Layaa Amirthalingam
B.S. ’22, M.S. ’23
Chemical Engineering
What have you been up to since Stanford?
After completing my master's degree in chemical engineering, I joined the Department of Energy as a research fellow, where I have been working since then. While at Stanford, I not only took engineering classes but also pursued numerous political science courses, as I aspired to work in energy policy. I’m fortunate now to fulfill that aspiration at the DOE, where I focus on sustainable critical minerals. My role combines both technical and policy-related activities, and I frequently engage in international affairs, seeking collaborations with global entities to enhance research efforts for the energy transition.
What’s your fondest memory about your time at Stanford?
One of my fondest memories at Stanford was a summer when I conducted research on campus in Professor Gerry Fuller's lab. He invited my fellow Chemical Engineering students and me to cook at his house on campus, allowing us to enjoy a meal together. It was a unique and intimate experience, especially within the ChemE community. It was refreshing to spend quality time with my classmates and a professor, which I never thought I would have the chance to do as an undergraduate student. This experience reflected one of my favorite aspects of being a chemical engineering student: our class size was relatively small, which allowed us to get to know our professors and peers much better.
Can you share any advice with our current students or postdocs?
I truly believe that one of the biggest reasons I thrived at Stanford was because of the incredible people I had by my side. The support and encouragement from upperclassmen, fellow students, and faculty made all the difference as they helped me navigate classes and opened doors for research and job opportunities. Building strong relationships with those around you is such a powerful and rewarding way to grow!
This article is part of the Department of Chemical Engineering Alumni Spotlight series designed to highlight the impact and trajectory of the work of our alumni. Stanford University does not endorse any non-Stanford entities, programs, products, or services listed in the article.
