Labdhi Shah

Why did you select UF ChE?
I was impressed by the research facilities and profile of professors at UF ChE. It is also highly ranked university. I also discovered that, at UF it’s possible to do interdisciplinary research. I am passionate about working towards developing something new and I had my Undergrad degree in ChE. So, I thought to continue the same path. Therefore, I chose UF CHE.

What are your research interests?
I am interested in nanofabrication, specifically using oxide compounds. I am working on fabricating the magnetic memory with Oxide compounds.

What do you like about UF?
UF has ample research opportunities and plenty of resources like lab facilities and supportive professors. Libraries and reading halls provide a good atmosphere to study and concentrate. UF also has computer and printing labs. These facilities have really made my study much easier. Apart from that, bus facilities have also made my life much more convenient and economical. The events like Gameday, Gator night, etc. are fun part about UF, which helps me feel connected.

What do enjoy about living in Gainesville?
I enjoy sunny weather and beaches, the most about Gainesville. The city has two sides: It’s a peaceful town to live, but on weekends the downtown offers a party atmosphere.

What do you do in your free time?
I play badminton and table-tennis at Southwest recreational center.

Tell us about the connections you have made at UF
I have made connections at the Nanoscale Research Facility (NRF) through Semiconductor Career Readiness Organization (SCRO). I am a member of SCRO. This has provided me with firsthand experience of all microfabrication processes and have also put me to the connections with recruiter in Semiconductor Manufacturing companies.

Apart from SCRO, I am connected to most of seniors from UF through LinkedIn. UF has a very wide network of alumni, and being a UF student helps a lot to connect with these alumni.

Please share some positive experiences you’ve had with your ChE professors

The professors in ChE are very supportive.

When I was new to the university, Dr. Kirk Ziegler helped me initially to find out the research group. He has always replied to my emails and helped solved my concerns like, whether to do thesis or take research credits.

Right after I started my master’s, Dr. Jason Butler gave me opportunity to work in his Lab in DNA electrophoresis. I worked there for few months, and learned a lot.

My coursework experience at ChE has also been great. I appreciate the guidance from Dr. Sumant Patankar in Advanced Chem Bio Lab. I have gone to him any time I need guidance with coursework as well as questions about jobs and Ph.D. options. I really appreciate all the opportunities that I have at ChE.

 

Marissa Premsukh

Why did you select UF ChE?

I did my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering here at UF. I originally chose UF ChE because it was the best chemical engineering program in the state. I stayed on to complete a master’s here though because of the practical experience I could gain in the program’s lab courses and because of how challenging the coursework is. I learned so much during my undergrad, but I also wanted to explore subjects that I didn’t realize I was interested in until late into my undergrad. The Master’s program gave me the chance to focus more on the subjects I wanted to.

What are your research interests?

I currently study polymer informatics under Dr. Janani Sampath. I mostly use machine learning algorithms and data science techniques to try predicting polymer properties. I’ve learned how to use different Python packages and data-scraping methods, and I’ve gotten to use UF’s supercomputer, HiPerGator, to run experiments.

What do you like about UF?

UF has something for everyone, and it’s easy to meet new people. I like how there are a lot of opportunities to work part-time on campus. I’ve worked at UF’s Academic Technology Learning Spaces for over a year. It’s on campus so it’s easy to fit into my schedule, and I get time to work on homework while there.

What do enjoy about living in Gainesville?

Gainesville is a comfortable college town. There’s just enough restaurants and events so that you can find new things all the time, but it’s also not an overwhelming amount. Despite the Florida heat and humidity, Gainesville has a lot of nice nature trails and parks to explore as well..

What do you do in your free time?

I usually draw or read in my free time, but I’ve also been taking a beginning pottery class this semester at the Reitz Union’s arts and crafts center. I’ve always liked learning new art mediums, so using a potter’s wheel to make ceramics has always been a goal of mine. UF has leisure courses that you can take for a small fee, so I figured I’d make the most of it. Besides that, I also go out for brunch and to trivia nights at one of the local breweries with my friends.

Tell us about the connections you have made at UF

I’ve met a lot of my friends at UF through Alpha Chi Sigma, a chemical sciences fraternity here. I joined my freshmen year of undergrad, which was when I met one of my best friends and current roommate. People of any degree level can join, so I also met graduate students who helped me decide to go to graduate school and mentored me throughout my undergrad. You also make lifelong friends in your classes here too. I met my other two best friends on the second day of my first ChE class. The labs and some courses in this program really do foster groupwork, which gives you a chance to learn from other students as well.

Please share some positive experiences you’ve had with your ChE professors

During one of our research group outings, we went bowling. I got to see Dr. Sampath bowl for the first time (she did good!), and we all had a lot of fun getting to talk about non-research related things and hang out. We have group outings whenever a semester ends or when someone new joins the group, and it’s always a good time. When I mentioned earlier that I met my best friends on the second day of class, that was because Dr. Tocco had randomly assigned us to groups for that class period using a deck of cards. We had become such good friends that later, he thought we had known each other before that day rather than never had talked before. It was nice to see him surprised when we told him.