Danna Chacon | Student Spotlight

Danna Chacon

BS Candidate
Chemical Engineering

"During the winter of my freshman year, I had the privilege of participating in the Stanford Engineering Research Introductions (SERIS) program. It was there that Professor Thomas Jaramillo delivered a talk on “Catalyzing a Sustainable Future,” which opened my eyes to the versatile role chemical engineers play across industries. His insights, coupled with my experience in CHEMENG 20, the introductory course for chemical engineering, deepened my understanding of the field. The course challenged me and sparked a keen interest in chemical formulation and pharmaceutical development. Since then, I've been captivated by the groundbreaking research and technologies led by chemical engineers, especially here at Stanford. I chose this major because it seamlessly integrates my diverse intellectual passions.

Currently, I am working at the Stanford Medical School, studying infectious diseases using samples from my home country, Colombia. My focus is on characterizing the interferons associated with age-related infection severity, with the long-term goal of developing sustainable therapeutic delivery methods. Translational medicine fascinates me, and I’ve been contemplating an MD-PhD, although I’d like to gain more experience in biologically focused industries first. Regardless of the path I choose, I am confident that my chemical engineering background equips me to contribute meaningfully to the healthcare sector and my community.

One of my fondest memories at Stanford is working late nights in the Uytengsu Teaching Lab (UTL) with friends, perfecting an acidification reaction to stop our chemically powered ChemE Car. Those hours spent experimenting, laughing and pushing the boundaries of my knowledge cemented my desire to join the ChemE department. Now, as the new ChemE Car coordinator, I am committed to making these valuable lab and engineering experiences more accessible to the broader Stanford community.”