ECE Student Nandana Pai Receives Scholarship

“Being involved with research has been a great way to supplement classroom learning with additional hands-on experience.” – Nandana Pai 

Established in 2019 by School of Engineering alumnus Ashok Sethu who earned a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering and his wife Yohavalli who graduated from Rutgers with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, the Ashok and Yohavalli Sethu Electrical and Computer Engineering Scholarship is awarded to full-time undergraduate or graduate students studying ECE.  

Sethu scholarship winner Nandana Pai expects to graduate in 2025 with a master’s degree in ECE through the 4+1 program. She enjoys sharing her college experiences with prospective and admitted students as a School of Engineering student ambassador. An active member of the Rutgers Society of Women Engineers, or SWE, she attended the SWE National Conference in Houston last fall, where she met and networked with other women engineers. 

Why ECE? 

I’ve always been interested in programming and have a newfound interest in hardware systems from the lab courses I’ve taken. ECE is very versatile, and this knowledge can be applied in various industries. My goal is to innovate products to enhance the quality of our lives – and I am confident that my background in ECE will empower me to do so. 

What does the Sethu ECE Scholarship mean to you? 

The award has helped me stay motivated to further excel in my coursework and field of interest. It serves as a source of inspiration for me to persevere even when classes get difficult. 

What has most excited you about your Rutgers Engineering education? 

I’m grateful for the flexibility to align coursework to my interests and to explore new subjects. I was effortlessly able to add on a minor in computer science. The faculty, staff, and my peers have been extremely supportive. In addition, being involved in research has been a great way to supplement classroom learning with additional hands-on experience. 

How will you expand your real-world research experience? 

This summer, I’ll be an electrical systems design engineer at Boeing’s office in St. Louis, Missouri. There, I hope to further develop my technical skills and gain practical experience by applying learning from my ECE courses. 

Where do you see yourself after you graduate with your BS and MS degrees? 

I see myself working for a renowned manufacturer ,designing products and using innovative technologies to turn ideas into reality.