CME Student Ambassadors

Harkrishna Ahuja

"Hey there! I'm Harkrishna, a rising sophomore in Chemical Engineering and the Albert Dorman Honors College. I'm interested in the intersection of chemical engineering and healthcare which includes areas like nanomedicine, biosensors, drug delivery, and medical devices. I find ChemE to be very versatile as it opens doors to work in diverse fields like environmental remediation, cancer therapeutics, and nuclear energy. Beyond coursework, I've been involved in research since my first year, and I coordinate events for the Biomedical Engineering Society here at NJIT. Away from academics, you'll find me jogging, exploring the city, or discovering new cultures. Whether you're curious about research, classes, or what ChemE life at NJIT is really like, feel free to reach out! Always happy to chat!

~ From New Delhi, India"

Dayna Alemy

Dayna Alemy is a rising senior Honors Chemical Engineering student with a passion for sustainability. During sophomore year, she conducted PFAS electrochemical detection research under Dr. Basuray and participated in ChemE Car, competing in both at the 2025 North Atlantic AIChE Regional Conference. The following summer, she interned with the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies, researching biochar and compost soil amendments, and continues work toward publications of her findings. During junior year, she served as a Resident Assistant and EcoHighlander, fostering community while promoting sustainability. Dayna serves as Vice President of Omega Chi Epsilon, Vice President of Membership for Tau Beta Pi, and Vice President of Internal Relations for NJIT Green. She is committed to a six-month Co-Op with SABIC in upstate New York, supporting process improvement and operational optimization within Manufacturing (Finishing). She will return to NJIT after her Co-Op to complete her senior year with an expected graduation of Fall 2027

Samuel De La Torre

Samuel De La Torre is a graduate chemical engineering student at NJIT and a Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate in the U.S. Navy. His interests include transport phenomena, nuclear engineering, and advanced energy systems. He has conducted research at the U.S. Army DEVCOM Chemical and Biological Center and worked at Merck on the reactor design team. He serves as President of Omega Chi Epsilon and has served as the Vice President of Tau Beta Pi. Samuel plans to complete his M.S. in Chemical Engineering, serving time as a Nuclear Propulsion Officer in the U.S. Navy, pursuing a PhD in thermal hydraulics, and finally a career in nuclear engineering and advanced reactor technology

Arwa Oulai

Arwa Ouali is a fourth-year student, where she is pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering (BS/MS) and a minor in Grand Challenges of Engineering. She has been conducting research in the field of methods to degrade micro- and nanoplastics for the last 3 years. She is the recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship, which will support her pursuit of a PhD to further examine her research interests, specifically in process plant applications related to sustainable nanotechnology applications. Her interest stems from her early exposure to research through the Army Educational Outreach Program where she conducted research for 2 summers in the field of water contaminants.

Arwa has worked as a research intern in addition to a Manufacturing Intern at Agilex Fragrances where she focus. She recently interned last summer at the NOAA NESDIS Office of Low Earth Orbit Observations in conjunction with NASA focusing on atmospheric chemistry and application of the newer developed satellites to record contaminant levels through the Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship Program. Outside the classroom, Arwa is active at Open House and Experience Day events for prospective students representing both the Chemical Engineering department as well as the Albert Dorman Honors College. She is also the K-12 committee chair for the AIChE chapter where she organizes STEM activities with the Maplewood Library and has a partnership that will span the following academic year. and serves on the AIChE Executive Student Committee assisting in logistics for student chapters hosting for regional conferences. Arwa also has served as the chapter of the Chem-E-Car team for the past 2 years and will be leading the team to the Nationals Conference in Minnesota. She is the Vice President of the Society of Women Engineers chapter, the Editor-in-Chief for The Vector, the student-run newspaper, and a Murray Center for Women in Technology ambassador

Pia Piazzi

Pia Piazzi is a fourth-year student at New Jersey Institute of Technology, where she studies Materials Engineering in the Otto H. York Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering and is a member of the Albert Dorman Honors College. She is part of the inaugural graduating class of the Bachelor of Science in Materials Engineering program. During her undergraduate career, she participated in the 2023 URI Summer Research Program and completed engineering internships with the U.S. Army DEVCOM Armaments Center and Tesla. She also served as the founding president of NJIT’s Materials Research Society (MRS) Student Chapter and the Student Senate Materials Engineering Major Representative. Following graduation, she will join SpaceX in Hawthorne, California, as a Build Reliability Engineer

Mimi Pham

Mimi Pham is a senior at NJIT’s Albert Dorman Honors College, majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. She has developed a strong passion for research through her work in the Kumar Lab on campus and her industry experience at Shamrock Technologies. This summer, she will further expand her expertise by completing a co-op at GSK in biopharmaceutical manufacturing.

She previously served as President of NJIT’s AIChE chapter and is a member of Omega Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi, with plans to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Edward Trivella

Edward Trivella is a third year chemical engineering student with a minor materials engineering. A proud Honors and CHE Ambassador, he takes pleasure in helping other students find their passion for learning and research like he has. He has conducted research into silica aerogels at Rutgers University for electrical and thermal applications. Additionally, he has the opportunity to do research abroad in South Korea through IRES working on graphene aerogels for desalination technologies. During the year, he is president of NJIT Trivia Club as well as previously serving as NJIT Senate Representative for Chemical Engineering. Recently, Edward is doing research under Dr. Basuray on biosensors where he investigated microplastic membrane fouling. He is also a recipient of an award from the Otto York Department of Chemical Engineering. He plans to continue his education while in the 4+1 program at NJIT