Dante Migliaccio | Materials Science and Engineering
“Despite Rutgers’ massive size, the engineering community is well-connected. I expected to be lost in the crowd, but instead, I’ve built a strong network, which has created countless opportunities for collaboration and career growth.” –Dante Migliaccio
Dante Migliaccio views his materials science and engineering (MSE) major as one that has the potential to be applied across most industries. He has presented research on sustainable materials and processing at conferences. He intends to follow his SoE education up with a PhD in either polymer science and engineering or MSE, with hopes of taking part in a material upcycling project before becoming a research professor.
Why Rutgers?
When applying to colleges, I was overwhelmed with options until a family friend and proud Rutgers alumnus recommended it. Once admitted, I researched the program further and realized it was the perfect fit.
What do you like best about MSE?
I love it because I was able to explore diverse fields while staying rooted in MSE. I’ve worked on fuel cell technology, fashion, and advanced electronics for space applications. On the surface, these industries are completely unrelated – but through an MSE perspective, they can be related through the material selection process and how we process them.
Have you had any internships or been involved in special projects?
The summer after freshman year, I participated in the Aresty Summer Science Program under Professor Lisa Klein, optimizing the proton conductivity of fuel cells. I later joined the Aresty Peer Review Program, as an Aresty Interdisciplinary Journal reviewer.
In my junior year, I interned at Return to Vendor (RTV), a startup focusing on circular economy in fashion, where I helped create a fabric that was also an adhesive – a huge step forward in sustainability and solving the problem of having too many clothes you don’t wear anymore but don’t want to throw out.
This summer, I’m working on ceramics for space applications at Fourier LLC, a Northeastern University startup.
What about extracurriculars?
I am currently president of the Material Advantage Club, where I’ve had the opportunity to travel to conferences and visit high schools to teach about materials science, and much more.
What most surprised you about Rutgers Engineering?
Despite Rutgers' massive size, the engineering community is well-connected. I expected to be lost in the crowd, but instead, I’ve built a strong network, which has created countless opportunities for collaboration and career growth.
What will you miss the most?
I’ll miss the random and spontaneous events that occur on a college campus. This includes meeting a professor in a hallway and then learning this professor’s child is also applying to PhD programs like me or hearing live music late one night only to find that two of my professors are part of a department band. Events like these made even the most stressful moments of SoE enjoyable.
What’s your advice for future students?
After I decided to go to engineering school, I looked on social media and websites only to realize how stressed-out students are, which left me petrified. So yes, it is difficult, but if it were easy anyone could do it. The degree is worth it, and you get to work on the coolest projects.
What three words best describe your SoE experience?
Intense. Empowering. Rewarding.
