PhD Candidate
Yale University
Fernanda Sulantay Vargas is a Ph.D. candidate at Yale University studying under Dr. Amir Haji-Akbari. Her research interests focus on molecular simulations of crystal nucleation on patterned surfaces. In 2021, Fernanda received both an NSF GRFP Fellowship and a GEM Fellowship.
Originally from El Salvador, Fernanda immigrated to the United States at the age of 19, overcoming significant challenges as a first-generation student. She earned an Honors Associate’s Degree in Engineering Sciences from Manchester Community College in 2017, an Honors Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Connecticut in 2020, and a M.S. and M.Phil. in Chemical Engineering from Yale University in 2023.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Fernanda is a prominent content creator with over 350,000 followers across social media platforms. She shares her STEM journey and provides valuable advice to college students, earning recognition from notable outlets such as Univision, FIERCE by Mitú, AIChE CEP Magazine, and the documentary "College-Bound: A Look Into Connecticut State Colleges & Universities." Fernanda has also collaborated with Fortune 500 companies to create content to support college students.
In 2021, Fernanda founded the "Empowered Engineers" challenge, an online conference to support female engineering students. The conference featured seminars, networking opportunities, competitions with cash prizes, scholarships, and a career fair, underscoring her commitment to fostering the next generation of engineers.
Outside of her professional life, Fernanda is also a wife and mother of two, balancing her personal and professional roles with determination.