Five Years of Investing in Early Career Talent through the Poddar Rising Engineer Award

Arturo Alfredo Arias Aguilar, the 2024 Poddar Rising Chemical Engineer Awardee, was delighted to meet Syamal and Susmita Poddar, dedicated supporters of the AIChE Foundation and early career professionals. The Poddars are deeply committed to investing in recent graduates who were also involved student chapter members and leaders and created the Poddar Award as a path to advancement.

“Everyone doesn’t always have the support and resources to accelerate their professional dreams. Creating this award is an investment in the future innovators of our profession. – Syamal & Susmita Poddar

Arturo deftly transferred the leadership skills he gained establishing the student chapter at UTEC - Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología to both his professional and personal endeavors. He remains involved as an alumni, speaking and connecting to students, finding supportive faculty to become advisors and increase awareness about chemical engineers. To date, Arturo’s dedication led to the creation of the AIChE Peru Local Section, where he volunteered on the Communications Committee and Peru’s student chapters have grown to more than ten. He joins fellow young professional leaders, 2019 Poddar Awardee, Victoria Muir, 2021 Chen Awardee, Shelby Mills, and 2021 Poddar Awardee, Hashim Al Hajji, whose passion for chemical engineering is demonstrated through their active volunteerism to the Institute.

Arturo took the Poddars from his undergraduate studies in Lima, Peru to his previous role as researcher at a food manufacturer to his current work in software development which is also incorporating continuing education focused around machine learning, AI and how to apply these to the chemical engineering process to ensure safety and reliability. Since attending the 2018 Annual Student Conference (ASC) in Pittsburgh, PA, Arturo recalls the “hardest problems of humanity .. will depend upon us (chemical engineers) and our abilities and capabilities.”

Valuing continuing participation in AIChE and giving back are integral to Syamal and Susmita, seen in their ongoing commitment to philanthropy, emerging leaders and the AIChE Foundation. Impressed with Arturo’s early involvement as a student chapter leader and his commitment to giving back, they hope schedules align to have the opportunity to celebrate him in person at this year’s Annual Meeting.

Congratulations, Arturo, on your selection as the 2024 Poddar Rising Chemical Engineer. We thank you, Syamal and Susmita for your continued leadership and tremendous generosity.

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