Cornell Engineering Career Conversations
Episodes
Engineers Build and Maintain the World: Charles Calitri ’81, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Leader
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Christa Downey speaks with Charles “Chaz” Calitri ‘81, Vice President of Operations at Kyowa Kirin North America. Chaz reflects...
Founding a Renewable Energy and Analytics Company: Matt Richwine ‘08, M.Eng. ‘09
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Richwine ‘08, M.Eng. ‘09, co-founder and CEO of Telos Energy, is designing, testing, and analyzing thermal and renewable power generation equ...
Leading During Periods of Evolutionary and Revolutionary Change: Patrick Nichols ‘97
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, alum Patrick Nichols ‘97, Managing Director at Vista Equity Partners, shares his career journey from computer science student at Co...
Building Value Across Industries: Robert Boehringer ‘82
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Engineering Career Conversations, hosts Christa Downey and Traci Nathans-Kelly speak with Robert Boehringer ’82, Vice President o...
Funding Therapies: Advancing Research for Chronic Pancreatitis with Daniel Morgan ‘23, M.Eng. ‘23
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Morgan is a Research Portfolio Manager for Mission: Cure. This is a patient research organization dedicated to finding therapies for chronic pa...
Inside AWS Product Management: A Conversation with Gigi Boehringer ‘18
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gigi Boehringer, a Senior Product Manager at AWS, discusses her role in developing Amazon Workspaces Core, a third-party integration API for virtual d...
Engineering Neurotech: Innovating Brain-Computer Interfaces with Jason Wright ‘12, M.Eng. ‘13
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jason Wright is a Principal Electrical Engineer at Synchron, a brain-computer interface startup. Jason shares insights into his work developing implan...
Finding Flavor and Philosophy: Garrett Lang ’01 on Generous Capitalism and Building PlateRate
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Garrett Lang ’01 is, among other things, the founder and President of PlateRate, an online service that helps diners find great local restaurants an...
From Nuclear Science to STEM Entrepreneurship: Dr. Jarvis Sulcer MS ‘95, Ph.D. ‘98
27 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Jarvis Sulcer ‘95, ‘98, COO and co-founder of Lingo Solutions Inc., shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, inspired by his expe...
From Engineer to Music Executive, Educator, and Author: Dr. Howie Singer MS ’77, Ph.D. '79
27 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Howie Singer ’77, ’79 (ORIE) is an expert on the implications of new technology in the music industry. In 15 years at Warner Music Group, he serve...
Renewable Energy, Mentorship, and Global Impact with Tamir Lance ‘04, M.Eng. ‘05
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tamir Lance ‘04, ‘05, a senior engineering manager at Maxeon Solar, discusses his career path in the renewable energy industry and his role workin...
Behind the Scenes of Video Game Production: Jessie Yee ‘20
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jessie Yee ’20 is a producer in the video game industry. She discusses the intricacies of managing large, multidisciplinary teams in the development...
Driving Innovation in Automotive and Mobility Safety: Haley Antoine Grantham ‘19
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Haley Antoine Grantham ‘19 is a Safety and Crashworthiness Engineer at Toyota Motor North America Research and Development. As a graduate of the Bio...
Delivering Insights on the Energy Industry and Climate Impact: Kasim Khan ‘20
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kasim Khan ’20 is a research analyst at Wood Mackenzie, a global provider of data and analytics solutions for the renewables, energy, and natural re...
Pioneering Sustainable Materials with Machine Learning: Florencia Paredes '11
17 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, hosts Christa Downey and Traci Nathans-Kelly talk with Florencia Paredes '11, Head of Product at Citrine Informatics. Florencia share...
Any Person, Any Study, Any Friend: Tony Chen '12
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Enthusiastic engineering physics alum Tony Chen ‘12 discusses his efforts to connect Cornell alumni, including through global mixers and continuous ...
Perfecting Piano Product Design and Development: Emilie Camera ‘17, M.Eng. ‘18
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Emilie Camera ‘17, ‘18, a mechanical engineer at Steinway & Sons, shares her journey of blending her passion for music with her expertise in engin...
Water is Life: Alissa Diminich, ‘08, M.Eng. ‘09
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alissa Diminich, ‘08, ‘09, is a principal engineer at Tennessee-based Inflo Design Group, primarily working on drinking water and wastewater proje...
Leading the Way for Technology Access and Equity: Christine Chang ‘04
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Christine Chang ‘04 holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master of science in STEM Education from Boise State University. She...
Driving Sustainable Change as a Consultant: Dayin Chen ‘17
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dayin Chen ‘17 is a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting's Sustainability Strategy and Transformation Group. Dayin shares insights from her jour...
Navigating the Intersection of Healthcare, Data, and Sustainability: Allie Gaines ‘14
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Allie Gaines ‘14 discusses her educational and career journey from graduating with a degree in Information Science Systems and Technology to working...
Exploring Mars: An Insider’s Perspective: Nathan Williams ‘11
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Nathan Williams ‘11 completed an engineering bachelor's degree in earth and atmospheric sciences, earned a PhD studying the Moon and Mars at Arizona...
Revolutionizing Recycling: Stwart Peña Feliz ‘17
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stwart Peña Feliz recently completed his MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management where he is the 2023 winner of the MIT Climate Energy Prize. He is the...
Focused on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies: Dr. Xiangkun Elvis Cao ‘21
17 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Xiangkun Elvis Cao is a Schmidt Science Fellow at MIT, working at the intersection of technology, business, and policy for carbon dioxide removal....
Innovating Sizing and Digital Fit Systems: Nathan Ghabour ‘13
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nathan Ghabour, who currently works at Nike, is an experienced product leader in the computer software industry, skilled in computer-aided design (CA...
A Mechanical Engineer Unbound by Conventional Career Paths: Dr. Malika Grayson ‘14, ‘16
03 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Malika Grayson completed a master’s degree and PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell with a focus on wind energy, computational fluid dynamic...
A Serial Tech Entrepreneur who Empowers Others to Grow: Debbie Madden ‘96
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a graduate of the operations research in engineering major, Debbie Madden describes herself as a “serial technology entrepreneur, CEO, founder, b...
A Mechanical Engineer who Embraces Entrepreneurship- Ilayda Samilgil ‘19
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ilayda Samilgil is CEO/Co Founder of LLUME (Organic Robotics) and a graduate of the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell. ...
Building and Managing Community Water Systems: Matthew Snyder ‘19, M.Eng, ‘20
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matthew Snyder, an Assistant Project Manager and Engineer at Freese and Nichols, describes his work related to water purification and resource recover...
Making the Connection between Chemical Engineering and Patient Care: Esther Park ‘06
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Esther Park’s mother told her she should be a pharmacist; Esther says, “Mom was right.” Esther is the Pharmacy Quality, Safety, and Regulatory C...
Designing Safe, All-Electric, Emission-Free Vehicles: Caitlin Stanton ‘20, M.Eng. ‘21
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Software engineer Caitlin Stanton shares her experience working on embedded systems in electric-powered, self-driving cars at Cruise. Caitlin talks ab...
Introducing Cornell University Engineering Career Conversations
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cornell engineers are changing the world every day. Director of the Engineering Career Center, Christa Downey, and Engineering Communications Program ...
From Civil Engineering to City Hall: Abena Sackey Ojetayo ‘07, ‘09
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Civil engineering alum, Abena Sackey Ojetayo describes her work as “developing ideas that meet the triple bottom line of safety, prosperity, and env...
Creating Technology for Sustainable Food Production: Matthew Gellert ‘17
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bio-systems engineering manager Matthew Gellert develops elegant, functional designs for indoor vertical farms at Brooklyn-based Square Roots. Matthew...
From Future Doc to Healthcare Industry Disruptor: Alice Yan ‘19, ‘20
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Currently working in legal and regulatory compliance at a healthcare start-up, Alice Yan describes her journey from a high school student who wanted t...
Improving Battery Technology: Nidhi Maniar ‘22
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Recently graduated with a master’s degree in chemical engineering, Nidhi Maniar shares her perspective as a new battery engineer at Amazon. Nidhi di...
Ensuring Safe, Clean Water: Jessica Olsen ‘21
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
United States Air Force Infrastructure Design engineer, Jessica Olsen, discusses her passion for life-long learning and how she has managed the transi...