Syamal & Susmita Poddar Continue to Provide Support for Young Professional Engineers

Recently, the AIChE Foundation had the opportunity to connect with Membership in introducing the 2020 Poddar Rising Chemical Engineer Awardee, Laura Andrea Acosta Figueredo, to the couple who generously launched and endowed the award, Syamal and Susmita Poddar. We remain grateful to the Poddars for their continued dedication to support recent graduates.

Andrea, AIChE Young Professional member, was past president of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia AIChE student chapter and was awarded the AIChE International Student Chapter Leadership Development Travel Grant in 2018. Her leadership involvement in the Institute demonstrates her passion for chemical engineering, is a testament to her continued growth and to her excelling in her career. Andrea, shared her journey with the Poddars from her undergraduate studies to her current work as a member of the MEGIA Research Project  team and graduate school dreams in Stuttgart, Germany. Syamal and Susmita were impressed with her early leadership as a student chapter leader. During the discussion, they realized, they may have crossed paths at the 2018 AIChE Annual Student Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

We came across many brilliant individuals who came from underprivileged backgrounds and struggled to establish themselves. We wanted to encourage and show our appreciation particularly for these future leaders. - Syamal & Susmita Poddar

In our professional careers we came across many brilliant individuals who came from underprivileged backgrounds and struggled to establish themselves. We wanted to encourage and show our appreciation particularly for these future leaders.

In Spring 2020, Syamal and Susmita challenged their peers to give back as our Spring 2020 challenge donors. Their leadership donation of $15,000 was more than matched by our generous community. The funds will support the next generation as they set goals and make the world a better and safe place through the practice of chemical engineering.

Congratulations, Andrea, on your selection as the 2020 Poddar Rising Chemical Engineer. We thank you, Syamal and Susmita for their continued leadership and commitment to young professionals.

Together, we will advance, evolve and transform the profession for good.

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