The latest class of Trailblazers in Engineering Fellows has been selected. 

A group of 25 PhD students and postdocs in engineering or related disciplines at U.S. research universities have been selected as Fellows to participate in a three-day professional development workshop that will prepare them to secure a position as a future engineering faculty and thrive in that role. TBE Fellows are chosen not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements but also for their potential impact in expanding representation and diversity in engineering. 

Eight Black Trailblazers in Engineering (BTE) and 17 Latinx Trailblazers in Engineering (LATinE) Fellows will gather on Purdue University's West Lafayette campus for the workshop, intended to prepare future trailblazing faculty in engineering with a focus on preparing outstanding scholars who are committed to increasing the success of underrepresented communities of engineers.

During the workshop on July 26-28, Fellows will network with leading faculty in engineering, thought leaders, program managers at key federal funding agencies and Purdue Engineering heads.

"I am really grateful to the dedicated engineering staff and the TBE co-chairs Professors Tahira Reid Smith, Luciano Castillo, Phillip Dunston and Julio Ramirez for their significant effort in creating this program," said Arvind Raman, associate executive dean in the College of Engineering. "We are delighted to welcome the very first in-person cohort of this workshop. Since 2020, this workshop has occured virtually and trained 71 Fellows. These Fellows are already effecting change: Seven hold faculty positions, 15 are postdoctoral fellows at prestigious institutions, 47 are finishing their PhDs and two are in industry. 

"I can't wait to see the 2022 cohort continue to blaze trails in engineering academia in the future."

The 2022 BTE cohort includes: Arthur Brown, David B. Brown, Damion T. Dixon, Lynnora Grant, Trevor J. Jones, Venkatesh Pulletikurthi, Surabhi Singh and Nathalie Thelemaque.

The Class of 2022 LATinE Fellows are: Sofia E. Arevalo, Raudel Avila, Alejandro Barrios, Marisol Cira, Paula do Vale Pereira, Igor Kadota, Edwin C. Lopez Ramos, Miguel Montoya, Javier Munoz Briones, Isis Y. Narvaez-Bandera, Pranjal Nautiyal, Edgar Pena, Sofia Perez-Guzman, Fernanda Piorino Macruz de Oliveira, Fabian Rodriguez Buitrago, Brian Salazar and Diego Siguenza.

"I would also like to thank our corporate partner, Duke Energy, for supporting our efforts to change the landscape of engineering academia," Raman said.