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M.Eng. Newsletter
Spring 2026
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connected to the Cornell M.Eng. experience!
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Join us at Commencement!
Congratulations to the Master of Engineering Class of 2026! Your hard work, innovation, and determination have paid off.
We look forward to watching you cross the stage at Commencement on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
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Join us at Reunion for the
M.Eng. Alumni Reception!
Saturday, June 6, 2026
4:00-5:30 PM
Upson Lounge
Register Here
to add the M.Eng. Reception to your Reunion agenda!
| | A Message From The Associate Dean | | |
Dear Alumni and Friends,
A dear and recently departed colleague, Professor Emeritus Bill “Max” Maxwell ’57, Ph.D. ’61, used to say that the M.Eng. was “the most useful degree” that Cornell Duffield Engineering offers. Max—a distinguished scholar, teacher, and pioneer in operations research—cared deeply about giving students the chance to thrive. That is what made the M.Eng. program so meaningful to him, and that is the same reason it resonates so strongly with me.
In this issue, you will read stories that reflect the range and impact of the M.Eng. community: alumni applying engineering, analytics, and leadership skills in meaningful ways across industries; students developing the collaborative and problem-solving abilities that prepare them to thrive in their careers; and faculty and staff innovating to deepen and enrich the M.Eng. experience. One particularly proud moment for our community this year was the election of M.Eng. alumnus Arturo Carrillo ’96, M.Eng. ’97 (ORIE) to Cornell’s Board of Trustees, connecting the thought leadership and commitment of M.Eng. alumni to the university’s future, and reinforcing why I think Max was right.
Serving as Associate Dean for M.Eng. Programs over the past three years has been a tremendous privilege. I remain deeply grateful to everyone who helps make this community so thoughtful, ambitious, and supportive, and I look forward to seeing the program continue to thrive in the years ahead.
Warm regards,
Kathryn Caggiano (Ph.D. ’98, ORIE)
Associate Dean for M.Eng. Programs
| | M.Eng. Recent Graduate Spotlights | | |
Fahad Alhuthaifi, Founder of PulmoSense LLC, graduated in December 2025 with an M.Eng. in Biomedical Engineering. During his time at Cornell, Alhuthaifi contributed to research at the Heart Assist Technology Laboratory, where he helped develop a device to test the durability of heart assist technologies.
Through his lab experience and final project, Alhuthaifi gained hands-on experience across mechanical design, CAD modeling, and testing methodology for evaluating the durability of left ventricular assist devices. Translating engineering requirements into a working prototype taught him how to troubleshoot, iterate quickly, and think rigorously about validation under physiologically relevant conditions.
Alhuthaifi credits the M.Eng. program with teaching him how to transform an idea into something tangible, moving from concept to prototype to patent. “Its emphasis on entrepreneurial thinking gave me the confidence to found PulmoSense, a smart feedback-controlled mesh nebulizer, under the guidance of Professor Suélia Fleury Rosa, in partnership with the University of Brasília."
Alhuthaifi also holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he developed a strong foundation in clinical engineering and medical device design.
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Beatriz de Lucio, Software Engineer (AI) at Anchr, graduated in December 2025 with an M.Eng. in Computer Science, specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning. She credits the program with giving her a strong foundation in the concepts and systems that underpin her work, while also strengthening the entrepreneurial mindset essential to her field.
Reflecting on her experience, de Lucio highlights the program’s collaborative and immersive environment: “Beyond the technical knowledge, what truly set the [M.Eng.] experience apart was the environment. Being surrounded by driven classmates, supportive professors, and hands-on projects immersed me in a culture of innovation that closely mirrors the fast-paced industry I am part of now. It prepared me not just to keep up, but to actively contribute and grow within it.”
At Cornell, de Lucio co-authored a workshop paper on time-series forecasting, applying her skills to real-world data challenges. She also enjoyed time at the Big Red Barn, connecting with graduate students across disciplines.
De Lucio holds a B.S. in Software Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Florida Gulf Coast University, graduating summa cum laude in May 2022, where she balanced rigorous coursework with lacrosse and active involvement in Delta Gamma.
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Inside the humming, meticulously controlled environment of the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility (CNF), M.Eng. student Nandan Reddy Muthangi knows that even the slightest miscalculation can undo hours of work. Clad in cleanroom gear, he carefully calibrates the settings on a 3D lithography system and begins etching microscopic structures – work that could help improve the reliability of microchip production that will power future technologies.
As a student pursuing the Semiconductor and Quantum Materials Pathway in the Materials Science & Engineering M.Eng. program, Muthangi is advancing new methods for building semiconductor test chips for systems used to ensure reliability in manufacturing. Read the full story here
| | M.Eng. Advancing Women's Health | | |
The massive steel tubes at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center towered into the sky, but 7-year-old Priya Abiram had no idea what they were.
“They’re rockets,” she remembered her dad telling her. “They’re the hardest things that humans have ever built, and it is even harder to fly them.”
Fifteen years after that vacation in Florida where she started dreaming of space, Abiram ’25 is graduating with her M.Eng. in aerospace engineering and heading for a career in the space industry, advancing the understanding of how human bodies work in space and how to build systems to keep them alive. Read the full story here
| | Cheng Distinguished Lecture | | |
Dr. Anthony Sun
Founder of Essex-Bio Group
The Spring 2026 Cheng Lecture featured Dr. Anthony Sun ’93, Electrical Engineering major, who spoke about the search for meaning and the importance of defining one’s own path. Drawing on his experiences in engineering, medicine, and business, he posited that many people are limited by society’s outdated ideas of fulfillment. Sun emphasized that a Cornell Duffield Engineering education equips students with the confidence and skills to think independently, encouraging them to reject conventional notions of success and define purpose on their own terms. Read more here
| | | M.Eng. Students Toast to the Last Day of Classes | | M.Eng. students took a well-deserved break from the books and celebrated in style as they picked up their graduation cords. After weeks of lectures, assignments, and projects, the event offered a chance to relax, recharge, and connect outside of the classroom. Students, faculty, and staff came together to enjoy pizza, cake, music and plenty of festive cheer before Slope Day! | | M.Eng. Alumni - Where Are They Now? | | |
Shaurya Luthra, M.Eng. '18, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Co-Founder and Head of Digital at Northwood Space
"While my core focus was on field programmable gate array and embedded systems, broad exposure to disciplines like machine learning, digital signal processing, and mechanical engineering allowed me to develop into a cross-functional engineer. Combined with hands-on project teams like Cornell Baja and stellar entrepreneurship resources, this versatile foundation directly prepared me for industry. I still have much to learn, but today, as a co-founder at Northwood Space, I continually leverage those experiences alongside the incredible personal and professional network I built at Cornell."
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Maria Salvador, M.Eng. '19, Operations Research & Information Engineering
Data Science Manager at Capital One
"My M.Eng. program provided me with the technical foundation to confidently develop data-driven models that have delivered value across the industries I have worked in since graduating from Cornell University. It also strengthened my ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, which has been essential for driving business impact and implementing strategic changes. Overall, the program gave me a strong foundation and jumpstart for my professional career."
| | | Student Professional Development | |
New for M.Eng. Students:
Leadership Skills Clinics
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Master of Engineering students can now earn graduate credit for Leadership Skills Clinics - short, fast-paced sessions designed to sharpen their ability to navigate high-stakes situations, collaborate with confidence, and communicate with clarity.
Through these clinics, offered by the Selander Center for Engineering Leadership, students gain practical leadership skills and digital microcredentials that employers are actively looking for, helping them stand out when it matters most.
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