thieman-Dino said.

Navigating alone

Barrientos flew from Cape Town to Detroit—a less expensive destination than Denver—with little money and no idea how he’d get to Boulder. Undeterred, Barrientos drew on his creative resourcefulness, the support of the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� community and the kindness of strangers.

Barrientos and two other students hold awards at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers 2023 National Conference in Orlando, Florida.

He couch-surfed with people he met along the way, eventually flying to Denver using funds from a Go Fund Me campaign a friend from Singapore launched on his behalf.

Barrientos had reached out to Jennifer Williams, executive director of Take Action Global (TAG)—a nonprofit organization focused on empowering students to take action for a cleaner environment—where he had previously volunteered. In response, Williams contacted Noah Geisel, micro-credentials program manager at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Office of the Registrar, to request assistance for Barrientos, who would be arriving in Boulder alone before the campus dormitories opened.

“I was happy to host him in my home as he began his ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� journey,” Geisel said. “I am now proud to see him demonstrating the results of what is possible when combining passion and talent with a world-class college education.”

After staying with Geisel, Barrientos joined a Stampede Leadership Camp for three days before his first semester started, which allowed him a place to sleep and three meals a day.

Barrientos experienced an unexpected obstacle his second semester, as a surge in COVID-19 cases and the Marshall Fire—which destroyed approximately 1,000 structures on Dec. 30, 2021—delayed move-in for the campus dormitories. With nowhere to live, Barrientos petitioned to serve as a resident assistant (RA) in Williams Village, where the university was housing those affected by the fire. His application was accepted, and he was able to RA for two weeks there before starting his official RA position in Andrews Hall the spring semester of his freshman year. But he soon faced the 25-hour weekly work limit for students and had to choose between being an RA or pursuing research. He chose research.

After his first year in the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� dormitories, Barrientos tried to find a place to rent to lower expenses; finding housing was a challenge. Landlords refused to rent to him because his parents, who weren’t U.S. citizens, couldn’t cosign his lease. Without a credit score tied to his parents and with no Social Security history, he was often mistaken for—or profiled as—undocumented even though he was an American citizen, he said.

Barrientos and another student stand in front of a poster at the Caltech Final Summer Research Symposium in 2023.

In order to rent, Barrientos generally needed a one-month security deposit plus the first month's rent. CU staff were limited in how they could help, and local organizations that help low-income individuals told him he was a low priority as they prioritized families with small children.

He eventually found someone willing to rent an apartment to him the summer after his freshman year.

Throughout his undergraduate career, Barrientos consistently held at least one job, he said. At his busiest, he juggled four simultaneously. Each summer he secured internships to earn enough to cover his fall tuition and rent. He established a high credit score and by legally declaring his scholarships as income, qualified for leases without needing a co-signer.

Diduch said that when Barrientos was in his class, he frequently checked in with him.

“In addition to a high course load, he was also working,” Diduch said. “He was sleep deprived and stressed out. Despite it all, he always managed to get his work done, perform to a high level, and most importantly, have something thoughtful to say in class.

“I've always known Hermann to be remarkably driven and self-directed. He constantly makes things happen for himself and is incredibly resourceful. I'm not sure I've encountered a harder working student, at least in terms of sheer ability to open doors, manufacture opportunities and produce results.”

New challenges

Barrientos faced continued financial issues. Not graduating from a U.S. high school automatically disqualified him from roughly 50 percent of available scholarships, he said. He was also unable to petition for in-state tuition.

His sophomore year was especially difficult. After losing several close friends and facing other personal challenges, he began to struggle with mental health issues and considered taking an extended leave of absence from ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� or transferring to a university in the Netherlands.

“A lot of bad things happened all at once, and I had to work really hard to get out of that rut, which I did, he said. “I wanted my family to know that I tried my best.

“My struggles highlighted the importance of men's mental health to me, and I decided to be open about my struggles with suicide ideation,” he said. “I'd like to extend my gratitude to Assistant Teaching Professors Jonathan Kish and Osita Onyejekwe and to Laura Thompson, a licensed professional counselor, for being there when I needed someone to talk to.”

Barrientos stands in front of the Dow Chemical Complex in Freeport, Texas, during his summer 2024 internship with Dow.

He’s grateful to ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Buff Pantry at the Basic Needs Center for providing food when he couldn’t afford groceries or access banking services—even before his first semester began. He’s also thankful to Giovannelli, who noticed during a Zoom call that he needed basic necessities, and along with Rebecca Komarek, assistant director of Idea Forge, brought him sheets, blankets and other essentials. He’s especially appreciative of Professor Alan Weimer, who welcomed him as a freshman undergraduate researcher and supported him throughout all four years. And finally, he’s grateful for all the donors “who took the risk of investing in my success.”

“If I had financial security from the get-go, it would have been different,” Barrientos said. “Not having it tainted a lot of my experiences. I always worried about money. Several times I thought I would have to drop out because I couldn’t pay tuition, or I worried I would lose all my scholarships and then get kicked out of the college.”

But that never happened.

As his education progressed, Barrientos’ financial pressure eased. He received a combination of private scholarships and support from donors who invested in his success, and by his junior year, his tuition was fully covered. The summer after his junior year he paid down nearly $20,000 in student loans by interning at Dow Chemical in Freeport, Texas.

His current research, part of an interdisciplinary NASA project, focuses on enhancing metals with atomic layer deposition to improve properties like strength and the ability to withstand higher temperatures—both crucial for manufacturing spacecraft components. The improvements also make it easier to produce customized parts with complex geometries at lower costs and on a larger scale, he said.

After graduation, Barrientos plans to relocate to Ohio to begin a refining engineering role within the operations research department in a Fortune 25 company.

Barrientos says his immediate goal is to support his parents' retirement. Once they are financially secure, he intends to return to academia to pursue a graduate degree in engineering.

“He is eager to make his mark on the world,” Giovannelli said. “With his tremendous creativity, intelligence and appetite for hard work, he will surely do so.”

Hermann Klein-Hessling Barrientos faced challenges with housing, medical and food insecurity, yet overcame them to earn the College of Engineering and Applied Science Perseverance Award as well as the college’s Outstanding Undergraduate Award.

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Congratulations to our 2025 college undergraduate awardees!

Susan Glairon — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 18:46:22 +0000

Congratulations to our 2025 college undergraduate awardees! Susan Glairon Fri, 04/25/2025 - 12:46

Congratulations to our eight chemical and biological engineering undergraduate students who won 12 awards from the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

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Summit Shrestha

Susan Glairon — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 20:12:16 +0000

Summit Shrestha Susan Glairon Tue, 04/22/2025 - 14:12

Major

Chemical Engineering

Awards

College of Engineering and Applied Science Academic Engagement Award

College of Engineering and Applied Science Research Award

Post-graduation plans

Pursue a PhD in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley

Associated Lab

PI: Gallogly Professor Timothy White
Responsive and Programmable Materials Group

Tell me about your research

Liquid crystal elastomers are a special class of polymer which are made up of rigid backbones and flexible tails and exhibit both liquid and crystalline properties. These materials can transition from an ordered state to a disordered state when heat or voltage is applied. My work aims to elucidate how the size increase of these polymer changes the way this ordered to disordered transition occurs.

How could your research make a difference in everyday life?

Because this research provides a more fundamental understanding of how these novel materials behave, there are broad applications in soft robotics and artificial muscles as liquid crystal actuators. There are also potential applications in the field of optics.

What keeps you busy outside of research?

My goal was to serve as a course assistant for as many classes as possible. I found teaching and engaging with students incredibly rewarding. I especially enjoyed assisting with thermodynamics, thanks to the many teaching opportunities Dr. Kōnane Bay provided. One of my favorite experiences was giving review lectures before exams.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my admission to UC Berkeley. From the start of the graduate school application process, Berkeley was my top choice because of its strong program and research fit—but I knew it would be incredibly competitive. Getting that acceptance letter was euphoric, knowing all the work I had put in had paid off.

What is your biggest piece of advice for future engineering buffs?

Don't be afraid to ask questions. The material that you are learning is difficult and not understanding it is only natural. Asking for help is the fastest way to grow.

What will you carry forth?

I'll carry forward the new connections I have made at CU. The support of friends and faculty has been instrumental in shaping who I am and what I have accomplished. I am thoroughly grateful for the people I've met and will continue to stay in touch with them.

Meet more of our awardees

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Anna Broerman

Susan Glairon — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:46:59 +0000

Anna Broerman Susan Glairon Tue, 04/22/2025 - 08:46

Major

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Awards

College of Engineering and Applied Science Research Award

College of Engineering and Applied Science Academic Engagement Award

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Outstanding Course Assistant Award (CBEN)

Post-graduation plans

Pursue a PhD in chemical engineering at the University of Santa Barbara

Associated Lab

Assistant Professor Kayla Sprenger
RDI Research Group

Tell me about your research

I study how herpes simplex virus attaches to human cells prior to infection by modeling the interaction between a viral protein called glycoprotein D, and a sugar found on the cell surface. To do this, I use computer simulations to approximate how glycoprotein D responds to this binding interaction. This research will potentially elucidate the mechanism behind the receptor binding interaction.

How could your research make a difference in everyday life?

Herpes is extremely common, yet there is no current licensed vaccine. My work may contribute to identifying structural changes in viral proteins that are important for infection, which might be useful in future vaccine development.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of the funding and recognition I’ve received to support and share my research. I’ve secured multiple grants and participated in programs such as the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), CHER4U, Young Scholars Summer Research Program (YSSRP) and the Discovery Learning Apprenticeship, through which I have been able to fund my molecular dynamics project in Dr. Sprenger’s lab. I have also received travel funding to present at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers twice, once for my REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) project and once for my current work. Applying for these grants has taught me how to advocate for my research, and it has been delightful to be recognized for my work.

What was your biggest challenge during your time at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��?

My biggest challenge arose from my research. When I joined Dr. Sprenger’s lab in my junior year, my graduate student mentor was in her first year at CU. This meant I had to establish a project from scratch. The initial lack of progress was disheartening, but it provided valuable insight into the realities of graduate-level research, which isn't always fast-paced. Through this process I realized that it is much more difficult to develop a project that is impactful and grounded in integrity than it is to solve the problem itself.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I spend most of my free time backpacking, climbing and cooking. I thru-hiked the Colorado Trail last summer, have plans for the Pacific Crest Trail this summer and have climbed most of Colorado's 14ers.

What is your biggest piece of advice for future engineering buffs?

I would not have been able to engage so deeply in this community without my mentors' encouragement. There are students and faculty in this department that want to contribute to the scientific community, and by extension, invest in your success. My advice is to seek them out, ask questions and approach every interaction with humility and curiosity. If you do, you will find that this community has much to offer and that you have something valuable to contribute to it as well.

Meet more of our awardees

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Arianna McCarty lands prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Susan Glairon — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 20:24:05 +0000

Arianna McCarty lands prestigious Goldwater Scholarship Susan Glairon Thu, 04/17/2025 - 14:24

Arianna McCarty, a chemical and biological engineering student, received a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for her research on how Prevotella bacteria may help reduce infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major cause of pneumonia.

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Congratulations to our 2025 ChBE department undergraduate awardees!

Susan Glairon — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:56:13 +0000

Congratulations to our 2025 ChBE department undergraduate awardees! Susan Glairon Wed, 04/16/2025 - 10:56

The Chemical and Biological Engineering Department awards recognize students in the department who have excelled in one or more areas. Winners are selected by the department’s Undergraduate Awards Committee.

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Tanvi Patil

Susan Glairon — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 22:00:52 +0000

Tanvi Patil Susan Glairon Tue, 04/15/2025 - 16:00

Major

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Awards

College of Engineering and Applied Science Research Award

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Distinguished Peer Mentor Award

Post-graduation plans

Gain research experience in CRISPR-based therapeutics at Editas Medicine; start a PhD in chemical engineering within the next two years.

Associated Lab

Assistant Professor Laurel Hind
Immunoengineering Lab.

Tell me about your research

Neutrophils are a type of innate white blood cell that serve as the body's first responders to infection and inflammation. Many diseases affecting tissue mechanics are often accompanied with neutrophil dysregulation, yet this connection remains understudied.

My research explores how changes in tissue mechanics and composition affect the neutrophil response using immunofluorescence assays and microfluidic devices. The ultimate goal of our lab is to deepen understanding of the neutrophil response and uncover potential characteristics that could lead to neutrophil-based therapeutics.

How could your research make a difference in everyday life?

One way my research could have an impact is by treating inflammation caused by changes in tissue mechanics. For example, fibrosis is a disease marked by excessive accumulation of fibrous tissue with current treatments mainly target fibroblasts through anti-fibrotic medications. However, studies show that neutrophils also play a role in recruiting fibroblasts; so, our research on neutrophil-mechanic interactions can lead to the innovation of more effective therapies that target both neutrophils and fibroblasts. Broadly, our research can also support the development of better immunotherapies, which are becoming increasingly common for treating a variety of diseases.

What keeps you busy outside of research?

I have been a course assistant for several core department courses. During my first two years, I was also a notes scribe through ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s disability services program. Professionally, I had the opportunity to work part-time at a biotech company learning about translational research in the gene-therapy space. Outside of academics, I enjoy photography, reading and paddleboarding. I have also recently taken an interest in wheel throwing pottery!

What is your favorite ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� memory?

My research experiences have been invaluable, both professionally and personally. They’ve not only sharpened my communication skills and fueled my curiosity, but also revealed the striking parallels between cellular mechanisms and the emotional fabric of life. I'm constantly amazed by the thought that all our actions and emotions stem from molecules simply bumping into each other—yet it’s that very molecular chaos that gives rise to our ability to ask, “why?”

I also greatly enjoyed living in the dorms my freshman year. Coming from a culturally and academically homogenous high school, I enjoyed the diversity living in the dorms offered; it enabled me to expand my mindset.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Academically, I am most proud of presenting and winning an award at AIChE's 2024 Annual Student Meeting for my investigation of the neutrophil response in varying tissue environments. The critical thinking and experimental design skills I gained from this, along with my mentors' support and encouragement, also helped me receive Honorable Mention for the 2025 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Personally, I am most proud of the photography skills I have developed over the years. I have finally mastered photographing portraits after spending years exclusively shooting landscapes and nature.

What is your biggest piece of advice for future engineering buffs?

Explore anything and everything! Spend time outside on nice days, get involved in campus activities and embrace life at CU beyond the classroom. Regardless of your interests, try something new, academically or otherwise, to make the most out of college. Worst case, you'll discover something you don't like!

Meet more of our awardees

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Student Awards

Arianna McCarty awarded Churchill Scholarship—the 4th in ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ history

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Double major, triple honors: Ethan Coleman earns academic, research and outstanding student awards

Mountains calling

Road to research

Looking ahead

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���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������'s Chem-E-Car team wins international poster design competition

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How Hermann Klein-Hessling Barrientos built opportunity from adversity

Laying the groundwork

Navigating alone

New challenges

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Congratulations to our 2025 college undergraduate awardees!

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Summit Shrestha

Major

Awards

Post-graduation plans

Associated Lab

Tell me about your research

How could your research make a difference in everyday life?

What keeps you busy outside of research?

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

What is your biggest piece of advice for future engineering buffs?

What will you carry forth?

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Anna Broerman

Major

Awards

Post-graduation plans

Associated Lab

Tell me about your research

How could your research make a difference in everyday life?

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

What was your biggest challenge during your time at ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������?

What do you like to do in your spare time?

What is your biggest piece of advice for future engineering buffs?

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Arianna McCarty lands prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

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Congratulations to our 2025 ChBE department undergraduate awardees!

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Tanvi Patil

Major

Awards

Post-graduation plans

Associated Lab

Tell me about your research

How could your research make a difference in everyday life?

What keeps you busy outside of research?

What is your favorite ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ memory?

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

What is your biggest piece of advice for future engineering buffs?

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Arianna McCarty awarded Churchill Scholarship—the 4th in ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� history

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s Chem-E-Car team wins international poster design competition

What was your biggest challenge during your time at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��?

What is your favorite ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� memory?