Student Stories | Drexel Engineering

Our Favorite Things

We asked three first-year students to share their favorite things about Drexel so far.

Students take different paths or choose to be a Dragon for different reasons, but they all study at Drexel Engineering with a single underlying goal: to engineer change.

Drexel Rocket Team Carries Out Successful Static Fire
After months of tireless work, long nights, and meticulous preparation, the Drexel Rocket Team has successfully completed a static fire test of their debut liquid rocket engine, Ambition-1.
Mechanical Engineering Seniors Design Low-Tech Fix for a High-Cost Problem
Clogged storm drains trigger traffic backups and infrastructure damage that cost transportation agencies millions. A buoyant mesh device built by five seniors could give crews more time to respond before blockages become floods, all without electricity or moving parts.
A Materials Scientist Who Refuses to Be Just One Thing
Alessandra Cabrera, materials science and engineering '26, has spent five years at Drexel doing research, running a literary journal, designing stage backdrops, and mentoring the next generation of engineers. This spring, she takes the stage as the College of Engineering's undergraduate commencement speaker.
Switched On: A Mechanical Engineering Student Makes His Mark at Exelon
When Mohd Apurbo was a kid, fixing things around the house was just something he did for fun. A co-op at one of the country's largest energy companies showed him how far that curiosity could take him.
Senior Design Team Tackles Affordable Housing With Mass Timber Proposal
A group of Drexel engineering students is taking on one of Philadelphia's most pressing challenges through the lens of sustainable construction. Their capstone project proposes a mixed-use building for Hunting Park using an engineered wood product that stores carbon and offers structural performance comparable to steel and concrete.
VIP Program Gives Drexel Student Hands-On Role in Sustainable Textile Research
Through Drexel's Vertically Integrated Projects program, fourth-year student Saffron Buscemi is working alongside faculty and graduate researchers to develop biopolymer nanoyarns using electrospinning — a process that could offer new sustainable alternatives for the textile industry.
Engineering, Business Students Collaborate on Solutions for Boeing Case Competition
Six teams of engineering and business students joined forces to solve a real-world aerospace manufacturing challenge, balancing two active Boeing contracts without disrupting production for either customer.
Boeing Co-op Reveals Unexpected Aerospace Career Path
Civil engineering seemed like the right path until Mika Rappaport's first co-op opened her eyes to broader possibilities. Her second placement at Boeing revealed an aerospace calling she never expected.
Environmental Co-op Brings Mechanical Engineering Student's Skills Together
Like many other Drexel students, Sophie Rutan’s final co-op is an amalgamation of all her previous coursework
Chemical Engineering Student Gains Real-World Experience in Coatings Industry
As a co-op at Axalta's Global Innovation Center, Le researches and tests water-borne coating formulations as well as electrodeposition – metal-based coating processes – for automotive paints.
Student Startup Focuses on Smarter Security with Autonomous Drones
Exo Dynamics integrates autonomy and computer vision to extend site coverage and give teams better information before they respond.
STAR Scholar Advances Automation in Crystallization Research
David Diabene spent his summer helping to build a reliable bench-top system to automate crystallization, a common step in making medicines
Transfer Student Turns New Connections into Career Growth
Sabina Rahmatova, a chemical engineering student, reflects on transferring to Drexel, building connections on campus, and discovering new possibilities through her first co-op and the hands-on experiences that followed.
Graduating Senior Blends Engineering, Storytelling and Social Purpose
Andrew Galitzer brought product design, storytelling, and advocacy into every corner of his Drexel experience. From designing electronic solutions for water sustainability in Africa to publishing Torah Comics, Galitzer embodies the power of interdisciplinary learning.
Senior Design Team Installs Smart Protection System for Drexel Mural
Four Drexel seniors created a custom security system for In the Garden, a 270-panel mural valued at $1.5 million. Their design blends cutting-edge tech with subtlety, preserving the artwork while enhancing campus infrastructure.
Sosa’s Lockheed Martin Co-op Strengthens Passion for Academic Research
On co-op at Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Technology Labs, Santiago Sosa is gaining hands-on experience in radar systems and applied research—work that’s shaping both his academic future and professional goals.
Drexel Engineering Students Win National Solar District Cup Competition
A student team from Drexel Engineering earned first place and the Project Pitch Champion title in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar District Cup with their solar-plus-storage design for a New Jersey campus.
Startup Led by Drexel Senior Tackles Overlooked Medical Crisis
As a graduating materials science and engineering major, Zikria Saif is already leading a biotech startup focused on healing chronic wounds through smart, regenerative therapies. Backed by years of lab experience and a drive to serve, his company Valfard Therapeutics is preparing for clinical trials with a novel treatment for diabetic foot ulcers.
Chemical Engineer Reflects on Perspective, Perseverance as Undergraduate Commencement Speaker
Through early mornings, late nights, and a lot of lab work, Jame McCann she found her place in engineering. This June, she’ll share what she’s learned with her fellow graduates as the undergraduate commencement speaker.
Engineering Students Target Invasive Lionfish with Underwater Robotic Harvester
A team of mechanical engineering students have developed an innovative device to help control invasive lionfish populations.
From Study Abroad to Scientific Breakthroughs: A Senior’s Unique College Career
Lia DiMitri’s Drexel journey spanned international study, leadership, and groundbreaking research—shaping her future in biomaterials and autoimmune treatment. Now, she’s set to make an impact.
Drexel Research Experiences Lead Materials Undergrad to Co-op Abroad
Aidan Cotton's lab experience in the Drexel Nanomaterials Institute lead to a co-op in Germany through the DAAD Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program.
Designing a More Sustainable and Peaceful Future
From extracurriculars to major to co-op, Avani Kavathekar strove to make a difference both locally and internationally. Now the BS/MS student is prepared to graduate and do just that.
Student-Organized Consulting Competition Brings Philly Higher Ed Together
Mechanical engineering major Mark Moujabber is part of a team that's bringing an interdisciplinary, multi-university case competition to Philadelphia through Drexel Consulting Group.
A Winding Path Finds New Directions Through Co-op
From analyzing battery compositions to working with cell cultures, three co-op experiences help shape chemical engineer Su Nay Chi Htoo's professional trajectory.
Engineering Classes Meet Real-World Construction on Co-op
At LF Driscoll, engineering student Lauren Wadie bridges classroom theory and construction practice, finding unexpected career paths in project management.
Students Launch AAEES Chapter to Unite Environmental Engineers
Drexel University has launched a new AAEES chapter to help environmental engineering students connect earlier in their academic careers.
Engineering Tutor Finds Rewards in Helping Fellow Students
After a Lockheed co-op, Christopher Nhu found new purpose tutoring at Drexel’s ACE, helping peers tackle tough engineering courses while gaining experience and encouraging students to seek help early.
The Sky’s the Limit: STAR Launches Path of Materials Exploration
For Peyton Buie, the Drexel STAR Scholars Program was a perfect opportunity to build research skills and kick-start her exploration of the materials field’s wide-ranging applications.
Air Management Co-op Provides Huge Opportunity to Explore Nanoscale Materials
Drexel sophomore Prastuti Upadhyay's fascination with the nanoscale world has led her to explore the intricacies of materials science, from the classroom to real-world applications during her co-op experience.
From Crayons to Coatings: Co-ops Define Student's Major, Career Choice
“Initially, I was hesitant to enroll in a five-year program as opposed to a traditional four-year one,” she said, “but the benefits far outweigh the downside of graduating a year after the peers I finished high school with. I feel incredibly comfortable and confident joining the workforce, and I owe my assuredness to Drexel’s co-op program.”
A Summer of Research Sparks a Passion for Science and Mentorship
Alessandra Cabrera reflects on her STAR research experience, which shaped her path in materials science. Now, she advances polymer-MXene research at the AJ Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and mentors students through the Drexel Writing Center.

Our Favorite Things

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