Engineering science undergraduate student receives Berkeley Fellowship
4/26/2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Muhammad Risyad Hasyim, an engineering science and chemical engineering undergraduate student who will receive his dual bachelor of science degrees and a minor in mathematics in May, has been selected for a Berkeley Fellowship for Graduate Study at the University of California, Berkeley.
He will begin his graduate studies towards a Ph.D. in chemical engineering in fall 2017.
Hasyim has been an undergraduate researcher for Ramakrishnan Rajagopalan, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics, since 2016. His current research focuses on the mathematical modeling and performance prediction of electrochemical capacitors along with its experimental validation.
Hasyim’s previous research projects with Rajagopalan, which were supported by a PPG/MRI Undergraduate Research Fellowship he received from the Penn State Materials Research Institute, and also by the College of Engineering Research Initiative, involved the development of various polynorbornene coatings for alkali-free thin glasses and the synthesizing of lanthanum-based perovskite nanoparticles for electrochemical capacitors and testing their electrochemical stability and suitability.
Prior to his work with Rajagopalan, Hasyim conducted research under his engineering science thesis adviser Michael Lanagan, professor of engineering science and mechanics, from 2014 to 2015. Hasyim led and collaborated an ongoing effort to develop and model a new composite solid electrolyte component for solid-state battery technologies using Lithium-ion-containing material and silica.
Hasyim recently published a paper in Ceramics International titled “Impedance spectroscopy modeling of lithium borate with silica: A dispersed ionic conductor system.”
“In regard to Hasyim’s publication, I was very impressed with his ability to navigate the peer-review process,” said Lanagan. “I anticipate that we will submit another journal article on his theoretical modeling of transport in multicomponent conductor systems.”
Hasyim, a Schreyer Scholar, has received several awards: first place in afternoon poster session at the 14th annual College of Engineering Research Symposium (2017), the Peter T. Luckie Award for Excellence in Physical Sciences and Engineering (2016), the President Sparks Award (2015) and the President’s Freshman Award (2014).
He has also been an active member of several organizations at Penn State, including the Presidential Leadership Academy (2014-present); the American Institute of Chemical Engineering (2013-present); the Indonesian Student Association, where he served as secretary from 2014-2015 and was head of the display team for Indonesian Cultural Night 2015; and the Muslim Students’ Association.
“The engineering science and mechanics department got me interested in research as a freshman, and I will really miss the faculty and friends I worked with,” said Hasyim. “The match between engineering science and chemical engineering was perfect for the research I was interested in. The flexibility, breadth and rigor of the programs have prepared me extremely well for the next phase of my academic career, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Share this story:
Muhammad Risyad Hasyim, senior in engineering science and chemical engineering
