Seeing Double? Meet Rutgers Engineering’s “Twingineers” 

Twins abound at Rutgers School of Engineering. 

Fraternal twins Sophie and Laila Abbassi are SoE seniors majoring in electrical and computer engineering (ECE) and biomedical engineering (BME), respectively, while fellow engineering students Mary and Elizabeth Gillen are identical twins and fraternal twins Sarika and Sonali Jepal are all majoring in civil engineering (CEE). Senior Pavani Patel is an industrial and systems engineering major, while her fraternal twin Parthavi is majoring in HR management and psychology in the School of Management and Labor Relations and the School of Arts and Sciences. 

Same Major, Different Concentrations 

According to Sarika Jepal, being a Rutgers “twingineer” means “being able to have each other for help and having the ability to work together to make a difference in our world.” 

“I’ve had an amazing time being a "twingineer” and wouldn’t change the experience for anything,” insists her sister Sonali. “Even with the same major, we’ve been able to find our own passions and concentrations—transportation engineering for me and structural engineering for Sarika – to develop unique identities. At the end of the day, no matter how similar or different a career we choose, I’ve had a rock-solid support system and best friend to share my college experience with.” 

Fraternal twins and senior CEE majors Sarika and Sonali Jepal are involved in everything from the Rutgers American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) chapter, which Sonali is the current president of, and Engineering Economics, where they both serve as learning assistants—which both consider a “meaningful experience.”  

Having a Built-in Best Friend 

“I’ve already had to set myself apart because I am a twin. We were compared a lot of the time growing up, but being an engineer in a different field has allowed me to do amazing things without the shadow of comparison,” BME major Laila Abbassi says.  

“People don’t even know we’re related most of the time. It’s hilarious when people finally connect the dots. But when engineering gets hard, I have my constant support system with me, and I love her dearly.”  

ECE major Sophie Abbassi agrees. “Coming into college with somebody with me who was going through the same thing was absolutely invaluable,” she says. “Having a twin is having a built-in best friend. I’ve loved having her on this journey with me.” 

Making an Impact on Future Students 

The Abbassi twins are both School of Engineering Student Ambassadors, who create a welcoming environment for prospective students and their families as they tour the campus. 

Sophie sums up what that experience means by saying, “What I most enjoy about being an ambassador is being able to reach out to students and families that were once in my shoes, and give them not only the information I wish I had when I was making my college decision, but also the peace of mind that comes from knowing that Rutgers is absolutely the place to be.” 

While ISE major Pavani Patel served as an SoE Student Ambassador during her sophomore year, she is presently a senior event engagement ambassador, helping to plan and execute events such as admitted students' day and the SoE open house. Her twin, Parthavi, is an Office of Climate Action ambassador. 

Identical twins Elizabeth and Mary Gillen expect to graduate in 2028, with CEE degrees. Like Sophie and Laila Abbassi, Elizabeth Gillen says they became SoE Student Ambassadors because they “wanted to show high school students that Rutgers has opportunities for every type of person and that the School of Engineering has resources that allow every student to succeed. They point to resources such as the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and ASCE, where they each serve as board members. 

The two have always shared similar interests, which she says,“ pushes them as students to be our best as we are able to study together and help one another.” 

Yet despite sharing a major, the Gillen twins maintain their individuality by pursuing different interests within their major – transportation engineering for Elizabeth and structural engineering for Mary.   

According to the Gillens, being a “twingineer” is not only fun, but helps them feel supported and grounded as they pursue their engineering education.