Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program Fellows 2024-2025
Adaeze Maduako
Adaeze Maduako is a dedicated 4th-year PhD student in Chemical Engineering, where she focuses her research on decarbonizing the energy industry, specifically within the ammonia production sector. Her research contributes to the development of Green Ammonia which has been recognized as a potential energy vector and is revolutionary for global food production.
With a strong interest in sustainability and clean energy, she is committed to contributing to the global effort to combat climate change and advance the circular economy.
In addition to her research, she enjoys visiting new places, where she seeks to explore diverse cultures and landscapes, gaining inspiration for her work. She also has a passion for playing tennis, which she finds to be a great way to unwind and maintain a healthy balance in her busy academic life.
Aidan Kierans
Aidan Kierans is a 3rd-year PhD student in the UConn School of Computing, focusing on artificial intelligence alignment and safety. With a background in both computer science and philosophy, Aidan brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to his research.
Aidan's work has garnered significant recognition, including the Best Poster Award at the Safe and Trustworthy AI Workshop (ICLP 2023) and an AI Risk Analysis Award at the 2022 NeurIPS ML Safety workshop. His research has been presented at multiple prestigious conferences, including the AAAI/ACM Conference on AI, Ethics, and Society, and the 8th Annual Center for Human-Compatible AI Workshop (CHAI 2024).
Beyond academia, Aidan has contributed to AI governance discussions as a Google Policy Fellow at the Center for Democracy & Technology. His philosophical training enhances his approach to tackling complex ethical challenges in AI development.
Passionate about fostering a community of ethical AI researchers, Aidan founded and presides over Beneficial and Ethical AI at UConn (BEACON), an organization that provides training and mentorship to students interested in AI safety research and policy.
Outside of AI, Aidan enjoys hiking, playing the bass, reading, comedy, and traveling.
Mohammad Osat
Mohammad is a 1st year PhD student in the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Connecticut.
His professional experiences include: (1) Research assistant at the Center for Clean Energy Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA (Jan. 2024-ongoing), (2) Independent chemical engineering researcher, working on renewable energies, biomass gasification, CO2 capture, reactor design, exergoeconomic analysis, economic analysis, process design, and energy conversion (Jan. 2019 – Dec. 2023), (3) Research assistant at Enhanced Oil Recovery Research Center, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (July. 2015- Jan. 2017), and (4) Reviewer and author in chemical engineering journals, i.e. Applied Energy. His research interests revolve around greenhouse gas mitigation, renewable energies, green energy production, biomass decomposition, process modeling and simulation, waste material treatment, and CO2 capture.
Outisde of academics, Mohammad enjoys chess, video games, poetry, traveling, and visiting monuments.
Nicholas Nguyen
Nicholas is a 2nd year Mechanical Engineering PhD Student at the University of Connecticut. His professional experience includes being an intern as Laser applications engineer and at proof-of-concept center in IPB, working on research projects for National institute of undersea vehicle technology (NIUVT). His research interests revolve around renewable energy and automation. Outside of academics, Nicholas enjoys reading and watching movies.
Nooshin Farashaei
Nooshin is a 3rd year Masters Student in the Fine Arts and Digital Media and Design Program at the University of Connecticut. She has 15 years of experience as a graphic designer and print supervisor, 7 years of experience in teaching at universities, Internships. Her research interests include UI/UX, healthcare design, and offset printing. In her spare time, Nooshin enjoys yoga, horseback riding, illustration, and traveling.
Md Safaet Hossain Sujan
MSHS is a 2nd year PhD student majoring in Health Promotion Sciences and is a dynamic public health researcher with a keen focus on digital health innovation. His work integrates cutting-edge artificial intelligence with health interventions, specifically targeting HIV prevention and addiction behavior. As the coordinator of the NIH-funded JomPrEP project, he is driving impactful research to transform HIV prevention through digital solutions. His career aspirations center on revolutionizing healthcare through advanced technologies and making impactful strides in public health through digital platforms. He loves gardening and enjoys reading historical books.
Soroush Vahedi
Soroush (Student Member, IEEE) was born in Mashhad, Iran. He received his M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering-Power Systems Engineering from Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran, in 2015. He is currently a third-year Ph.D. candidate in Electrical Engineering at the University of Connecticut.
Soroush began his Ph.D. studies at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2021 before transferring to UConn, where his research focuses on power system resiliency under natural disasters, data-driven optimization, and machine learning for the smart grid. He is also involved in power system expansion planning, dynamics, and operations, with a particular interest in utilizing big data analytics to advance power system research.
He is a current member of JLLA and has participated in several research projects aimed at improving grid resilience and optimization. Outside of academics, Soroush is passionate about philosophy, literature, and poetry. He also enjoys playing guitar, singing, traveling, hiking, and exploring nature. His career aspirations lie in developing innovative technologies to create resilient, intelligent power networks.
Md Kasir Hossain
Kasir is a passionate 2nd year Ph.D. student in Computer Science and Engineering, He focuses on advancing research in areas like Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), quantum algorithms, quantum optimization algorithms, Machine Learning, Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN), and Reinforcement Learning. His work spans exciting projects such as Satellite-based QKD, quantum circuit cutting, QAOA, and predictive modeling, reflecting his dedication to solving complex challenges. Kasir has had the opportunity to collaborate with top organizations like RTX, Yale University, and Microsoft, where he has explored innovative technologies and architectures.
Beyond his technical pursuits, Kasir has a strong interest in entrepreneurship. actively participating in UConn’s entrepreneurship programs, and seeks ways to turn my research into real-world solutions. His leadership roles in academic and professional committees highlight the drive he possesses to combine innovation with practical application.
Outside of research, Kasir enjoya playing cricket and table tennis, which helpa him stay balanced and energized.
Fatma Elshinshiny
Fatma is a 4th year Biomedical Engineering Ph.D student with experience in biomedical research. Her core competencies lie in advancing medical knowledge through innovative research and education. Currently contributing as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Connecticut, she is dedicated to exploring the intricacies of visceral pain management and the morphological characterization of colonic afferents.
Her mission aligns with her team's pursuit of groundbreaking discoveries, and she brings a unique blend of expertise in both nano-scaffolding and animal models. In her current role, she has managed complex in-vivo experiments in awake rodents to advance our understanding of visceral pain, utilizing techniques such as AAV9-sparse labeling of colorectal neurons. Previously, as a Research Assistant at The American University in Cairo, Fatma designed nano-scaffolds to facilitate skin regeneration and conducted vital tissue culture assays. These experiences have honed her skills in academic research, particularly within the realms of animal models and biomedical engineering.
Fatma's entrepreneurial interests land in the realm of nanotech companies. In her spare time outside of academia, she enjoys traveling and swimming.
Alaa Salim
Alaa is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a major focus on power systems. His research centers on improving control strategies for distributed energy resources and enhancing power grid security.
Alaa started his career at Ain Shams University, where he engaged in research, mentored undergraduates, and developed powertrain systems for electric vehicle racing teams. He later joined Schneider Electric as an application design engineer, designing SCADA systems for power stations, refineries, and data centers. Alaa is also the co-founder of Opti-Moo, an agri-tech startup that develops AI-driven solutions for water management, working closely with agricultural companies to improve irrigation efficiency.
At UConn, he serves as the Activities Director of the Jon Lof Leadership Academy and Vice chair of IEEE chapter, organizing events that support student development. Alaa has presented his work at major conferences like ISGT NA, TPEC, and IEEE PES, receiving UConn’s Best Poster Award, and aims to contribute further through sustainable energy solutions.