Graduate students
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"As an engineer, my job is to bridge the gap between the theoretical and practical – taking equations of math and science and applying them to real-world solutions."
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PhD student Fridah Nyakundi studies ways to improve food policy and production, focusing on how fish farmers in western Kenya perceive and manage risk.
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PhD student Sierra Castañeda’s research on cover crops could shape policies that protect drinking water and reward farmers for implementing practices that keep pollution out of water supplies.
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Stephanie Fischer, a PhD student in Earth system science at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and a PhD minor in the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity at Stanford University, researches how identity and culture can not only help people get involved in climate action but also buffer against harm.
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A PhD student in environmental social sciences at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Quito Tsui researches how communities rebuild after conflict, how digital evidence is used in international law, and how the destruction of the environment is documented and witnessed.
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Yashee Mathur, PhD '26, is using machine learning and artificial intelligence to look underground for a carbon-free energy source that could be more abundant than natural gas.
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From July to September 2025, Energy Science & Engineering PhD student Pietro Bosoni participated in a hybrid internship at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), a workforce development program run by the U.S. Department of Energy.
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From July to September 2025, fourth-year Civil and Environmental Engineering PhD student Mateus Gheorghe de Castro Ribeiro participated in a hybrid internship at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), a workforce development program run by the U.S. Department of Energy.
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For Earth Systems master’s student Tom Ramsay, an internship focused on assessing the natural capital of wetlands in Uruguay inspired new interests and career ambitions.
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With support from a grant from the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy, Earth system science master's student Mustafa Sultan is building an efficient HVAC system for the modern electricity grid.
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Howard Qin, BS Math ’24, MS Sustainability Science & Practice ’26, hosted a fireside chat with Professor Steven Chu, Nobel physics laureate and former Secretary of Energy, as part of Stanford Climate Week. President Jonathan Levin gave opening remarks.
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Sustainability science and practice master's student Kaitlyn Sanchez spent the summer with Auckland Council, a local government body in New Zealand, as part of an internship through the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. She researched approaches to economic development within a changing climate and environment while learning about climate issues and initiatives in the region.
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Supported by the Stanford Impact Fellowship (SIF-Eco), master's student Meghan Wood is building a permit-free and renter-friendly solar solution through startup Raya Power.
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Energy science and engineering PhD student Rebecca Grekin has received the Student Sustainability award from the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for the online software tool she developed to help analyze food emissions. The AASHE award recognizes student work that advances leadership and promotes sustainability on campus.
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From June to September 2024, Benedict Chen, E-IPER MBA-MS ’25, worked at Mitra Chem through the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Summer Internship Program. Mitra Chem is a startup based in Mountain View that innovates in and develops iron-based cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
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PhD student Eeshan Chaturvedi is driven to create meaningful change worldwide. He’s advancing sustainability through both his legal research and global leadership.
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E-IPER masters student and Knight-Hennessy scholar Kelsey Freeman shares how a trip to the extreme south of Chile brought new insights on her work with Indigenous communities.
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Tanvi Dutta Gupta, BS Biology ’23, MS Earth Systems ’24, envisions a more sustainable world by connecting environmental justice, storytelling, and the arts.
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Alain Pérez, BA Philosophy ’23, MS Sustainability Science and Practice ’24, draws on the ethical principles of philosophy to think critically about sustainability challenges and solutions.
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With a love of animals and a dedication to climate issues, Mitchell Zimmerman stewards the ecosystems across Stanford’s land for an impact that’s as widespread as it is personal.
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Channeling her passion for community building, Emily Blackwell connects groups across campus to improve sustainable practices at events and beyond.
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During his time at Stanford, Leon de Souza, MS Civil and Environmental Engineering ’24, has explored his interest in infrastructure and real estate development, advocated for equitable student housing, and organized community building events for graduate students.
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For Dimitri Saad, understanding the path to net-zero requires engaging not only with data, but also with the communities involved.
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A second-year PhD student in Earth and planetary sciences and bestselling science fiction author, Ashing-Giwa never misses a chance to blend lab and lit.
