Undergraduate Engineering Interactors
2026-2027
Michael Arnwine
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Michael Arnwine
Residential College
Butler
Class Year
2028
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Applied and Computational Mathematics
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hello! My name is Michael, and I am a junior from Bordentown, NJ studying CBE. I love chemical engineering because it teaches you how to solve complex problems using math, physics, and chemistry; chemical engineers work on everything from pharmaceuticals to sustainable energy, so there are always exciting real-world challenges to tackle.
Outside of class, you can find as a student researcher in the Fraggedakis group or as the co-chair for the 2027 AIChE Mid-Atlantic Conference. If your interested in attending the conference, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
I hope I can be a mentor for first-year BSE students, guiding them into having a successful first year at Princeton. I look forward to meeting you all!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Wintersession! Being on campus for two weeks without the usual demands of classes gave me the opportunity to meet some of my closest friends, many of whom I may never have gotten to know otherwise. It was one of the most memorable parts of my Princeton experience.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
MAT202: Linear Algebra with Applications
This course made me love math and inspired me to pursue it as a minor. I enjoyed how it challenged you to build geometric intuition rather than simply crunch numbers, revealing the beauty behind vectors, matrices, and transformations. It was especially exciting to see how these ideas power everything in engineering and computer science.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Engineering library!
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I have not studied abroad.
Eliana Bane
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Eliana Bane
Residential College
Rockefeller
Class Year
2027
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Computer science, cognitive science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
I’m from New Jersey and am currently a rising senior at Princeton University studying ECE. Being an engineering student allows me to find the balance between creativity and problem solving. I enjoy diving into projects that connect technical ideas with real world impact. Outside of class, I’m involved in research experiences and love staying active, especially by playing pickleball. I’m looking forward to being an interactor for the second year because because I really enjoy meeting new people and helping them become comfortable as others did so for me!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Academically, one of my favorite memories from my first year at Princeton University was sitting in the McGraw center surrounded by new faces while learning completely new and interesting material. Personally, joining the rugby team was a highlight of my year. Rugby gave me an incredible community and some of my closest friendships at Princeton.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
ECE432 – Information Security taught by Professor Mittal. This course allowed me to intertwine concepts I had learned in other classes, like machine learning algorithms, and apply them to real world security problems. It changed the way I think about technology by showing how interconnected systems are and how vulnerabilities can emerge through technical design and human behavior (like the Jailbreaking technique). I especially enjoyed how the class combined theory, like cryptography, with coding, problem solving challenges. This class pushed me to think critically about the systems we rely on every day.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Commons Library
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I have not
Brittney Barnwell
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
Brittney Barnwell
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2028
Major
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
What minors are you pursuing?
Cognitive Science and Computing, Society, & Policy
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hii, my name is Brittney and I’m a current Junior studying COS BSE with minors in Cognitive Science and Computing, Society, and Policy. Some clubs I’m involved in on campus include Princeton Caribbean Connection (Outreach & Service Committee), Tigerapps (Designer & Software Developer), the Black Arts Dance Company, Orange Key Tours, E-Club, and more! I love COS and, specifically, being an engineer alongside COS because of the interdisciplinary focus of SEAS. My classes span across all of the fields and sub fields umbrella-ed under STEM, providing me with a holistic understanding of what it means to be a societally conscious programmer. I’m so excited to be your BSE interactive because of the chance to mentor and support underclassmen just as I received the same during my freshman year. I hope to provide tips, guidance, and encouragement when it comes to navigating the academic landscape that is Princeton engineering. Can’t wait to meet you all!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My Spring semester of dancing with the Black Arts Dance Company because a lot of my friends decided to join around this time and we were dancing in many of the same pieces. Practicing and chatting backstage with everyone was truly a highlight and I enjoyed getting to know many of the upperclassmen better. I just felt a great sense of community between myself and the black dance population on campus which made my life outside of classes even more fun.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
ANT238: the Anthropology of AI has definitely shaped the way I think, especially through analytical writing from an ethnographic perspective. This class causes a clear shift in my scholarly writing abilities which enhanced as well as how I approach texts and understand AI through deeper considerations beyond its narrow definition. Overall, this class was very engaging and I learned a lot about the non-technical aspects of AI which I hope will inform my thinking moving forward as I continue to immerse myself in the tech sector.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Commons library in Briger or just any comfortable study nook in Briger
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I participated in an IIP at Irvine Systems, an IT consulting and web services company, in Tokyo, Japan during the summer going into my sophomore year. While abroad, I ate a lot of 7/11, explored Osaka and Hiroshima, rode the bullet train (shinkansen), took a guided tour of Mt. Fuji, made a lot of new friends, fostered my coding and computational problem solving skills, and learned a bit of introductory Japanese.
Chris Barton
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Chris Barton
Residential College
Whitman
Class Year
2028
Major
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Applied and Computational Math, Finance
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! My name is Chris Barton and I’m from Long Island, New York. I am majoring in Operations Research and Financial Engineering with possible minors in Applied and Computational Mathematics and Finance. Outside of classes, I’m involved in many clubs, including Princeton Quantitative Traders, Engineers Without Borders, the Whitman College Council, and Club Spikeball. My favorite part about being a Princeton engineer is the wonderful and brilliant people with whom I get to interact and the collaborative environment we create. I’m looking forward to being an interactor so that hopefully the next generation of Princeton engineers will have just as great of an experience at Princeton that I’ve had!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
It’s really difficult for me to pinpoint one favorite memory from my first-year at Princeton. But the cliche and yet completely true answer was that the best part of my first-year was the people that I met. I feel that I met some potentially lifelong friends during my first year and my favorite memories were spending time with these great friends.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
One Princeton class that shaped the way I think was HIS361 (Divided We Stand: The United States Since 1974), which is a class that teaches modern American history and divisiveness largely through the lens of media. I found it fascinating studying the reasons behind political and social division in our current society. The precept readings were largely podcasts that reminded me the importance of the average citizen’s perspective and the power of media as a whole. Perhaps more importantly, my experience in this course supported one of my favorite parts about being a Princeton engineer: the ability to take humanities classes to broaden my worldview and challenge my current viewpoints.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Either the Sherrerd Atrium or the new study areas in Briger Hall
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
No
Jaya Choudhary
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Residential College
Whitman
Class Year
2028
Major
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Robotics, Planets and Life
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi first-years! I am from Canton, Michigan, a town about halfway between Ann Arbor and Detroit. I love studying MAE because it allows me to apply physics and maths to real-world problems and benefit people. Outside of class, I like to dance, run, and read books! I am looking forward to being an interactor to get to know the incoming class 🙂
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
I am on the Engineering Council, and one of my favorite memories in my first-year was a cookie decorating study break that we put on. It was one of the first events I got to organize, and it was a very fun, cozy, and warm event that really gave me comfort in a time when I still struggled to call this campus my home.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
MAE 305 (Differential Equations): I took this class with Professor Howard Stone, and his lectures really breathed life into the subject. He seamlessly integrated connections that the mathematical concepts had with real-world engineering problems relevant to our interests, no matter how abstract the topic. I found that Professor Stone’s enthusiasm for the subject was contagious, and his spirit continues to motivate me to keep learning with passion.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Stokes Library
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
N/A
Athena Clendaniel
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2027
Major
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
NA
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! My name is Athena Clendaniel and I’m from Anchorage, Alaska. I’m a senior in the ORFE department, I love ORFE because it sits at the intersection of math, data, and real-world problem solving. Outside of class, I’m a student manager for varsity baseball, work for Campus Rec at the gym, play on the club tennis team, and stay involved with the Bridge Year community (I did Bridge Year in Senegal). I’m really looking forward to being an interactor again this year because I remember how much it meant to have an upperclassman in my corner first year and I want to be that person for you all!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Some of my favorite memories from freshman year are honestly the weekly study breaks with my zee group. We were pretty close and would often spend hours chatting in our lounge after the planned study breaks by our RCA. We would help each other with PSETs, play games, and just hang out as a group.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
STC 220: Baseball Analytics – As an avid baseball lover, taking a course about baseball was awesome. This course changed the way I approach problems. It taught me to question conventional wisdom and look for what the data is actually saying, not just what feels intuitive. As someone who loves baseball and is drawn to ORFE, it was the perfect blend of the two worlds.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Coffee Club (either location!)
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
NA
Troy DeFrancesco
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Residential College
Butler
Class Year
2028
Major
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Educational Studies? probably not though
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hello! I’m Troy DeFrancesco, from Long Beach New York studying MAE here at Princeton. My favorite high school courses were math and science – I always loved problem solving. I figured I would give these courses a try at Princeton, and from there, engineering became the natural route. I appreciate the practicality and application that engineering provides. I do appreciate humanities too (especially social sciences, I actually came into Princeton as AB). One of my favorite parts of MAE has to be the people. The environment is colloborative, students are inspired, curious, and humble, and we even hang out out of class!
In my free time I love to be around my family, participating in whatever adventures we get up to. Even our non-adventures become adventures! But one of those adventures is surfing. It’s been a big part of my life thus far, and every now and then I hit the New Jersey coast during the semester. I am also a member of the club baseball team.
I am very excited to be an interactor! The freshman experience can be quite overwhelming, and I am looking forward to being able to provide support where needed.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
A favorite memory from 1st year at Princeton has to be building a nice network of caring friends. I can recall all of those first encounters (at the tennis courts, in Spanish class, in Zee group, in the dining hall) with the people who would soon become my closest friends.
I was also a fan of my first year courses. Particularly, MAT 201, Writing Seminar, and physics (both 103 and 104). I credit this positive experience to having such wonderful professors (and preceptors) in these courses that fostered comfortable, passionate class environments.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
SOC 228 (Schooled). It really has you thinking about how socioeconomic inequality gets reproduced and particularly in the schooling system. Yet the class is hopeful, emphasizing how intentional policy can help to mitigate these effects (and using papers to devise policies). Extremely well taught (Professor Jennings cares so much and the preceptors go above and beyond in terms of effort).
Definitely MAT 201 (Multivariable Calculus). Changed the whole way I approach studying. I had never seen multi before so this was all foreign to me. In order to survive in that course, you really need to understand the concepts rather than rely on memorization. Understanding the concepts just goes so much farther on homeworks and especially exams. I walked out of the first class very scared but walked out of the final knowing that I grew a lot as a learner.
Writing Seminar also very influential for how to approach writing and really finding a way to make your paper meaningful, and how to construct it to best convey this meaning.
Definitely SOC 205: Sociology on E Street, Interogating Bruce Springsteen’s vision of America. Learned so much about sociology. Always been an avid Springsteen fan. Viewing Springsteen’s music through a sociological lens was awesome.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
JRR third floor conference rooms
Angelina DiPaola
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Rockefeller
Class Year
2028
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Sustainable Energy, European Studies
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi Zees! My name is Angelina and I’m from Cincinnati, Ohio, but have found my second home here at Princeton! I am an Electrical and Computer Engineering major, pursuing minors in Sustainable Energy and European Studies. I have loved my academic experience at Princeton, taking a wide variety of courses from engineering to the humanities. During my freshman and sophomore years at Princeton, I rowed on the Women’s Openweight Rowing Team and worked at Princeton’s student-run garden. I’m so excited to be a helpful resource to incoming Rocky freshmen as a PAA and BSE interactor!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Meeting my best friend during orientation
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
I really love MAE228: Energy Technologies in the 21st Century which I took during freshman year because it cemented to me that I was actually interested in pursuing further studies and a career in sustainable energy. While it was a survey class, the final project allowed me to explore in depth unique forms of sustainable energy.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Chancellor Green
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
N/A
Skye Duplessis
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2027
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Bioengineering
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
My favorite part of being an engineering student is connecting concepts from my biology and chemistry classes to broader engineering applications within my core courses. I’m from Seattle, WA, and love to write short stories and read in my free time. I also sing and am a part of the Glee Club on campus. I look forward to being an interactor because the guidance I received from alumni in my department has been invaluable throughout my journey, and I hope to provide this same mentorship to others!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Traveling to Harvard for the annual Glee Club football concert!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
Medical Spanish (SPA 205) shaped the way that I think about accessibility within the medical system. The course also introduced me to neglected diseases I had never heard of and further sparked my interest in infectious disease and healthcare equity.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Briger hall/Trustee reading room in Firestone
Ava Fonss
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
NCW
Class Year
2027
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Computer Science, Cognitive Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! My name is Ava Fonss and I am a senior in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department from New Canaan, Connecticut. On campus, I am part of Princeton University Ballet, the Society of Women Engineers, and Tiger Inn. This year, I’m looking forward to hosting fun study breaks and getting to know all of you!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Going to Playa Bowls with a group of friends on a sunny day after my last spring semester final!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
Machine Learning for Predictive Data Analytics (ECE432), which was my first machine learning class. The course exposed me to the idea that good models must start with good data, which made me much more aware of where data comes from and what assumptions or biases are hidden.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
The Solarium in Firestone!
Christian Ganter
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
NCW
Class Year
2027
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Engineering Physics, Computer Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
My name is Christian Ganter and I’m a rising senior from South Jersey. I’ve really enjoyed my time with engineering at Princeton because of the fantastic research opportunities and faculty support. From hands-on classes to independent work, Princeton Engineering does a lot to support research-focused students. I’m really excited to be an interactor this year and help students navigate the first year in the BSE program, which can definitely be exciting yet difficult. That being said, I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had, and want to help students take advantage of everything that studying engineering at Princeton offers.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
One of my favorite memories from freshman year was the Yale vs Princeton football game. There was a bonfire at stake, since Princeton had beaten Harvard earlier that year, and the game went into multiple overtime periods. It was tight the entire time, and although we ended up losing in the end, it was fun to be surrounded by students, alumni, and other fans cheering for the team.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
Carlab (ECE302), was a very formative class for me at Princeton. I learned how to think like an engineer and debug a project from start to finish. Meanwhile project deadlines were tight and the workload was certainly intense making it a good test in time management and planning ahead. But, more than anything, it was fun! I loved getting to build and test these robotics projects, whether that was through building, wiring, or programming. In the end, I had felt proud of the final projects and now benefit from the skills I learned along the way.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
The new SEAS building has fantastic built in study spots with ample chalkboard space and quiet areas. This makes it perfect for collaborative and independent working!
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I have not studied abroad, but I did an IIP in Medellín, Colombia during my Freshman summer. I worked at a nonprofit that donated 3D printed prosthetic devices to patients with amputations and other disabilities. My primary focus was designing the devices, including the company’s first in-house designed prosthetic arm! Meanwhile, I had the opportunity to travel the country, exploring the biggest cities, hiking through deserts, and camping in the Amazon. It was an incredible opportunity and one I would recommend to any other student.
Sunney Gao
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
NCW
Class Year
2027
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
ENE, COS
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hey y’all! I’m Sunney, a junior from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in ECE. Outside of being a BSE interactor, I’m a Writing Center Fellow, a Leader Trainer for Outdoor Action, vice president of Chinese Students Association, and the community (members) chair of Tower Club. I’ve found the BSE community to be tight-knit and encouraging, which has been great to be a part of. I’m looking forward to supporting y’all this year because I believe mentorship is especially important for BSE students, who have to navigate Princeton’s academic rigor and major exploration on an accelerated track. Excited to meet everyone!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
WRI118: Imagining Childhood (my writing seminar) transformed the way I think about writing and the purpose of writing given its context. It helped me think more critically about the media I consume and learn to read between the lines.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Briger Hall
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
N/A
Jessica Guo
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Residential College
Mathey
Class Year
2027
Major
Civil and Environmental Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Sustainable Energy, Statistics and Machine Learning
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! I am Jessica and I am from Shanghai, China but I grew up in Melbourne, Australia. As a Civil and Environmental Engineering major, I love learning about emerging technologies in climate and energy sciences. I also love being a part of the engineering community at Princeton – we really do stick together! In my free time, I serve as a student tour guide at the Princeton University Art Museum, watch cooking shows and climb at the local climbing gym. I am excited to host fun socials and guide BSE freshmen with practical advice as their interactor.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Going to my first ever ultimate frisbee tournament with the Princeton Hemlock Frisbee Team, with Clif peanut bars and apple sauce packets during breaks between games.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
MAE 228: Energy Technologies in the 21st Century was one of the most interesting classes I’ve taken at Princeton. It introduced me to the fascinating world of energy technologies and energy systems modeling, which ultimately inspired me to pursue summer research in climate and energy policy and shaped the direction of my senior thesis.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Commons Library
Kazia Handoko
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Residential College
Butler
Class Year
2027
Major
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
SML, Bioengineering
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi, my name is Kazia (rhymes with Asia), and I’m from Dallas, Texas. I’m a senior in ORFE, but I started out as MAE and also declared CBE, so if you have any questions about these three majors, feel free to reach out! I’m also a PAA in Butler and a student manager for the Princeton Football team. The best part about Princeton’s engineering program, in my opinion, is the flexibility that comes with it; the opportunities are truly endless, giving BSE students the time and resources to find out what we actually want to do. As an interactor this year, I’m excited to hear about everyone’s backgrounds, passions, and goals over the next four years. As someone who was very undecided about what I wanted to do post-grad my first year, I hope I can help provide some direction for anyone who may need it!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite first-year memory was my first birthday here at Princeton in May. Since it was in the middle of reading period, I thought we wouldn’t have time to celebrate it, but instead my friends decorated my room while I was locked away in Firestone Library and surprised me!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
ORF335, Introduction to Financial Mathematics was my first time doing applied mathematics in real-world scenarios, and though it was very difficult, it was one of the most interesting classes to me, and it’s one of the big reasons I felt ORFE was the right major for me. It taught me to push my limits and technical skills, and apply all the theory I had learned to real problems.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Firestone Library!
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I took part in a Global Seminar in Taiwan through PIIRS, the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies. There, we analyzed the geopolitical situation and Taiwan’s role in U.S.-China relations, learning about the history of the island and the implications in the modern day. We also conducted our own research projects, where I studied the National Health Insurance (NHI) system and its effects on physician burnout. This ultimately led to my interest in policy-related research, which is what I hope to pursue after graduation.
Zara Hommez
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Residential College
Forbes
Class Year
2028
Major
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Computer Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi, I’m Zara! I grew up in California, but my parents currently live in Spain. I love how my engineering classes have challenged me to think in new ways, enhancing my ability to problem solve and think logically. I do extracurriculars like Chapel Choir and Society of Women Engineers. I also enjoy reading, new crafts, and any new adrenaline experience. I’m ecstatic to be a interactor because peer mentorship was so pivotal for me in my introductory Princeton experience, and I want to give the same to someone else.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite memory from first year is enjoying all the activities, like the addy ceramics lounge and joining chapel choir.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
I really enjoyed ECE 364 ( intro machine learning class) because it let me understand the behind-the-scenes for how different ML algorithms work. When I worked on side projects, I found it useful that I actually understood what each one did at its core. From that, I was able to see what algorithms are best in different scenarios. The course was also incredibly well-structured and taught.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Addy Hall
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I haven’t studied abroad, but I have done an IIP in Qatar. It was an amazing cultural experience as well as educational. We got to ride dune buggies!
Jessica Hou
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Forbes
Class Year
2028
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Flute Music Performance
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hey, I’m super excited to meet you all! My name is Jessica and I’m from Philadelphia. I’m a junior majoring in Electrical & Computer Engineering with a minor in Flute Music Performance.
As an engineering student, I value the abundant resources that the department provides for research and career development. In my free time, I enjoy being around music, whether that is playing my flute or listening to a new genre on Spotify. I also love exploring new restaurants and cafes with friends.
Freshman year is definitely an exciting yet busy time, so I’m looking forward to hosting fun study breaks to help you all settle down and take a breather from all that is going on!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Touring Greece with the Princeton University Orchestra
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
I really enjoyed my freshman seminar, WRI112: The Craft of Authenticity. It taught me the importance of providing background and motivating my arguments, so much so that I refer back to it in my proof-based courses or when I want make a convincing presentation.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Small World or the circular reading room in Firestone
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
No
Pamela Jacome
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
NCW
Class Year
2028
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Materials Science and Engineering
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi! I’m Pame Jacome. I am from Ecuador, but I went to high school in Nicaragua. I am a rising junior in CBE, and one thing I really like about being an engineering student is the collaboration that comes with it. It’s very nice to work with others on problem sets and support one another. Some clubs I am involved in on campus include PUEA, SHPE, and the Fragrance Club. I am looking forward to being an interactor because I want to meet incoming students and provide them with as much support as possible, both academically and in adapting to life at Princeton.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite memory is having a picnic with my friends at Poe Field!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
One Princeton class that has shaped the way I think is SPA 213 – Of Love and Other Demons. In this class, I learned to analyze films and works of literature in a special way as part of exploring different forms of narrative love. This shaped me by providing me with a better framework for interpreting stories, and also inspiring to return to my own writing, especially poetry and journaling.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Firestone Library or Murray Dodge
Caroline Johnson
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
Rockefeller
Class Year
2028
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Bioengineering
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! I’m from Buffalo, NY (go Bills!) and love being a CBE student. One of my favorite parts of the BSE experience has been going through so many classes with the same group of people – the community we have built because of it is very supportive. Outside the classroom, I play clarinet in the Princeton University Orchestra and the Princeton University Wind Ensemble. I’m also active in the Society of Women Engineers and Princeton’s chapter of AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers), where I serve as co-social chair and help plan events for CBE students. I’m always happy to chat about classes, getting involved, or anything else (no question is too small) and I’m excited to help foster community among the Class of 2030 BSE students!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Although it’s hard to choose, one of my favorite memories from my first year at Princeton was the Girl Scout Workshop hosted by SWE. One of my BSE friends and I ran a station together (making a fling flyer and discussing the basics of aerodynamics), and it was so much fun getting to share the exciting sides of science and engineering with younger students. SWE hosts the workshop once every semester, and it’s become a tradition for us to come back and volunteer together.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
MAT 201: Multivariable Calculus was one of the most challenging classes I’ve taken at Princeton, but it changed the way I approach problem-solving. Each week’s problem set pushed me to think more critically, and working through p-sets with my study group also taught me how to clearly communicate my reasoning and learn from others’ approaches. The habits I built in MAT 201 have carried over into nearly every class I’ve taken since.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
The ES + SEAS complex (Briger Hall, Commons, BioE/CBE)!
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
No, but I was able to go on an international tour with PUO (Princeton University Orchestra) during spring break my freshman year! We went to three different cities in Greece, getting to perform and sightsee at each place. It allowed me to connect with my fellow musicians and form some very important friendships!
Shaun Karani
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2027
Major
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
What minors are you pursuing?
Religion, Statistics and Machine Learning
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hey everyone, my name is Shaun and I’m a senior in the COS department from NYC! On campus, I’m involved with Claude @ Princeton, Outdoor Action, Peer Career Advisers, and write for The Prince. I’ve switched my major 6 times (talk to me about it!) here and have found studying engineering to be one of the best choices I’ve made. In my free time, I play the alto sax, research public commuter infrastructure, and spend time in the outdoors. Excited to help answer questions and be a helpful resource!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Sledding down Elm Drive after the first snowstorm!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
EGR497: Entrepreneurial Leadership! taught me how to think like a leader and gave me a strong foundation in building effective teams and setting both myself and others up for success. It was one of the most valuable classes I took, and the lessons I learned have continued to shape how I approach the startups and projects I’ve worked on since. More than just entrepreneurship, the course challenged me to think deeply about how I lead, collaborate, and pursue the work I’m passionate about. It’s a class whose lessons I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
the CSML patio!
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
N/A
Sean Kim
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Mathey
Class Year
2028
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Material Science Engineering
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! My name is Sean, and I am an ECE major/MSE minor originally from Fulton, Maryland. Aside from the opportunity to translate theoretical concepts into research or design projects, I love the unity that comes from diverse academic disciplines working together. In my free time, I enjoy playing table tennis or intramural sports with my friends, as well as praying to God. I’m so excited to be a BSE interactor this year because I love meeting and talking to people. Really looking forward to meeting y’all, and I hope I can learn a lot from you too!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite freshman year memory is a spontaneous board game night I had with my friends. We initially were just joking around playing Unstable Unicorns, Codenames, and Secret Hitler, but later we started having deep conversations about imposter syndrome, challenges we were facing, and hope for the future.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
I really liked MSE301 (Materials Science and Engineering) because it combined concepts from a variety of classes I’ve taken so far, and explained the theoretical principles of why materials behaved the way they did. For example, after learning about mechanical properties of stress and strain in MSE301, I also learned how these allow back-of-the-envelope biomechanical fracture analysis, as well as the strain problem associated with heteroepitaxy in thin-film growth. In addition to these technical applications, introductory material science also helped me to start thinking about how different materials will behave or their properties would be influenced in daily settings.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
My favorite study spot is the classrooms in the Robertson Hall basement.
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
Before coming to Princeton campus, after graduating high school, I participated in Yonsei University’s international summer school program. Even though I have been to South Korea before, it was a very exciting experience to travel around the country and immerse myself in the culture with a cohort of people my age. Even though the course I took (Korean Cinema) did not relate to my major, I still met a lot of people from the program that I am close with today. Additionally, I was still able to speak with professors and students studying electrical engineering there, which gave me a perspective on emerging technology and research beyond the scope of just the US.
Mirtel Klaar
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
Rockefeller
Class Year
2028
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
None.
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi, I am Mirtel, and I am from Tallinn, Estonia, a small city in Eastern Europe. I have been doing track and field for 14 years, and I am currently on the varsity athletics team here at Princeton. Outside of sports, I love to travel, read books, and play board games. Lately, I have also picked up a new habit, playing pickleball with my friends on campus. I love being an engineering student since it rewires how you see everything. A bridge is not just a bridge anymore. It is a balance of tension, compression, and load paths. That sense of understanding why it works is amazing. I am looking forward to being an engineering interactor since I remember how overwhelming my first year was and I would love to be the person who makes that easier for someone else.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
I think it was the Clash of Colleges, it was so cool to see all the new incoming students working together to win for their residential college. It showed how motivated and excited people were to be here.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
I think that class would be SLA 219 Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky: Introduction to the Great Russian Novel. Honestly, it was not so much the course material that shaped me, but the instructor. I took it my freshman fall, back when I had not figured anything out yet. Professor L. Matthews showed me that instructors are there to support us and help us through the course, not to make it harder. That stuck with me. It taught me that it is always worth reaching out to your instructors or asking for help. They will do as much as they can for you.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
I honestly love just studying in my room or if not that I like to go to common rooms where you can sit next to other people.
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
No.
Eddie Kong
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Residential College
Mathey
Class Year
2027
Major
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
SML, LIN, COS
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hey there! I’m Eddie, from just outside of Cincinnati, OH. What I love about BSE is its surprising flexibility and breadth of course offerings. Outside of class, you can always catch me at one of the weekly language tables! On campus, I’m involved in Sympoh (breaking + hip hop!), the Chinese Language Association and French Theater. I’m really looking forward to being your interactor and guiding you through Princeton Engineering!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
finishing my first Sympoh show!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
ORF350 – fantastic professor, really showed me how engaging lectures could be and made me comprehend linear algebra in simple ways
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
sherrerd balcony
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
France (PIF), Germany (SWP), Brazil (HMEI) all summer programs not courses
Simon Kupchik
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2028
Major
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Robotics (?) unsure
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi! My name is Simon Kupchik, and I’m a sophomore at Princeton University majoring in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. I’m pursuing a minor in Robotics as well. I am passionate about space exploration and rocket technologies, and would love to be able to work on the development of new technology on how we explore outer space further! I am particularly intrigued by rocket nozzle technology and engine combustion. I’m looking forward to being an interactor and helping you guys thrive while choosing engineering at Princeton! In my free time, I enjoy lifting in the gym, reading science fiction/dystopian novels, and watching video documentaries! I also love singing, and am a part of the Roaring 20, an a cappella group on my campus!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
HUM234 – East Asian Humanities II, very introspective and reflective across societies and eras
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Firestone Library
Mark Lancaster
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2027
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi guys! My name is Mark, and I’m a senior from Lower Merion, PA majoring in ECE. I’m super passionate about using physics to solve interesting problems; in my research, I study how we can use lasers to manipulate individual atoms for quantum computing! Outside of ECE, I’m a tennis junkie who is Co-President of the Club Tennis Team and also plays for the Korean Tennis Club. One fun fact about me is that I was once the flag bearer for Team USA at the Korean Olympics! I also love teaching, and work as a TA for MAT201 and MAT202! Feel free to reach out anytime with any questions about course selection, research, study strategies, or anything else! Can’t wait to meet you guys in the Fall.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
I took a freshman seminar called The Piano, where we learned the basics of music theory, attended a concert at Carnegie Hall, and went on a field trip to the Steinway piano factory. Guys, if you can, take a freshman sem!!!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
ECE452 Biomedical Imaging. This class took many of the core concepts we had learned from math, physics, and computer science, but applied them to medical technology. We learned the details of how MRI machines and CT scans work, which made me think about how the physics we do in the lab has the potential to help people live healthier lives.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Briger Hall
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I studied in South Korea through the Princeton in Korea program, and it changed my life. I spoke no Korean before coming to Princeton, but the program made me fluent enough to have full conversations with my grandparents. It also gave me the confidence to work abroad in Korea, where I worked at a quantum computing startup after my sophomore year. I highly recommend Princeton’s foreign language study abroad and international internship programs, which are both incredible opportunities.
Shawn Li
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
Residential College
Whitman
Class Year
2028
Major
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
What minors are you pursuing?
Applied and Computational Mathematics, Optimization and Quantitative Decision Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
I’m Shawn, from West Virginia. I love being an engineer because it lets me think about and build solutions to super interesting problems, some of which can be incredibly relevant to one’s everyday life. I’m part of HackPrinceton and I do a bit of competitive programming in my free time. I’ve always liked sharing my experience with younger students in hopes that they go on to do great things, which is why I’m looking forward to being an interactor.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Spring Lawnparties was really fun
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
COS 445: Economics and Computing
I learned a lot of game theory in this course which I think is very useful to consider even when making the most basic decisions in life.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Commons Library
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
no
Jason Lu
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2027
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Global Health and Health Policy
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hello! My name is Jason, a rising senior in the CBE department. I am from Boston, MA and a member on the Princeton Football Team. I love the way engineering students bond with one another through the BSE core requirements. I am happy to talk about being premed, student athlete, and BSE. Excited to meet all of you!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite memory was attending dance and music group performances with my zee group.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
FRS 185: Endings, Before and After
Having taken this course my freshman fall, it completely changed the way I thought about endings – my Princeton education, stories, and even mountains. It really showed me how to enjoy each moment.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Lewis Library
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I will be conducting research in Australia this summer!
Thomas Ninan
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Residential College
NCW
Class Year
2028
Major
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Robotics; History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hey everyone! My name is Thomas, and I’m from Mickleton, New Jersey (~hour south of Princeton). I’m a junior in MAE focusing on biomedical engineering, and I love working on design projects, synthesizing theory from MAE/ECE classes to solve real problems alongside talented peers and friends. I am currently the mechanical lead for the Bionics team with the Robtoics Club and also worked on mechanical/aero design for Princeton Racing Electric. I’m super excited to help you make the most of your first year, discover your next steps at Princeton, and hopefully learn to love engineering as much as me!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Volunteering at Dia de la Ciencias, working with Prof. Littman to develop and guide demonstrations of fundamental electromagnetic experiments in two languages for youths in the Priceton area at the public library.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
HIS291, The Scientific Revolution; By considering the various epistemic modes that led to, contributed to, and resulted from one of the most influential periods of scientific and technological history helped me reconceptualize the way I think about both science and engineering and their interaction with the broader world. Sometimes, the lines between faith, culture, and engineering blur more than we think, and often to wonderful and world-changing effect.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
I’m partial to studying in my room because my roommates are great, but outside of that I’m a big fan of getting work done in Stokes Library (basement of Wallace) if for nothing else than the beautiful shrubbery outside in the spring.
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I have not.
Matthew Oliveira
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Whitman
Class Year
2028
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Computer Science (COS) and Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! My name is Matthew Oliveira, ad I am a junior in the ECE department from Bernardsville, NJ, about an hour north of Princeton. Studying engineering has given me the opportunity to deepen my capability for critical thinking and problem solving. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from the perspectives of my classmates and professors, who inspire me to learn and create for a better future. Outside of the classroom, I am a part of Whitman College Council, the Robotics Club, and am the vice president of the Princeton Pianists Ensemble. I look forward to providing insight into finding a way into the BSE curriculum and student life as an interactor!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
One of my favorites was in my first semester, when the Pianists Ensemble gave their fall concert at Richardson. It was sold out and I had a great time performing with a newfound community on campus.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
My freshman seminar, The Coming of Driverless Cars (FRS139/SOC384) was particularly thought-provoking. It explored a niche in these vehicles while expanding discussion around more than their technical features, which brought it past a surface-level survey. The mainly discussion-based course revolved around discussions of ethics and legal issues, infrastructure, safety standards and government regulation, the effects on environment and industry, data privacy, and more. Overall, this created a well-rounded course that I still think about regularly when approaching the consequences of novel technologies.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Briger Commons
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I have not, but am considering doing so in my junior spring.
Ori Orbach
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
Rockefeller
Class Year
2028
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
QCB and HSTM
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi, I’m Ori Orbach ‘28, a Chemical and Biological Engineering student from Philadelphia! One of my favorite things about CBE is how it connects so many scientific fields to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Outside of class, I’m a photo editor for The Princetonian, a researcher in the Cristea Lab, VP of the Biomedical Engineering Society, President of the American Physician Scientists Association, and a Peer Health Advisor. I also love playing basketball and staying involved in Jewish life on campus. I’m really looking forward to getting to know first-year engineers, sharing what I’ve learned, and connecting more with the broader amazing CBE community!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
One of my favorite memories from my first year was traveling with my closest friends to Vienna and Budapest for a Princeton research project. We spent our days exploring the cities, discovering hidden gems, and eating incredible food. It was an unforgettable trip!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
One class that genuinely changed how I think is Thermodynamics (CBE 246). I was intimidated going in, but actually ended up loving it. The course builds such a strong intuition for real-world systems, it reshaped how I approach modeling, the assumptions we make, and how complex systems actually behave. What I find most elegant is that everything flows from just a handful of postulates and laws, yet you can derive so many powerful tools for answering real-world questions.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
I like to rotate spots, but one of my favorites is the third floor of Firestone Library. From the windows you can see into the town but also the foresty hills beyond, and the natural lighting is great.
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I have not.
Arya Paliwal
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Forbes
Class Year
2028
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Mathematics, Computer Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
I can explore theory related classes while pursuing my mandatory engineering related requirement. I was involved with Society of Women Engineers, Princeton Autonomous Vehicles Engineering, and Princeton Students in Quantum, Keller Center (Internship Summer 2025), and Research in ECE on Campus. I am looking forward to being an interactor because I would love to help you navigate the BSE requirements while pursuing your interest.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite memory arose from pursuing a club that truly resonated with my interest starting Frenchman year: quantum club. I went to my first quantum hackathon at MIT unsure of what to expect for the competition. The challenges encouraged me to expand my knowledge in quantum and helped me find a group of ppl who I can talk to about the subject and still talk to today.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
FRS142 Craft of Authenticity: Essay writing in high school is much different from writing complex, thorough arguments in university. The introduction of the motive layer cake mechanized the process of constructing arguments and made it more approachable. Furthermore, I learnt that determining who has agency is not objective and depends on how one switches perspectives.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Friend Center, Thomas Laboratory, McDonnell Hall, Lewis Library
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
No
Ariella Pressner
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
Residential College
NCW
Class Year
2027
Major
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
What minors are you pursuing?
Cognitive Science, SML, OQDS
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi! I’m from Westchester, NY and majoring in Computer Science. I have really enjoyed my COS classes, and also love the flexibility I’ve had to take cool classes in other departments. I’m excited to meet you and help make your first year as amazing as possible! If you have any questions about majors, classes, or anything Princeton I’d be happy to talk!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
PSY 254 – Developmental Psychology. Really really cool class about how children develop. We learned about such interesting studies and how impactful the first few years of life are, which made me see learning and development in a whole new way.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
B Floor of Firestone
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
No
Malik Resheidat
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
Butler
Class Year
2027
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Mathematics, Bioengineering, Materials Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
I’m Malik and I’m majoring in chemical and biological engineering. I really appreciate being under the SEAS umbrella because of the administrative support and overall community. In SEAS, there is the real feeling that we’re all engineers at the core binding us all together. I love playing percussion and playing in various musical ensembles on campus. I’ve already been a BSE interactor before, and I really enjoy talking to first-year students about everything Princeton and engineering.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
I really enjoyed exploring Nassau St. and trying all the different food places there.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
CBE 419: Enzymes is a great course that ties biology, chemistry, and engineering fundamentals together in a fun semester-long exploration of enzymes. One exceptionally fascinating part of the course is the historical examination of research that has culminated in our modern understanding of enzyme structure, function, and kinetics. I would certainly recommend the course to anyone even remotely interested in biology, chemistry, or CBE.
Tomasz Sadowy
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
Residential College
Mathey
Class Year
2027
Major
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
What minors are you pursuing?
Robotics
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hello everyone- I’m Tomasz. I grew in northern New Jersey about 15 minutes away from NYC. I am very interested in computer vision, robotics, and their intersection in autonomous vehicles. Previously, I was a Software Lead for the Princeton Autonomous Vehicles Engineering (PAVE) club and the Princeton Robotics club (Pacbot subteam). I’m looking forward to being an interactor to dispel any false rumors that you may have heard about Princeton and to support you all in your transition to being college students at this wonderful place!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite memories in Princeton were made freshman year while taking B.S.E. prerequisites where I met a ton of my friends that I am very close with now. We formed tight-knit study groups for homework checking and preparing for exams, and I am still very close with many of these people today!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
A Princeton class that has shaped the way I think was COS Independent Work (COS399). Before taking starting independent work, I was very used to already-defined or minimally open-ended final projects to complete for courses. However, when I started my independent work, I realized that the whole semester was fully open-ended for me to explore whatever I was interested in. Ultimately, I learned how to reason through topics, come up with formulations, and empirically test them in ways that I have not done beforehand.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
I love studying in the Friend Center or Robotics Lab (Equad)!
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
N/A
Najatene Saunders
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2027
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
N/A
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi! I’m Najatene Saunders, and I’m from a small town in South Jersey, about an hour south of Princeton and tucked near the Pinelands. I’m a Chemical and Biological Engineering major, but I actually started at Princeton as a Chemistry A.B. student before transferring into engineering — so I know what it feels like to figure things out as you go. I love engineering because it’s creative, challenging, and teaches you to think in completely new ways. Outside of class, I’m usually painting, crocheting with tea in hand, power-walking around campus, hanging out with friends from church, or bringing someone along with me to the dining hall. I’m so excited to be an interactor because I want first-years to know that you can work hard, ask for help, sleep, have friendships, and still become a great engineer.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite memory from first year was at the end of freshman fall, when my roommate and I hosted a spa night in our dorm. We went all out: PJs, blanket forts, pillows everywhere, oatmeal face masks, nails, fun music, and even umbrellas with lights tucked underneath to make the room feel extra cozy. It was such a sweet reminder that even as engineers, with all the problem sets and late nights, we could still make space to be silly, creative, and fully enjoy each other’s company.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
My favorite engineering class so far has been CBE 341: Mass, Momentum, and Energy Transport, because it made me realize that engineering is everywhere. It shows up in the materials chosen to keep phones from overheating, the air conditioning we rely on every day, and even the way food cooks on a grill or in a convection oven. The class made science and math feel so practical and relevant.
We talked about real manufacturing processes, like how Cheez-Its or Hershey’s Kisses are made, and how to calculate something as specific as how fast a conveyor belt needs to move to meet quality standards. It helped me understand the world around me in a new way and showed me that even when the math seems complicated, engineers can make smart approximations that make big problems manageable.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
my room 🙂 OR the Common’s Library (when it’s open)
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
N/A
Jared Sewell
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Forbes
Class Year
2028
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Computer Science, Entrepreneurship
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hey everyone! My name is Jared and I’m from rural New Zealand. On campus I’m involved with Outdoor Action (as a Leader Trainer) and Princeton Electric Speedboating. In my free time I love playing piano and getting outside in whatever way I can – whether that’s hiking, mountain biking, or running.
I am so excited to meet everyone and learn more about your engineering interests. Know that I am here to support you through all the ups and downs of Princeton academics, so please don’t hesitate to reach out!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
One of my favorite parts of first year was meeting people from so many different backgrounds and realizing how much you can learn just from the people around you.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
ENT200 (Creativity, Innovation, and Design) definitely changed the way I think about problem solving. Before taking it, I usually approached problems from a purely technical perspective. The course emphasized starting with people instead – talking to users and questioning assumptions before jumping into solutions. It made me think much more carefully about why something should be built, not just whether it can be.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Probably the top floor of New South. It’s usually quiet and has great views of campus!
Mariel Shapiro
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Mathey
Class Year
2027
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Dance
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi, I Mariel part of the class of 2027 from the Boston area. I’m majoring in ECE with concentrations in optics/photonics and bioengineering and pursuing a minor in Dance. I’ve found engineering and particularly ECE at Princeton to be very flexible programs which has enabled me to explore cutting edge research in the specific fields that interest me most both through departmental courses and Independent Work. Through coursework and extracurriculars, I’ve had the opportunity to further my interests in dance and art alongside engineering in a way I had not believed to be possible and have found these pursuits to be mutually beneficial. As an interactor, I’m looking forward to helping students explore their various interests to find their own path.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
ECE 488: Fundamental Image Processing: From Mars to Hollywood with a Stop at the Hospital
This was one of the first ECE electives I was able to take primarily for interest. The class taught foundational and current work in image processing but focused on the incredibly wide range of application areas for this software and their impact. I learned a lot and have found the material and overall approach to working in a very specific area to be extremely applicable
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
My favorite places to study are the LCA and East Pyne
Anthony Shen
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
Forbes
Class Year
2028
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Computer Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hey guys, I’m originally from Singapore and Taiwan, CBE with COS minor. I’m founder and team captain of Princeton’s Chemical Engineering Cube Team, where we compete in an annual competition held by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers to build the most efficient and cost-effective modular chemical reactor integrating both software, hardware, and process design. Outside of classes, I’m involved in semiconductor research in Prof. Rand’s lab and computational research in Professor Yao’s lab, and am broadly interested in applying computation to chemical engineering. You can also find me at events held by the Taiwanese American Students Assoc. and Singaporean Students Assoc.! In my free time, I like reading, particularly philosophy and history, photography, and running. I had a nonlinear path to engineering, starting off intending to pursue AB chemistry my freshman year and having deep interests in the humanities as well, so I look forward to hearing about all your interesting stories on how you came to aspire to be an engineer!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Sitting in the Forbes backyard enjoying the sunset view
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
CBE246: Thermodynamics – The entire complex edifice of thermodynamics emerge so elegantly out of a set of simple core principles that can either be based on classical thermodynamics (zeroth, first, second, third law) or statistical mechanics (e.g. all microstates are of equal probabilities). It has made me realize the power of how simple but correct principles can explain a range of physical phenomena.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Forbes basement classroom w/ chalkboard
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
NIL
Ruoming Shen
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
Residential College
Whitman
Class Year
2027
Major
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
What minors are you pursuing?
Statistics and Machine Learning, Optimization and Quantitative Decision Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hey everyone! My name is Ruoming, and I’m from Virginia Beach, VA. I’m a senior in the COS BSE department, and on campus, I’m a member of the Princeton Student Events Committee, Peer Career Advisors, and Princeton Women in Computer Science. My favorite part of being a Princeton engineer is the community; from grinding problems sets in PHY104 freshman year to coding a video game in COS426, I’ve formed such fulfilling friendships in my engineering classes and have met incredible people who support, motivate, and uplift each other. As an interactor, I’m excited to help you all navigate your first year at Princeton and feel welcome in the engineering community!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Weekly movie nights with friends! Every weekend, some friends and I would find any open common room in Whitman, and we would pick a movie to watch. It was a fun tradition, and I met some of my closest friends through these nights.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
ART212: European Art: Revolutions and Avant-Gardes changed the way I interpret and appreciate art and its role in shaping society. This course explored the history, artistry, and criticism of numerous well-known artworks, and I was fascinated by the connections between artists over decades and even centuries. When I now view art, I view it with a keener eye and deeper appreciation for the artist.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Marquand Library in the art museum! It has amazing natural lighting, and it’s a great place to people watch as a study break 🙂
Victoria Spradlin
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Residential College
Rockefeller
Class Year
2028
Major
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
SML, COS
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi! My name is Victoria and I’m an ORFE major from Rhode Island. I absolutely love how collaborative and problem-solving focused the engineering environment is at Princeton. I’ve learned so much from working through challenging classes and projects with other students. Outside of academics, I am heavily involved with the Princeton Figure Skating Club, where I currently serve as President. I also enjoy running, hiking, and cooking. As an Interactor I am excited to to help first-years feel supported, connected, and more confident navigating engineering at Princeton.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
One of my favorite first-year memories at Princeton University was bonding with friends in office hours while trying to work through challenging problem sets together.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
One class that really shaped the way I think was ORF 307: Optimization. It completely changed the way I approach problem solving by teaching me how to break complicated problems into structured mathematical models and think carefully about objectives, constraints, and trade-offs. It showed me how quantitative methods can be used to solve real-world problems across so many different fields.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Briger Hall
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
no
Alexandre Stephant
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Residential College
Forbes
Class Year
2028
Major
Civil and Environmental Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Architecture & Engineering, Urban Studies
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone, my name is Alexandre (pronounced alex-zond) and I’m excited to be a BSE interactor this year! I was born and raised in Mclean, VA, right outside of DC. On campus, I’m part of Shere Khan A Cappella (auditions in the fall!), Engineers Without Borders, and the Orange Key Tour Guide Society. I’m a Civil and Environmental Engineering major with minors in Urban Studies and Architecture, and I absolutely love the CEE department. CEE combines small class sizes with an amazing teaching staff and a true community feel. It provides incredible support and freedom to pursue your passions and tailor the major to your own interests. I look forward to working with y’all to help you make the most of your time as a BSE student at Princeton!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
One of my favorite memories from my first year is fall lawn parties. It all felt so new and exciting, and I spent all day with people I had only met a couple weeks ago but who already felt like my best friends.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
Materials in Civil Engineering, CEE 364. I took it sophomore spring, and it made me aware of materials in a way I hadn’t been before. It’s easy to think of all structures the same way (especially in physics classes, which deal with hypothetical structures,) but materials showed me how every material requires different design strategies. It was one of the most “real” classes I have taken.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Addy Hall in NCW
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I will be pariticpating in an IIP in Morocco this summer.
Rishi Subramanian
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Rockefeller
Class Year
2028
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Engineering Physics, Computer Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi, I’m Rishi. I’m a ECE student from Johns Creek, Georgia, though I’ve grown up across the world. I am interested in (1) chip fabrication and design and (2) solid-state physics, and I really enjoy being able to explore these different interests through the breadth of the ECE department. I’m the president of Naacho Dance Company, and I’m also a dancer in Princeton Bhangra. I’ve worked as course assistant for MAT201/202, and also as an advisor for the Novogratz Bridge Year program. I love working with students to chart out fulfilling academic goals and plans, and I’m excited to offer guidance as y’all enter your first year as a B.S.E. student!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
SASA (South Asian Student Association) Mock Shaadi (wedding)
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
PHY208: Principles of Quantum Mechanics. It’s especially elegant and profound to see linear algebra, multivariable calculus, and difference equations merged together to create a fundamental description of nature (like deriving hydrogen spdf orbitals)!
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Robertson Hall, 4th floor, conference rooms on a sunny day
Era Thaqi
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Whitman
Class Year
2027
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! My name is Era, I am a junior in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. I am from Prishtina, Kosovo. One of the things I love most about being an engineering student here is the access to hand-on projects, think Carlab or make your wafer at a Clean Room Lab : ) On campus I serve as a Residential College Advisor for Whitman and am involved with the Society of Women Engineers, Princeton Albania-Kosovo Association and Aquinas Institute! In my free time, I enjoy hiking, baking, ceramics and trying new places on Nassau Street. I am so excited to welcome all of you to the engineering community at Princeton!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
One of my favorite memories from freshman year is Clash of Colleges!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
A Princeton class that has shaped the way I think is ECE 302 known as Carlab. Although it is a class with no lectures, there is continuous work you do in speed, navigation control and lastly on your own independent project. Through the experience I ended up growing a lot in my skills as an engineer.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Stokes Library!
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
No
Khushi Umesh
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Forbes
Class Year
2028
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Bioengineering, Robotics
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! My name is Khushi and I am a rising junior (junior during F26) and international student from Pune, India. I am majoring in ECE with minors in Bioengineering and Robotics and I am very interested in the intersection of engineering, biology and tech. I love being an engineering major because of the collaborative nature of it and also because I get to build really cool things! Some of the things on campus that I’m a part of – I’m a sprinter on the Varsity Track & Field team, a rookie mechanic at the CycLab, a tour guide with Orange Key, a fellow for Vote100 and events chair for South Asian Students Association. I’m looking forward to meeting all of you and sharing my journey at Princeton in the hopes that it shows there is not just one way to do engineering here. Always down to talk books, cinema, NYT puzzles, coffee drinks ,food and restaurant recs, reach out at khushiumesh@princeton.edu!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
I think my fondest memory from freshman year is winning triple crown with the track team after 14 long years:)
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
I absolutely loved taking HIN305/COM248: Topics in Hindi/Urdu – Poetry, Performance and the Public Sphere, as even though I grew up learning and speaking Hindi all my life, going further into the topics during class gave me a greater appreciation for learning the language and helped me understand a lot about how poetry is a social feat, not just a literary one.
Along with that I also really liked taking ECE203 : Electronic circuit design, especially the lab component of the class, as it helped me realize that I love working on hands-on projects (literally) and gave me such a deep appreciation for how almost all instruments/devices in our day-to-day life work.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Stokes Library or the bench next to Robertson!
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
n/a
Athena Wang
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2028
Major
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Mathematics and Computer Science
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi! I’m Athena, coming from Lexington, Massachusetts. I’m majoring in ORFE, and minoring in math and computer science. I look forward to being one of your BSE interactors this next year! As an engineer, I love being able to apply the theoretical concepts we learn about through class into real-world problems, whether it’s in research, robotics, or code. We get the best of both worlds: seeing both the theoretical implications of different concepts across topics and how they come together in real-life. On campus, I’m involved in Triple 8 Dance Company, HackPrinceton, and Girls into VC. I’m excited to meet all the incoming engineers and be both a fellow student guide and mentor through your academic journey!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite memory from my first year at Princeton was my trip to Rome in my freshman seminar. After learning about Roman floods and the evolution of the landscape through rivers, seeing the landforms in-person with all the other freshman seminar members was so amazing. It was both a bonding experience for me and the other members, where we got to taste test many authentic Italian dishes while sharing stories about our freshman years. Some of my closest friends at Princeton were still made through that freshman seminar, where we learned very deeply about each other and still had fun understanding the rock formations we went to go see.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
POL 230 (Comparative Politics) was one of the main Princeton classes that shaped the way I think. It was very interesting to learn about the different theories that came up about the formation of politics or regimes in different countries, and it really put into perspective the interplays of theories and how they bounce off each other. I really expanded my knowledge about different world politics and saw how everything could be put on a spectrum, with theories constantly changing as the world and technology advance.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Briger Hall
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I had a GHP internship in Perth, Australia my freshman summer. It was an amazing experience, both in terms of the work I did and the activities I did. I went with a group of other students from Princeton (renting out houses together), and we went on trips together to see the wildlife and the natural scenery of Australia. The people I worked with in my team were all very nice and welcoming, introducing me to Australian culture and their work, which was amazing to see (in terms of research both during and after university).
Eileen Wang
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Residential College
NCW
Class Year
2028
Major
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
East Asian Studies, Applied and Computational Mathematics
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi! My name is Eileen, and I’m from Buffalo, NY. I’m majoring in ORFE and pursuing minors in East Asian Studies and Applied and Computational Mathematics. One thing I love about being an engineering student is the opportunity to constantly apply my problem-solving skills and creativity to interdisciplinary challenges. Outside of classes and studying, I’m a Chinese UCA, treasurer of the Asian American Students Association, and involved in VTone and La Vie En Cello. I’m so excited to be a BSE Interactor because I love meeting new people and want to help build a supportive community for first-year engineering students!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Going out with my friends on Halloween!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
MUS 246: Dundun Projects reshaped the way I think about learning and creating music. Coming from a traditional musical background, I was used to relying heavily on sheet music. However, Professor Tarpaga challenged us to learn through listening, collaboration, and being fully present and adaptable in the moment. His passion and energy were incredibly inspiring, and learning how to play the dundun drums in such a supportive environment made the class one of the most meaningful academic experiences I’ve had at Princeton.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Frist
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
Last summer, I participated in the Princeton in Beijing program, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made! I loved deepening my understanding of Chinese language, society, and culture both inside and outside the classroom. Some of my favorite memories include sight-seeing and biking around the city, as well as trying new foods with friends!
Rachel Watkins
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Residential College
Mathey
Class Year
2028
Major
Electrical and Computer Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Finance
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi! My name is Rachel and I am a rising junior from Mount Olive, NJ! I am an ECE major concentrating in Biomedical Engineering and minoring in Finance. Here on campus I am an Orange Key Tour Guide, the Co-President of the Society of Women Engineers, as well as a Mathey PAA! I also enjoy hiking, running, and doing anything outdoors! I am so excited to get to know everyone this year and serve as a source of support as you all navigate your own Princeton journeys!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Meeting all of my friends!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
One of my favorite classes that I have taken here is HIS361 (Divided We Stand: The United States Since 1974).
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Murray Dodge
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I participated in an IIP during the summer before sophomore year. I worked on machine learning and image processing research in the Czech Republic!
Sarina Wen
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Residential College
Yeh
Class Year
2027
Major
Chemical and Biological Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
Neuroscience and Bioengineering
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi guys! My name is Sarina Wen and I am from Cape May, New Jersey. At Princeton, I am studying CBE and minoring neuroscience. I love being a part of the engineering community because I am constantly surrounded by so many creative minds that I know will shape the future. In my free time outside of classes, I am an officer on Club Swimming, a Leader Trainer for Outdoor Action, a chair on Engineering Council, a chair on the AlChE Board, and love to also go on runs and hang out with my friends! I am looking forward to being an interactor because I love being a part of the engineering community and offering my perspective to new engineering students! I enjoy connecting with first year students and being a part of their journey as my interactors were with my journey at Princeton!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
My favorite memory from my first year at Princeton was having a picnic and hammocking with my friends when the weather got really nice outside during reading period!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
A class that shaped the way I thought about life was MAE344: Biomechanics and Biomaterials: from Cells to Organisms. This class showed me the physics and applicational uses for many concepts that are used in everyday life. It also showed me how engineers draw from the exceptional and unique properties and powers of animals to enhance human performance and life through engineering.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
My favorite place to study on campus is 2D!
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I have not studied abroad but I will be conducting field research in Madagascar this summer!
Perry Wolf
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
Residential College
Whitman
Class Year
2028
Major
Computer Science (B.S.E.)
What minors are you pursuing?
Quantitative and Computational Biology, History
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
My name is Perry Wolf, and I am sophomore from Bedford, NY studying Computer Science with minors in Quantitative and Computational Biology and History. At Princeton, I love connecting with faculty and receiving impactful academic and career advice in class, office hours, and even over dinner. Outside of class, I enjoy running, spending time with friends, and serving as an Orange Key tour guide. Having benefited from great upperclassmen advice as a freshman, I am excited to be an interactor and help others make the most of everything Princeton has to offer.
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
At the end of my freshman fall, Professor Hecht hosted a “demofest” for his General Chemistry class. The demofest featured really cool experiments that demonstrated the concepts we had covered that semester. There were large fires, explosions, and overall it was a great way to see the things we learned come to life.
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
COS 226 did a really great job of explaining the way many programs operate in our lives. I realized how many technological and software ideas I had taken for granted without appreciating the creativity and effort behind them. Kevin Wayne is also an incredible lecturer who always put effort into making his lessons exciting and interesting.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Commons Library reading room
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I took a gap year between high school and college and studied religion in Northern Israel. I was really grateful for the time to reflect on my interests and life goals before arriving at Princeton and taking classes that aligned with my interests and aspirations.
Coco Xu
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Residential College
Forbes
Class Year
2027
Major
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
What minors are you pursuing?
COS, SML
Introduce yourself to your first-year advisees!
Hi everyone! My name is Coco Xu, and I am a senior from Falmouth, Maine. Studying ORFE, I’ve loved how collaborative the engineering department is and the wide variety of classes available to us. Beyond academics, I am involved with Princeton Impact Capital, The Daily Princetonian, Charter, and Sinfonia. I also love to walk and run around campus in my free time. I look forward to meeting you all and making your transition into the engineering community as smooth and welcoming as possible. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!
What’s a favorite memory from your first year at Princeton?
Watching the solar eclipse on Cannon Green with my friends!
What’s a Princeton class that has shaped the way you think and why?
ECO 362 (Financial Investments) was my first formal introduction to economics, and it fundamentally changed how I think about markets and investments. Exploring different pricing models was eye-opening and ultimately sparked my desire to pursue a career in finance.
What’s your favorite place to study on campus?
Princeton Public Library
Have you studied abroad? Please share your experience
I studied abroad at Oxford during my junior spring, which was a great experience. The tutorial system was especially unique, giving me lots of freedom to manage my own time. Beyond the classroom, I enjoyed attending formal halls and meeting people from all over the world. I also took advantage of the my time in Europe and managed to travel to a lot of different countries!